BALMILYBalm"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a balmy manner. Coleridge.
BALMORALBal*mor"al, n. Etym: [From Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire,Scotland.]
1. A long woolen petticoat, worn immediately under the dress.
2. A kind of stout walking shoe, laced in front. A man who uses his balmorals to tread on your toes. George Eliot.
BALMYBalm"y, a.
1. Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild. "The balmy breeze." Tickell. Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep ! Young.
2. Producing balm. "The balmy tree." Pope.
Syn.— Fragrant; sweet-scented; odorous; spicy.
BALNEALBal"ne*al, a. Etym: [L. balneum bath.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bath. Howell.
BALNEARYBal"ne*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. balnearium, fr. balneum bath.]
Defn: A bathing room. Sir T. Browne.
BALNEATIONBal`ne*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. balneare to bathe, fr. L. balneum bath.]
Defn: The act of bathing. [R.]
BALNEATORYBal"ne*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. balneatorius.]
Defn: Belonging to a bath. [Obs.]
BALNEOGRAPHYBal`ne*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + -graphy.]
Defn: A description of baths.
BALNEOLOGYBal`ne*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on baths; the science of bathing.
BALNEOTHERAPYBal`ne*o*ther"a*py, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + Gr. to heal.]
Defn: The treatment of disease by baths.
BALOPTICONBal*op"ti*con, n. [Gr. to throw + stereopticon.]
Defn: See Projector, below.
BALOTADEBal"o*tade`, n.
Defn: See Ballotade.
BALSABal"sa, n. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. balsa.] (Naut.)
Defn: A raft or float, used principally on the Pacific coast of SouthAmerica.
BALSAMBal"sam, n. Etym: [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. .See Balm, n.]
1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil.
Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A great variety of substances pass under this name, but the term is now usually restricted to resins which, in addition to a volatile oil, contain benzoic and cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu. There are also many pharmaceutical preparations and resinous substances, possessed of a balsamic smell, to which the name balsam has been given.
2. (Bot.) (a) A species of tree (Abies balsamea). (b) An annual garden plant (Impatiens balsamina) with beautiful flowers; balsamine.
3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores. Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood Tennyson. Balsam apple (Bot.), an East Indian plant ( Momordica balsamina), of the gourd family, with red or orange-yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of the size of a walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and poultices. — Balsam fir (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, Abies balsamea, from which the useful Canada balsam is derived. — Balsam of copaiba. See Copaiba. — Balsam of Mecca, balm of Gilead. — Balsam of Peru, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained from a Central American tree ( Myroxylon Pereiræ and used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of Peru. — Balsam of Tolu, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree ( Myxoxylon toluiferum.). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant. — Balsam tree, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp. the Abies balsamea. — Canada balsam, Balsam of fir, Canada turpentine, a yellowish, viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure, becomes a transparent solid mass. It is obtained from the balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir (Abies balsamea) by breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and branches. See Balm.
BALSAMBal"sam, v. t.
Defn: To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to render balsamic.
BALSAMATIONBal`sam*a"tion, n.
1. The act of imparting balsamic properties.
2. The art or process of embalming.
BALSAMIC; BALSAMICALBal*sam"ic, Bal*sam"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. balsamique.]
Defn: Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling, balsam; soft; mitigative; soothing; restorative.
BALSAMIFEROUSBal`sam*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Balsam + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing balsam.
BALSAMINEBal"sam*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. balsamine, fr. Gr. balsam plant.](Bot.)
Defn: The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam.
BALSAMOUSBal"sam*ous, a.
Defn: Having the quality of balsam; containing balsam. "A balsamous substance." Sterne.
BALTERBal"ter, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Cf. Bloodboltered.]
Defn: To stick together.[Obs.] Holland.
BALTICBal"tic, a. Etym: [NL. mare Balticum, fr. L. balteus belt, fromcertain straits or channels surrounding its isles, called belts. SeeBelt.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sea which separates Norway and Sweden from Jutland, Denmark, and Germany; situated on the Baltic Sea.
