Balustrade.
Baluster, bal′ust-ėr,n.a small pillar used as a support to the rail of a staircase, &c.—adj.Bal′ustered.—n.Bal′ustrade, a row of balusters joined by a rail, forming an ornamental parapet to a balcony, &c. [Fr.balustre—Low L.balaustium—Gr.balaustion, the flower of the pomegranate; from the similarity of form.]
Bam, bam,n.a slang word for a hoax: a false tale.—v.t.to cheat or hoax. [SeeBamboozle.]
Bambino, bam-bi′no,n.a term in art descriptive of the child Jesus, esp. of the swaddled figure of the infant Saviour exhibited at Christmas in Catholic churches. [It., dim. ofbambo.]
Bamboo, bam-bōō′,n.a gigantic Indian reed or grass, with hollow-jointed stem, and of hard texture. [Malaybambu.]
Bamboozle, bam-bōō′zl,v.t.to deceive: to confound or mystify.—n.Bamboo′zlement. [Of cant origin—but not Gipsy; first appears about 1700.]
Ban, ban,n.a proclamation: sentence of banishment: outlawry: anathematisation: a denunciation: a curse.—v.t.(arch.) to curse: (prov.) to chide or rail upon: to anathematise: to proscribe. [A.S.bannan, to summon; the nounbanndoes not appear in A.S. (which hasgebann), but is a common Teut. word, as in Old High Ger. and Scand.bann. The O. Fr.banand Low L.bannumare of the same origin.]
Ban, ban,n.the governor of aBanat, an old name for the military divisions on the eastern boundaries of the Hungarian kingdom.—ns.Banate,Bannat. [Pers.bān, lord.]
Banal, bān′al, orban′al,adj.commonplace, trivial.—n.Banal′ity, triviality. [Fr.]
Banana, ba-nä′na,n.a gigantic herbaceous plant, remarkable for its nutritious fruit. [Sp. or Port.banana, from the native name in Guinea.]
Banbury, ban′ber-i,n.a kind of cake made atBanbury, a town in Oxfordshire.
Banco, bang′ko,n.a commercial term meaning the standard money in which a bank keeps its accounts, as distinguished from the current money of the place.—In banco, applied to the sittings of a superior court of common law as a full court distinguished from sittings at Nisi Prius or on circuit. [It. SeeBank.]
Band, band,n.that by which loose things are held together: (fig.) a moral bond of restraint or of obligation: a tie or connecting piece: (pl.) shackles, bonds, fetters (B.): (arch.) an agreement or promise given: (arch.) security given: (Spens.) a pledge. [M. E.band,bond; A.S.bend, frombindan, to bind. SeeBind.]
Band, band,n.a strip of cloth, or the like, to bind round anything, as a hat-band, waist-band, &c.: a stripe crossing a surface distinguished by its colour or appearance: the neck-band or collar of a shirt, also the collar or ruff worn by both sexes in the 17th century (termed a falling-band later, when turned down over the shoulders): (pl.) the pair of linen strips hanging down in front from the collar, worn by some Protestant clergymen and by English barristers.—n.Band′age, a strip or swathe of cloth used by surgeons to keep a part of the body at rest, to apply pressure, or to retain dressings or apparatus in position—the two chief varieties, the roller and the triangular handkerchief bandage: a piece of cloth used to blindfold the eyes.—v.t.to bind with such.—n.Band′box, a light kind of box for holding bands, caps, millinery, &c.—p.adj.Band′ed, fastened as with a band: striped with bands: leagued, allied.—ns.Band′fish, a name given to various kinds of fish with long, thin, flat bodies;Band′saw, an endless saw, consisting of a toothed steel belt;Band′ster, one who binds the sheaves after the reapers. [M. E.bande—O. Fr.bande, of Teut. origin; cf. A.S.bindan; Ger.binde, a band, Eng.Bind.]
Band, band,n.a number of persons bound together for any common purpose: a troop of conspirators, confederates, &c.: a body of musicians, the company of musicians attached to a particular regiment in the army: (Scot.) band = bond.—v.t.to bind together.—v.i.to associate, assemble, confederate.—ns.Band′master, the leader of a band of musicians;Bands′man, a member of a band of musicians;Band′-stand, a platform for accommodating a band of musicians.—Band of Hope, an association of young persons—often mere infants—pledged to lifelong abstinence from alcoholic drinks—first instituted about 1847. [Fr.bande, of Teut. origin; cf.Bend,Bind.]
Band, band,v.t.(Spens.) to ban or banish.
Band, an obsoletepa.t.ofBind.
Bandana,Bandanna, ban-dan′a,n.a kind of silk or cotton coloured handkerchief, with a pattern of spots or diamond prints, originally from India. [Hind.bandhnū, the mode of dyeing these,bāndh, a cord.]
Bandeau, ban′dō,n.a fillet or narrow band worn by women to bind their hair:—pl.Ban′deaux. [Fr.]