BALTIMORE BIRD; BALTIMORE ORIOLEBal"ti*more bird`. Bal"ti*more o"ri*ole. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A common American bird (Icterus galbula), named after Lord Baltimore, because its colors (black and orange red) are like those of his coat of arms; — called also golden robin.
BALUSTER Bal"us*ter, n. Etym: [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. ; — so named from the similarity of form.] (Arch.)
Defn: A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building.
BALUSTEREDBal"us*tered (-terd), a.
Defn: Having balusters. Dryden.
BALUSTRADE Bal"us*trade` (-trad`), n. [F. balustrade, It. balaustrata fr. balaustro. See Baluster.] (Arch.)
Defn: A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building.
BAMBam, n. Etym: [Prob. a contr. of bamboozle.]
Defn: An imposition; a cheat; a hoax. Garrick.To relieve the tediumbams. Prof. Wilson.
BAMBam, v. t.
Defn: To cheat; to wheedle. [Slang] Foote.
BAMBINO Bam*bi"no, n. Etym: [It., a little boy, fr. bambo silly; cf. Gr. , , to chatter.]
Defn: A child or baby; esp., a representation in art of the infantChrist wrapped in swaddling clothes.
BAMBOCCIADE Bam*boc`ci*ade", n. Etym: [It. bambocciata, fr. Bamboccio a nickname of Peter Van Laer, a Dutch genre painter; properly, a child, simpleton, puppet, fr. bambo silly.] (Paint.)
Defn: A representation of a grotesque scene from common or rustic life.
BAMBOOBam*boo", n. Etym: [Malay bambu, mambu.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries.
Note: The most useful species is Bambusa arundinacea, which has a woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, and grows to the height of forty feet and upward. The flowers grow in large panicles, from the joints of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to five or six inches in diameter, and are so hard and durable as to be used for building, and for all sorts of furniture, for water pipes, and for poles to support palanquins. The smaller stalks are used for walking sticks, flutes, etc.
BAMBOOBam*boo", v. t.
Defn: To flog with the bamboo.
BAMBOOZLEBam*boo"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bamboozled (p. pr. & vb. n.Bamboozling ( Etym: [Said to be of Gipsy origin.]
Defn: To deceive by trickery; to cajole by confusing the senses; to hoax; to mystify; to humbug. [Colloq.] Addison. What oriental tomfoolery is bamboozling you J. H. Newman.
BAMBOOZLERBam*boo"zler, n.
Defn: A swindler; one who deceives by trickery. [Colloq.] Arbuthnot.
BAN Ban, n. Etym: [AS. bann command, edict; akin to D. ban, Icel. bann, Dan. band, OHG. ban, G. bann, a public proclamation, as of interdiction or excommunication, Gr. to say, L. fari to speak, Skr. bhan to speak; cf. F. ban, LL. bannum, of G. origin. Abandon, Fame.]
1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory; a summons by public proclamation.
2. (Feudal & Mil.)
Defn: A calling together of the king's (esp. the French king's) vassals for military service; also, the body of vassals thus assembled or summoned. In present usage, in France and Prussia, the most effective part of the population liable to military duty and not in the standing army.
3. pl.
Defn: Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See Banns (the common spelling in this sense).
4. An interdiction, prohibition, or proscription. "Under ban to touch." Milton.
5. A curse or anathema. "Hecate's ban." Shak.
6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending against a ban; as, a mulct paid to a bishop by one guilty of sacrilege or other crimes. Ban of the empire (German Hist.), an imperial interdict by which political rights and privileges, as those of a prince, city, or district, were taken away.
BAN Ban, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banned (p. pr. & vb. n. Banning.] Etym: [OE. bannen, bannien, to summon, curse, AS. bannan to summon; akin to Dan. bande, forbande, to curse, Sw. banna to revile, bannas to curse. See Ban an edict, and cf. Banish.]
1. To curse; to invoke evil upon. Sir W. Scott.
2. To forbid; to interdict. Byron.
BANBan, v. i.
Defn: To curse; to swear. [Obs.] Spenser.
BANBan, n. Etym: [Serv. ban; cf. Russ. & Pol. pan a masterban.]
Defn: An ancient title of the warden of the eastern marches ofHungary; now, a title of the viceroy of Croatia and Slavonia.
BANALBan"al, a. Etym: [F., fr. ban an ordinance.]
Defn: Commonplace; trivial; hackneyed; trite.
BANALITYBa*nal"i*ty, n.; pl. Banalities. Etym: [F. banalité. See Banal.]
Defn: Something commonplace, hackneyed, or trivial; the commonplace,in speech.The highest things were thus brought down to the banalities ofdiscourse. J. Morley.
BANANABa*na"na, n. Etym: [Sp. banana, name of the fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size (Musa sapientum); also, its edible fruit. See Musa.
Note: The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of great length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a sheath of a green or purple color; the fruit is five or six inches long, and over an inch in diameter; the pulp is soft, and of a luscious taste, and is eaten either raw or cooked. This plant is a native of tropical countries, and furnishes an important article of food. Banana bird (Zoöl.), a small American bird (Icterus leucopteryx), which feeds on the banana. — Banana quit (Zoöl.), a small bird of tropical America, of the genus Certhiola, allied to the creepers.
BANANA SOLUTIONBa*na"na so*lu"tion.
Defn: A solution used as a vehicle in applying bronze pigments. In addition to acetote, benzine, and a little pyroxylin, it contains amyl acetate, which gives it the odor of bananas.
BANATBan"at, n. Etym: [Cf. F. & G. banat. See Ban a warden.]
Defn: The territory governed by a ban.
BANC; BANCUS; BANKBanc, Ban"cus, Bank, n. Etym: [OF. banc, LL. bancus. See Bank, n.]
Defn: A bench; a high seat, or seat of distinction or judgment; a tribunal or court. In banc, In banco (the ablative of bancus), In bank, in full court, or with full judicial authority; as, sittings in banc (distinguished from sittings at nisi prius).
BANCALBan*cal", n.; pl. -cales (#). [Sp., fr. banca, banco, bench. Cf.Bench.]
Defn: An ornamental covering, as of carpet or leather, for a bench or form.
BANCOBan"co, n. Etym: [It. See Bank.]
Defn: A bank, especially that of Venice.
Note: This term is used in some parts of Europe to indicate bank money, as distinguished from the current money, when this last has become depreciated.
BAND Band, n. Etym: [OE. band, bond, Icel. band; akin to G., Sw., & D. band, OHG. bant, Goth. banti, Skr. bandha a binding, bandh to bind, for bhanda, bhandh, also to E. bend, bind. In sense 7, at least, it is fr. F. bande, from OHG. bant. Bind, v. t., and cf. Bend, Bond, 1st Bandy.]
1. A fillet, strap, or any narrow ligament with which a thing is encircled, or fastened, or by which a number of things are tied, bound together, or confined; a fetter. Every one's bands were loosed. Acis xvi 26.
2. (Arch.) (a) A continuous tablet, stripe, or series of ornaments, as of carved foliage, of color, or of brickwork, etc. (b) In Gothic architecture, the molding, or suite of moldings, which encircles the pillars and small shafts.
3. That which serves as the means of union or connection between persons; a tie. "To join in Hymen's bands." Shak.
4. A linen collar or ruff worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
5. pl.
Defn: Two strips of linen hanging from the neck in front as part of a clerical, legal, or academic dress.
6. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on any article of dress, to bind, strengthen, ornament, or complete it. "Band and gusset and seam." Hood.
7. A company of persons united in any common design, especially a body of armed men. Troops of horsemen with his bands of foot. Shak.
8. A number of musicians who play together upon portable musical instruments, especially those making a loud sound, as certain wind instruments (trumpets, clarinets, etc.), and drums, or cymbals.