Bandelet, band′e-let,n.(archit.) a small flat moulding or fillet surrounding a column. [Fr.bandelette.]
Bandelier, ban-de-lēr′,n.a form ofBandoleer.
Banderol,Banderole, ban′de-rōl,n.a small banner or streamer, as that borne on the shaft of a lance: (archit.) a flat band with an inscription common in Renaissance buildings. [Fr.]
Bandicoot, ban′di-kōōt,n.a genus of insectivorous marsupials found in Australia: the largest species of rat, found in India and Ceylon, called alsoMalabar ratandPig-rat. [Telegupandikokku, pig-rat.]
Bandied.SeeBandy.
Bandit, ban′dit,n.an outlaw: a robber:—pl.Ban′dits,Banditt′i. [It.bandito—Low L.bannire,bandire, to proclaim. SeeBan.]
Bandog, ban′dog,n.a dog tied up as a watch-dog, or because of its ferocity. [Band, fastening, andDog.]
Bandoleer,Bandolier, ban-do-lēr′,n.a leathern belt worn by musketeers, to which their ammunition was fixed. [O. Fr.bandouillere—It.bandoliera,banda, a band.]
Bandoline, ban′do-lin,n.a gummy substance used for stiffening the hair and keeping it in shape. [Prob. fromBand.]
Bandore, ban-dōr′,n.a musical instrument like a guitar, with three or more strings. [Sp.bandurria, Fr.mandore; L.pandura, Gr.pandoura.]
Bandrol, band′rōl,n.Same asBanderol.
Bands, of clergymen and barristers. SeeBand(2).
Bandy, ban′di,n.a club bent at the end for striking a ball: a game at ball with such a club (bandy-ball=hockey).—v.t.to beat to and fro as with a bandy: to toss from one to another (as wordswithany one) = to discuss or debate; to give and take blows or reproaches: (Shak.) to fight, strive:—pa.p.ban′died.—n.Ban′dying.—adj.Ban′dy-legged, having bandy or crooked legs. [Fr.bander, perh. conn. withbande, a side.]
Bane, bān,n.destruction: death: mischief: poison.—v.t.(arch.) to harm, to poison.—adj.Bane′ful, destructive.—adv.Bane′fully.—n.Bane′fulness.[A.S.bana, a murderer; Ice.bani, death.]
Bang, bang,n.a heavy blow: a sudden loud noise: an explosion.—v.t.to beat: to strike violently: to slam, as a door: to make a loud noise: to beat or surpass, to bounce upon.—interj.Bang, used with verbs like 'go,' &c., and in such a phrase as 'bang off.'—p.adj.Bang′ing, dealing blows: overwhelming.—adj.Bang′-up(slang), in the height of style or fashion.—n.Bang′ster(prov.), a braggart, a victor. [Scand.banga, to hammer; cf. Ger.bengel, a cudgel.]
Bang, bang,n.a woman's hair cut square across the brow.—p.adj.Banged, wearing the hair in such a way.—n.Bang′-tail, a horse's tail with the end squared. [An Americanism, doubtless from the phrase 'bang off.']
Bang.Same asBhang.
Bangle, bang′gl,n.a ring, bracelet, or anklet.—adj.Ban′gled, adorned with such. [Hind.bangrī.]
Banian,Banyan, ban′yan,n.an Indian tree of the fig family, remarkable for its vast rooting branches: a Hindu trader, esp. from Guzerat, sometimes loosely applied to all Hindus in Western Asia: a loose flannel jacket or gown worn in India.—Banian days, a sailor's phrase, meaning days on which no meat is served out, hence days of short commons generally, from the abstinence from flesh of the Banian merchants. [Port.banian, perh. through Ar.banyān, from Hind.banya—Sans.vanij, a merchant.]
Banish, ban′ish,v.t.to condemn to exile: to drive away: to expel (withfrom,out of).—n.Ban′ishment, exile. [Fr.bannir—Low L.bannire, to proclaim. SeeBan.]
Banister, ban′istėr,n.a corr. ofBaluster.
Banjo, ban′jo,n.a musical instrument of the guitar kind, played with the fingers, but without frets to guide the stopping, having a long neck, a body of stretched parchment like a drum, and from five to nine catgut strings. [Corr. of Fr.bandoreorpandore—L.pandura—Gr.pandoura.]
Bank, bangk,n.a mound or ridge of earth: the earthy margin of a river, lake, &c.: the raised edge of a road, railway cutting, &c.: (min.) the surface at the pit-mouth, as in banksman: rising ground in the sea.—v.t.to enclose with a bank: to deposit or pile up: to make up a fire by covering it with a heap of fuel so pressed down as to remain a long time burning slowly—banked fires.—n.Banks′man, an overseer at a pit-mouth.—From bank to bank, from the time the collier begins to descend the pit for his spell of work till he reaches the top again. [M. E.banke, of Scand. origin; cog. withBank,Bench.]
Bank, bangk,n.a bench in a galley: a tier or rank of oars: the bench on which judges sat. [O. Fr.banc, of Teut. origin, cog. with the foregoing word.]
Bank, bangk,n.a place where money is deposited: an institution for the keeping, lending, and exchanging, &c. of money: in games of hazard, the money the proprietor, who plays against all the others, has before him.—v.t.to deposit in a bank, as money.—ns.Bank′-ā′gent, the head of a branch bank;Bank′-bill, a bill drawn by one bank upon another, payable at a future date, or on demand;Bank′-cheque, an order to pay issued upon a bank;Bank′er, one who keeps a bank: one employed in banking business:—fem.Bank′eress;Bank′-hol′iday, a day on which banks are legally closed, bills falling due on these being payable the following day;Bank′ing, the business of a banker.—adj.pertaining to a bank.—ns.Bank′-note, a note issued by a bank, which passes as money, being payable to bearer on demand;Bank′-pap′er, bank-notes in circulation;Bank′-stock, a share or shares in the capital stock of a bank;Branch′-bank, a branch office of a bank;Sav′ings-bank, one intended originally to develop a spirit of saving amongst the poor.—Bank annuities, the consolidated three per cent. annuities—British Government funds.—Bank of issue, one that issues its own notes, or promises to pay;Joint-stock bank, one of which the capital is subscribed by a large number of shareholders;Private bank, one carried on by any number of persons less than ten.—To break the bank, to win, as in faro, from the management a certain sum which has been fixed upon as the limit the bank is willing to lose on any one day;To play against the bank, to take the risks of a game against the manager who holds the bank, as at rouge-et-noir, &c. [Fr.banque, of Teut. origin, cog. with two foregoing words.]
Bankrupt, bangk′rupt,n.one who breaks or fails in business; an insolvent person.—adj.insolvent: destitute (withof).—n.Bank′ruptcy, the state of being or act of becoming bankrupt. [Fr.banque-route, It.banca rotta.]
Banksia, bangk′sia,n.a genus of Australian shrubs, named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks (1744-1820).
Banner, ban′ėr,n.a military standard: a flag or ensign bearing some device, as in processions, &c.—adj.Ban′nered, furnished with banners. [O. Fr.banere—Low L.bandum,bannum; cog. withBandandBind.]
Banneret, ban′ėr-et,n.a higher class of knight, inferior to a baron. [Fr. dim. ofBanner.]
Bannerol, ban′ėr-ol,n.Same asBanderol.
Banning, ban′ning,n.cursing. [SeeBan.]
Bannock, ban′nok,n.a flat home-made cake of oatmeal, barley, or pease-meal. [Gael.bannach.]
Banns, banz,n.pl.a proclamation of marriage.—To forbid the banns, to make formal objection to a projected marriage. [FromBan.]
Banquet, bangk′wet,n.a feast: any rich treat or entertainment: a course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine, separately, or after the principal meal—still used in the Scotch phrase, 'a cake and wine banquet.'—v.t.to give a feast to.—v.i.to fare sumptuously.—ns.Banq′ueter,Banq′ueteer;Banq′ueting;Banq′ueting-house. [Fr.;—banc, bench, like It.banchetto, frombanco.]
Banquette, bang-ket′,n.a raised way inside a parapet; the long seat behind the driver in a French diligence. [Fr.; It.banchetta, dim. ofbanca, seat.]
Banshee, ban′shē,n.a female fairy in Ireland and elsewhere, who makes herself known by wailings and shrieks before a death in the particular family to which she is attached. [Ir.bean sídhe, Old Ir.ben síde, woman of the fairies.]
Bantam, ban′tam,n.a small variety of the common domestic fowl, supposed to be named fromBantamin Java, notable for courage.—adj.of bantam-breed: little and combative.
Banter, bant′ėr,v.t.to assail with good-humoured raillery: to joke or jest at: (arch.) to impose upon, trick.—n.humorous raillery: jesting.—ns.Bant′erer;Bant′ering.—adv.Bant′eringly.—adj.Bant′ery(Carlyle). [Ety. quite unknown.]
Banting, bant′ing,n.a system of diet for reducing superfluous fat.—n.Bant′ingism. [From W.Banting(1797-1878), a London cabinetmaker, who recommended it to the public in 1863.]
Bantling, bant′ling,n.a child. [So called from thebandsin which it is wrapped.]
Bantu, ban′tōō,n.a native name sometimes applied to the South African family of languages and the peoples speaking these, including Kaffirs and Zulus, Bechuans, and the peoples from the Hottentot country to the Gulf of Guinea.
Banxring, bangks′ring,n.a small insectivorous animal of Java and Sumatra. [Jav.]
Banyan.SeeBanian.
Baobab, bā′o-bab,n.a magnificent tree, native to tropical Western Africa, whose trunk is 20 to 30 feet thick, called also theMonkey-bread Tree. [African.]