9. (Bot.)
Defn: A space between elevated lines or ribs, as of the fruits of umbelliferous plants.
10. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stripe, streak, or other mark transverse to the axis of the body.
11. (Mech.)
Defn: A belt or strap.
12. A bond [Obs.] "Thy oath and band." Shak.
13. Pledge; security. [Obs.] Spenser. Band saw, a saw in the form of an endless steel belt, with teeth on one edge, running over wheels.
BANDBand, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banded; p. pr. & vb. n. Banding.]
1. To bind or tie with a band.
2. To mark with a band.
3. To unite in a troop, company, or confederacy. "Banded against his throne." Milton. Banded architrave, pier, shaft, etc. (Arch.), an architrave, pier, etc., of which the regular profile is interrupted by blocks or projections crossing it at right angles.
BANDBand, v. i.
Defn: To confederate for some common purpose; to unite; to conspiretogether.Certain of the Jews banded together. Acts xxiii. 12.
BANDBand, v. t.
Defn: To bandy; to drive away. [Obs.]
BANDBand, imp.
Defn: of Bind. [Obs.]
BANDAGEBand"age, n. Etym: [F. bandage, fr. bande. See Band.]
1. A fillet or strip of woven material, used in dressing and binding up wounds, etc.
2. Something resembling a bandage; that which is bound over or round something to cover, strengthen, or compress it; a ligature. Zeal too had a place among the rest, with a bandage over her eyes. Addison.
BANDAGEBand"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bandaged (p. pr. & vb. n. Bandaging (
Defn: To bind, dress, or cover, with a bandage; as, to bandage the eyes.
BANDALABan*da"la, n.
Defn: A fabric made in Manilla from the older leaf sheaths of the abaca (Musa textilis).
BANDANNA; BANDANA Ban*dan"na, Ban*dan"a, n. Etym: [Hind. bandhn a mode of dyeing in which the cloth is tied in different places so as to prevent the parts tied from receiving the dye. Cf. Band, n.]
1. A species of silk or cotton handkerchief, having a uniformly dyed ground, usually of red or blue, with white or yellow figures of a circular, lozenge, or other simple form.
2. A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed of a uniform red or dark color, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure. Ure.
BANDBOXBand"box`, n.
Defn: A light box of pasteboard or thin wood, usually cylindrical, for holding ruffs (the bands of the 17th century), collars, caps, bonnets, etc.
BANDEAUBan"deau, n.; pl. Bandeaux. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A narrow band or fillet; a part of a head-dress.Around the edge of this cap was a stiff bandeau of leather. Sir W.Scott.
BANDELET; BANDLETBand"e*let, Band"let, n. Etym: [F. bandelette, dim. of bande. SeeBand, n., and ch. Bendlet.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small band or fillet; any little band or flat molding, compassing a column, like a ring. Gwilt.
BANDERBand"er, n.
Defn: One banded with others. [R.]
BANDERILLABan`de*ril"la, n. [Sp., dim. of bandera banner. See Banner, and cf.Banderole.]
Defn: A barbed dart carrying a banderole which the banderillero thrusts into the neck or shoulder of the bull in a bullfight.
BANDERILLEROBan`de*ril*le"ro, n. [Sp.]
Defn: One who thrusts in the banderillas in bullfighting. W. D.Howells.
BANDEROLE; BANDROL Band"e*role, Band"rol, n. Etym: [F. banderole, dim. of bandière, bannière, banner; cf. It. banderuola a little banner. See Banner.]
Defn: A little banner, flag, or streamer. [Written also bannerol.] From the extremity of which fluttered a small banderole or streamer bearing a cross. Sir W. Scott.
BAND FISHBand" fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small red fish of the genus Cepola; the ribbon fish.
BANDICOOT Ban"di*coot, n. Etym: [A corruption of the native name.] (Zoöl.) (a) A species of very large rat (Mus giganteus), found in India and Ceylon. It does much injury to rice fields and gardens. (b) A ratlike marsupial animal (genus Perameles) of several species, found in Australia and Tasmania.