Baphomet, baf′ō-mėt,n.the alleged name of a mysterious idol the Templars were accused of worshipping.—adj.Baph′ometic. [A medieval corr. of the nameMahomet.]
Baptise, bapt-īz′,v.t.to administer baptism to: to christen, give a name to.—n.Bapt′ism, immersion in or sprinkling with water as a religious ceremony—a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. It is symbolic of spiritual purification, and as a religious rite marks initiation into the Christian community.—adj.Baptis′mal.—adv.Baptis′mally.—ns.Bapt′ist, one who baptises: one who approves only of baptising by immersion, and that only to persons who profess their faith in Christ;Bap′tistery, a place where baptism is administered, either a separate building or a portion of a church.—Baptismal regeneration, the doctrine of the remission of sin original and actual, and of the new birth into the life of sanctifying grace, in and through the sacrament of baptism;Baptism by desire, the grace given to a believer who ardently desires baptism, but dies before he can receive it;Baptism for the dead, the vicarious baptism of a living Christian for an unbaptised dead Christian, who was thereby accounted baptised and received into bliss—it is supposed to be alluded to in 1 Cor. xv. 29;Baptism of blood, martyrdom for Christ's sake;Baptism of fire, the gift of the Holy Spirit: martyrdom by fire for Christ's sake: (fig.) any trying ordeal to be endured, as a young soldier's first experience of being under fire;Clinical baptism, baptism administered to sick persons;Conditional(orHypothetical)baptism, baptism administered to those about whom it is doubtful whether they were baptised or whether the form of their earlier baptism was valid;Name of baptism, the Christian or personal name given at baptism;Private baptism, baptism administered at home, or elsewhere, not in the church. [Gr.baptiz-ein—bapt-ein, to dip in water.]
Bar, bär,n.a rod of any solid substance: a bolt: a hindrance or obstruction—the barrier of a city or street, as the bars of York, Temple Bar, a toll-bar: a bank of sand or other matter at the mouth of a river: any terminus or limit (of life)—e.g. as inTo cross the bar: the railing that encloses a space in a tavern, the counter across which drinks are served, a public-house: the wooden rail dividing off thejudge's seat, at which prisoners are placed for arraignment or sentence—hence,To appear at the bar,To pass the bar= to be formally referred for trial from a lower court to a higher: any tribunal: the pleaders in a court as distinguished from the judges: a division in music.—v.t.to fasten or secure, as with a bar: to hinder or exclude:—pr.p.bar′ring;pa.p.barred.—ns.Bar′-ī′ron, iron in malleable bars;Bar′maid, a female waiter at the bar of a tavern or hotel.—prep.Bar′ring, excepting, saving.—ns.Bar′ring-out, the shutting of the school-room doors and windows by the pupils against the master, in order to enforce assent to their demands;Bar′wood, a kind of red dye-wood imported from Africa in bars. [O. Fr.barre—Low L.barra, perh. of Celt. origin.]
Baracan.Same asBarracan.
Baragouin, bä-rag-wēn,n.any jargon or unintelligible language. [Fr.; from Bret.bara, bread, andgwîn, wine, supposed to have originated in the Breton soldiers' astonishment at white bread.]
Barb, bärb,n.the beard-like jag near the point of an arrow, fish-hook, &c.—v.t.to arm with barbs, as an arrow, &c.: to shave, trim, mow, to pierce, as with a barb.—adjs.Barb′ate(bot.), bearing a hairy tuft;Barb′ated, barbed, bearded.—n.Barbe, a term applied by the Waldenses to their teachers.—adjs.Barbed, furnished with a barb: of a horse, armed or caparisoned with a barb or bard;Barb′ellate(bot.), having barbed or bearded bristles. [Fr.—L.barba, a beard.]
Barb, bärb,n.a swift kind of horse, the breed of which came fromBarbaryin North Africa.
Barbacan.SeeBarbican.
Barbarous, bär′bar-us,adj.uncivilised: rude: savage: brutal.—adjs.Bar′baresque, pertaining toBarbary: barbarous, esp. in art;Barbār′ian, uncivilised: savage: without taste or refinement: foreign.—n.an uncivilised man, a savage: a cruel, brutal man.—adj.Barbar′ic, foreign: uncivilised.—n.Barbarisā′tion.—v.t.Bar′barise, to make barbarous: to corrupt as a language.—ns.Bar′barism, savage life: rudeness of manners: an incorrect form of speech;Barbar′ity, savageness: cruelty.—adv.Bar′barously.—n.Bar′barousness. [L.—Gr.barbaros, foreign, lit. stammering, from the unfamiliar sound of foreign tongues.]
Barbary ape, bär′bar-i āp,n.the magot, or small tailless ape found in Africa and also on the rock of Gibraltar.
Barbecue, bärb′e-kū,v.t.to roast whole, as a pig: to cure flesh by exposing it on a barbecue.—n.a framework on which to dry and smoke meat above a fire: an animal roasted whole: an open floor on which coffee-beans and the like are spread out to dry: (Amer.) a large social or political entertainment, where the hospitalities are on a lavish scale. [Sp.barbacoa—Haytianbarbacòa, a framework of sticks set upon posts.]
Barbel, bärb′el,n.a fresh-water fish with beard-like appendages at its mouth. [O. Fr.barbel—Low L.barbellus—L.barba, a beard.]
Barber, bärb′ėr,n.one who shaves beards and dresses hair.—ns.Barb′er-mong′er(Shak.), a man decked out by his barber, a fop;Barb′er-sur′geon, one who let blood and drew teeth as well as shaved—the company of Barber-surgeons was incorporated in 1461, but by an act in 1545 barbers were confined to the more humble function.—Barber's block, a round block on which wigs are made;Barber's pole, the barber's sign in England, a pole striped spirally with alternate bands of colours, generally red or black and white, having often a brass basin hung at the end. [Fr.—L.barba, a beard.]
Barberry, bär′ber-i,n.a thorny shrub with yellow flowers and red berries, common in hedges. [Low L.berberis; the Ar.barbarisis borrowed.]
Barbette, bar-bėt′,n.an earthen terrace inside the parapet of a rampart, serving as a platform for heavy guns: in ironclad ships, a heavily armoured redoubt amidships. [Fr.]
Barbican, bär′bi-kan,n.a projecting watch-tower over the gate of a castle or fortified town, esp. the outwork intended to defend the drawbridge. [O. Fr.barbacane, also in Sp., Port., and It. forms; perh. of Ar. or Pers. origin. Col. Yule suggestsbābkhānah, gate-house, name in the East for a towered gateway.]
Barbule, bärb′ūl,n.(bot.) a small barb or beard: a pointed barb-like process fringing the barbs of a feather. [SeeBarbel.]
Barcarolle, bär′ka-rōl,n.a boat-song of the Venetian gondoliers: a musical composition of a similar character. [It.barcaruolo, a boatman, frombarca, a bark, a barge, a boat.]
Bard, bärd,n.a poet and singer among the ancient Celts: a poet—dims.Bard′ling,Bard′let, poetaster.—n.Bard′-craft(Browning).—adj.Bard′ic. [Gael. and Ir.bàrd.]
Barded, bärd′ed,adj.caparisoned, as horses.—n.Bard(obs.), the protective covering of a war-horse or a man-at-arms. [Fr.barde—Sp.albarda, pack-saddle, perh. from Ar.al-barda‛ah;al, the, andbarda‛ah, mule's pack-saddle.]
Bare, bār,adj.uncovered: naked: open to view: poor, scanty: unadorned: (Shak.) unarmed: mere or by itself: (Shak.) paltry, desolate: empty: (Spens.) rude.—v.t.to strip or uncover.—adj.Bare′backed, with bare back: unsaddled.—n.Bare′bone(Shak.), a very lean person.—adj.Bare′faced, with the face uncovered: (Shak.) avowed: impudent.—adv.Bare′facedly.—n.Bare′facedness.—adjs.Bare′foot,-ed, having the feet bare, often of some monastic orders;Bare′-gnawn(Shak.), gnawed bare;Bare′headed, having the head bare;Bar′ish(Carlyle), somewhat bare;Bare′legged, having the legs bare.—adv.Bare′ly.—ns.Bare′ness;Bare′sark, a fierce Norse fighter, a berserker.—adv.in a shirt only. [A.S.bær; Ger.baar,bar; Ice.berr.]
Bare, bār, oldpa.t.ofBear.
Barage, ba-rāzh′,n.a light, silky dress-stuff, named fromBarègesin the Pyrenees.
Bargain, bär′gin,n.a contract or agreement: a favourable transaction: an advantageous purchase: (Shak.) chaffering.—v.i.to make a contract or agreement: to chaffer: to count on, take into consideration (withfor): to lose by bad bargaining (withaway).—n.Bar′gainer.—Bargain and sale, in law, a mode of conveyance whereby property may be assigned or transferred for valuable consideration.—Into the bargain, over and above;To make the best of a bad bargain, to make the best of difficult circumstances;To sell any one a bargain(Shak.), to befool him;To strike a bargain, to come to terms about a purchase. [O. Fr.bargaigner—Low L.barcaniare; acc. to Diez frombarca, a boat.]
Barge, bärj,n.flat-bottomed freight boat, with or without sails, used on rivers and canals: the second boat of a man-of-war: a large pleasure or state boat.—ns.Bar′gee, a bargeman;Barge′man, The manager of a barge;Barge′-mas′ter, the proprietor of a barge. [O. Fr.barge—Low L.barga. Prob. a doublet ofBark, a barge.]
Barge-board.
Barge-board, barj′-bōrd,n.a board extending along the edge of the gable of a house to cover the rafters and keep out the rain. [Thebargehere may be conn. with Low L.bargus, a gallows.]
Barghest, bär′gest,n.a dog-like goblin portending death. [Perh. conn. with Ger.berg-geist, mountain-ghost.]
Baric.SeeBarium.
Barilla, bar-il′a,n.an impure carbonate of soda obtained by burning several marine plants (that grow chiefly on the east coast of Spain), used in the manufacture of soap, glass, &c. [Sp.barrilla.]
Baritone, bar′i-tōn. Same asBarytone.
Barium, bā′ri-um,n.the metal present in heavy spar (sulphate of baryta) and baryta, formerly thought to be white, but now known to possess a yellow colour.—adj.Bar′ic. [FromBaryta; cf.soda,sodium.]
Bark, bärk,n.the abrupt cry uttered by a dog, wolf, &c.—v.i.to yelp like a dog: to clamour.—v.t.(Spens.) to utter with a bark.—n.Bark′er, a shop-tout: (slang) a pistol, cannon.—His bark is worse than his bite, his angry expressions are worse than his actual deeds. [A.S.beorcan, prob. a variety ofbrecan, to crack, snap. SeeBreak.]
Bark,Barque, bärk,n.a barge: a ship of small size, square-sterned, without head-rails: technically, a three-masted vessel whose mizzen-mast isfore-and-aftrigged instead of being square-rigged, like the fore and main masts—barks of over 3000 tons are now frequently built.—ns.Bar′kantine,Bar′quentine, a three-masted vessel, with the fore-mast square-rigged, and the main-mast and mizzen-mast fore-and-aft rigged. [Fr.barque—Low L.barca; perh. from Gr.baris, a Nile-boat.]
Bark, bärk,n.the rind or covering of the trunk and branches of a tree: that used in tanning or dyeing, or the residue thereof, laid upon a street to deaden the sound, &c.: the envelopment or outer covering of anything.—v.t.to strip or peel the bark from: to rub off (skin).—n.Bark′-bed, a hotbed made of spent bark.—v.t.Bark′en, to dry up into a barky substance.—v.i.to become like bark.—adjs.Bark′less;Bark′y.—Cinchona,Jesuits',Peruvian bark, the bark of the cinchona, from which quinine is made. [Scand.börkr; Dan.bark.]
Barker's mill, bärk′ėrz mil, a water-wheel invented in the 18th century by DrBarker.
Barley, bär′li,n.a hardy grain used for food, but chiefly for making malt liquors and spirits.—ns.Bar′ley-bree,-broth, strong ale;Bar′ley-corn, personified asJohn Barleycorn, the grain from which malt is made: a single grain of barley: a measure of length = ⅓ of an inch;Bar′ley-su′gar, a mixture of sugar with a decoction of pearl-barley, boiled till it is candied;Bar′ley-wat′er, a decoction of pearl-barley;Pearl′-bar′ley, the grain stripped of husk and pellicle, and completely rounded by grinding;Pot′-bar′ley, the grain deprived by milling of its outer husk, used in making broth, &c. [A.S.bærlíc,bere, and suffix-líc.]
Barley, bär′li,interj.(Scot.) a term used in games in demand of a truce, parley (of which it is most prob. a corruption).
Barley-brake, bär′li-brāk,n.an old country game, originally played by three couples, of which one, left in a middle den called 'hell,' had to catch the others, who could break or separate when about to be overtaken. [Perh. from the grain,barley, because often played in a barley-field; or perh. from the word preceding.]
Barm, bärm,n.froth of beer or other fermenting liquor, used as leaven: yeast.—adjs.Barm′y;Barm′y-brained, flighty. [A.S.beorma; cog. with Dan.bärme, Ger.bärme.]
Barmbrack, bärm′brak,n.a currant-bun. [Ir.bairigen breac, speckled cake.]
Barm-cloth, bärm′-kloth,n.(Morris) an apron. [A.S.barm, bosom,-beran, to bear, andCloth.]
Barmecide, bär′me-sīd,n.one who offers an imaginary or pretended banquet or other benefit.—adjs.Bar′mecide,Barmecī′dal. [From a story in theArabian Nights, in which a beggar is entertained to an imaginary feast by one of theBarmecides, a Persian family who attained to great influence at the court of the Abbasside caliphs.]
Barmkin, bärm′kin,n.the rampart of a castle.
Barn, bärn,n.a building in which grain, hay, &c. are stored.—v.t.to store in a barn.—ns.andadjs.Barn′-door,Barn′-yard, as in barn-yard fowl.—n.Barn′-owl, the commonest of British owls.—Barn-door, in cricket, used of a player who blocks every ball: humorously, any large target. [A.S.bere-ern, contractedbern, frombere, barley,ern, a house.]
Barnaby, bärn′a-bi,n.form ofBarnabas, the apostle.—n.Bar′nabite, a member of the congregation of regular canons of St Paul, founded at Milan in 1530, so called from their preaching in the church of St Barnabas there.—Barnaby-day,Barnaby bright, orLong Barnaby, St Barnabas' Day, 11th June, in Old Style reckoned the longest day.
Barnacle, bär′na-kl,n.a shellfish which adheres to rocks and the bottoms of ships: a companion who sticks closely.—n.Bar′nacle-goose, a species of wild goose belonging to the Northern seas, so called from a notion that they were produced from the barnacles mentioned. [O. Fr.bernaque—Low L.bernaca; by some referred to a supposed formpernacula, dim. ofperna, a kind of shellfish; by others to a Celtic origin.]
Barnacle, bär′na-kl,n.an instrument consisting of two branches joined by a hinge, placed on the nose of horses to keep them quiet: (pl.) a colloquial term for 'spectacles.'—adj.Bar′nacled. [O. Fr.bernac, of whichbernacleseems to be a dim. form. The sense of 'spectacles' has been traced to O. Fr.bericle, eye-glass—berillus, beryl; but this is improbable.]
Barney, bär′ni,n.(slang) humbug: a prize-fight.
Barnumise, bär′num-īz,v.t.to advertise and display on a great scale.—n.Bar′numism. [FromBarnum, a great showman (1810-91).]
Barograph, bar′o-graf,n.a barometer which records automatically variations of atmospheric pressure. [Gr.baros, weight,graphein, to write.]
Barometer, bar-om′et-ėr,n.an instrument by which the weight or pressure of the atmosphere is measured, and changes of weather, or heights above sea-level, indicated.—adj.Baromet′ric.—adv.Baromet′rically.—n.Barom′etry. [Gr.baros, weight,metron, measure.]
Barometz, bar′o-metz,n.the hairy prostrate stem of a fern found near the Caspian Sea, at one time supposed to be at once plant and animal, to grow on a stalk, and to eat grass like a lamb, &c.; hence also called, as by Mandeville, theScythian Lamb. [Erroneous form of Russ.baranetz, dim. ofbaran, ram.]
Baron's Coronet.
Baron, bar′on,n.a title of rank, the lowest in the House of Peers: formerly a title of the judges of the Court of Exchequer: in feudal times the tenants-in-chief of the Crown, later the peers or great lords of the realm generally: till 1832, the name for the parliamentary representatives of the Cinque Ports: in Germany, the signification, instead of becoming restricted as in England, has become extended—the greater or dynasty barons having all been elevated to higher titles, a large number being designated barons in virtue of a diploma from some reigning prince, the title being used also by all his descendants.—ns.Bar′onage, the whole body of barons;Bar′on-bail′ie, a magistrate appointed by the lord-superior in a burgh of barony;Bar′oness, a baron's wife, or a lady holding a baronial title in her own right.—adj.Barōn′ial, pertaining to a baron or barony.—n.Bar′ony, the territory of a baron: in Ireland, a division of a county: in Scotland, a large freehold estate, or manor, even though not carrying with it a baron's title and rank: the rank of baron.—Baron of beef, a joint consisting of two sirloins left uncut at the backbone. [O. Fr.barun,-on—Low L.baro,-onem; in the Romance tongues the word meant a man as opposed to a woman, a strong man, a warrior; traced by some to Celt.bar, a hero; by others to Old High Ger.bero, bearer, carrier.]
Baronet, bar′on-et,n.the lowest hereditary title in the United Kingdom (of England—now of Great Britain—since 1611; of Scotland—or of Nova Scotia—since 1625; of Ireland, since 1619).—ns.Bar′onetage, the whole body of baronets: a list of such;Bar′onetcy.—adj.Baronet′ical. [Dim. ofBaron.]
Baroque, bar-ōk′,adj.originally a jeweller's term, but applied in art generally to extravagant ornamental designs: whimsical, odd. [Fr.baroque; perh. from L.verruca, wart, but referred by some to Ar.burāq, hard earth mixed with stones.]
Baroscope, bar′ō-skōp,n.an instrument for indicating changes in the density of the air. [Gr.baros, weight,skopein, to see.]
Barouche, ba-rōōsh′,n.a double-seated four-wheeled carriage with a falling top. [It.baroccio—L.birotus, two-wheeled, frombis, twice,rota, a wheel.]
Barque.Same asBark(2).
Barquentine, bär′ken-tēn,n.same asBarkantine(q.v. underBark, a ship). [Formed fromBarque, likeBrigantinefromBrig.]
Barracan, bar′a-kan,n.a thick, strong stuff resembling camlet. [Fr.; It.—Ar.barrakān, a dark dress, Pers.barak, a stuff made of camel's hair.]
Barrace, bar′as,n.(obs.) the lists in a tournament. [O. Fr.barras—barre, bar.]
Barrack, bar′ak,n.a building for soldiers, esp. in garrison (generally inpl.). [Fr.baraque(It.baracca, Sp.barraca, a tent); acc. to Diez frombarra, bar.]
Barracoon, bar′a-kōōn,n.a depôt for slaves. [Sp.—barraca.]
Barracoota,-cuda, bar′a-kōō′ta,-kōō′da,n.a voracious West Indian fish.—AlsoBarracou′ta, an Australian food-fish. [Sp.]
Barrage, bär′āj,n.the forming of an artificial bar in order to deepen a river. [Fr.barrage—barre, bar.]
Barrator, bar-āt′or,n.one who vexatiously stirs up lawsuits, quarrels, &c.—adj.Bar′ratrous.—adv.Bar′ratrously.—n.Bar′ratry, fraudulent practices on the part of the master or mariners of a ship to the prejudice of the owners: vexatious litigation, or the stirring up of suits and quarrels among subjects, forbidden under penalties to lawyers: traffic in offices of church or state. [O. Fr.barateor—barat, deceit; traced by some to Gr.prattein, by others to a Celt. or a Scand. origin.]
Barrel, bar′el,n.a cylindrical wooden vessel made of curved staves bound with hoops: the quantity which such a vessel contains (36 imperial gallons of ale and beer): a certain weight or quantity of other goods usually sold in casks called barrels: anything long and hollow, as the barrel of a gun, or cylindrical and barrel-shaped.—v.t.to put in a barrel.—n.Bar′rel-bulk, a measurement of five cubic feet.—p.adj.Bar′relled, having a barrel or barrels: placed in a barrel.—ns.Bar′rel-or′gan, an organ in which the music is produced by a barrel or cylinder set with pins, the revolution of which opens the key-valves and produces the music;Barrel-vault, a vault with a simple semi-cylindrical roof.—adj.Bar′rel-vault′ed. [Fr.baril(Sp.barril, It.barile)—Low L.barile,barillus, possibly frombarra, bar.]
Barren, bar′en,adj.incapable of bearing offspring: unfruitful: dull, stupid: unprofitable (withof).—adj.Bar′ren-beat′en.—adv.Bar′renly.—n.Bar′renness.—adjs.Bar′ren-spir′ited;Bar′ren-wit′ted. [O. Fr.barain,brahain,brehaing, perh. frombar, man, as if 'male-like, not producing offspring.']
Barret, bar′et,n.a flat cap, esp. theBiretta(q.v.). [Fr.barrette, Sp.birreta. SeeBiretta.]
Barricade, bar′ik-ād,n.a temporary fortification raised to hinder the advance of an enemy, as in the street fights of Parisian insurrections.—v.t.to obstruct: to fortify.—Earlier formBarricā′do. [Fr.;barrique, a cask, the first street barricades having consisted of casks filled with stones, &c. SeeBar.]
Barrico, bar-ē′ko,n.a small cask. [Sp.]
Barrier, bar′i-ėr,n.a defence against attack: a limit or boundary: a fence, railing, gate where customs are collected: the lists in a tournament: any obstacle that keeps apart: (pl.) a martial exercise in 15th and 16th centuries.—v.t.to shut by means of a barrier.—n.Bar′rier-reef, a coral-reef surrounding an island or fringing a coast with a navigable channel inside.—Barrier Act, an act passed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1697 as a security against innovations, decreeing that changes in the law of the Church, even when approved by the Assembly, shall not become law till approved also by a majority of presbyteries. [O. Fr.barrière—Low L.barraria—barra, bar.]
Barrister, bar′is-tėr,n.one who is qualified to plead at the bar in an English or Irish law-court.—adj.Barristēr′ial.—n.Bar′ristership.—Revising barrister, a barrister appointed annually by the English judges to revise the lists and settle who are the persons entitled to vote for members of parliament. [Frombarra, bar, the suffix being undetermined.]
Barrow, bar′rō,n.a small hand or one-wheel carriage used to bear or convey a load.—n.Bar′row-tram, the shaft of a barrow. [M. E.barewe, from an assumed A.S. formbearwe—beran, to bear.]
Barrow, bar′rō,n.originally a mountain, hillock: a mound raised over graves in former times. [A.S.beorg; cog. with Ger.berg.]
Barrow, bar′rō,n.a long sleeveless flannel garment for infants. [A.S.beorgan, to protect.]
Bar-sinister.Variant ofBaton-sinister(q.v. underBaton).
Barter, bär′tėr,v.t.to give one thing in exchange for another (withfor,away).—v.i.to traffic by exchanging.—n.traffic by exchange of commodities.—n.Bar′terer, one who barters. [Prob. from O. Fr.barat.]
Bartholomew-tide, bar-thol′o-mū-tīd,n.the day of the festival of St Bartholomew, 24th August: the name was also applied to things sold at the fair.—Often speltBar′tlemy.—Black Bartholomew, 24th August 1662, the day on which the Act of Uniformity came into force within the Church of England.