BANDING PLANEBand"ing plane`.
Defn: A plane used for cutting out grooves and inlaying strings and bands in straight and circular work.
BANDIT Ban"dit, n.; pl.Bandits, or Banditti. Etym: [It. bandito outlaw, p.p. of bandire to proclaim, to banish, to proscribe, LL. bandire, bannire. See Ban an edict, and cf. Banish.]
Defn: An outlaw; a brigand.No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer. Milton.
Note: The plural banditti was formerly used as a collective noun.Deerstealers are ever a desperate banditti. Sir W. Scott.
BANDLE Ban"dle, n. Etym: [Ir. bannlamh cubit, fr. bann a measure + lamh hand, arm.]
Defn: An Irish measure of two feet in length.
BANDLETBand"let, n.
Defn: Same as Bandelet.
BANDMASTERBand"mas`ter, n.
Defn: The conductor of a musical band.
BANDOGBan"dog`, n. Etym: [Band + dog, i.e., bound dog.]
Defn: A mastiff or other large and fierce dog, usually kept chainedor tied up.The keeper entered leading his bandog, a large bloodhound, tied in aleam, or band, from which he takes his name. Sir W. Scott.
BANDOLEER; BANDOLIER Ban`do*leer", Ban`do*lier", n. Etym: [F. bandoulière (cf.It. bandoliera, Sp.bandolera), fr.F. bande band, Sp.&It. banda. See Band, n.]
1. A broad leather belt formerly worn by soldiers over the right shoulder and across the breast under the left arm. Originally it was used for supporting the musket and twelve cases for charges, but later only as a cartridge belt.
2. One of the leather or wooden cases in which the charges of powder were carried. [Obs.]
BANDOLINEBan"do*line, n. Etym: [Perh. allied to band.]
Defn: A glutinous pomatum for the fair.
BANDONBan"don, n. Etym: [OF. bandon. See Abandon.]
Defn: Disposal; control; license. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
BANDOREBan"dore, n. Etym: [Sp. bandurria, fr. L. pandura, pandurium, amusical instrument of three strings, fr. Gr. . Cf. Pandore, Banjo,Mandolin.]
Defn: A musical stringed instrument, similar in form to a guitar; a pandore.
BANDROLBand"rol, n.
Defn: Same as Banderole.
BANDYBan"dy, n. Etym: [Telugu bandi.]
Defn: A carriage or cart used in India, esp. one drawn by bullocks.
BANDY Ban"dy, n.; pl. Bandies (. Etym: [Cf. F. bandé, p.p. of bander to bind, to bend (a bow), to bandy, fr. bande. See Band, n.]
1. A club bent at the lower part for striking a ball at play; a hockey stick. Johnson.
2. The game played with such a club; hockey; shinney; bandy ball.
BANDYBan"dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bandied (p. pr. & vb. n. Bandying.]
1. To beat to and fro, as a ball in playing at bandy. Like tennis balls bandied and struck upon us . . . by rackets from without. Cudworth.
2. To give and receive reciprocally; to exchange. "To bandy hasty words." Shak.
3. To toss about, as from man to man; to agitate. Let not obvious and known truth be bandied about in a disputation. I. Watts.
BANDYBan"dy, v. i.
Defn: To content, as at some game in which each strives to drive theball his own way.Fit to bandy with thy lawless sons. Shak.
BANDYBan"dy, a.
Defn: Bent; crooked; curved laterally, esp. with the convex side outward; as, a bandy leg.
BANDY-LEGGEDBan"dy-legged`, a.
Defn: Having crooked legs.
BANEBane, n. Etym: [OE. bane destruction, AS. bana murderer; akin toIcel. bani death, murderer, OHG. bana murder, bano murderer, murder,OIr. bath death, benim I strike.
1. That which destroys life, esp. poison of a deadly quality. [Obs. except in combination, as in ratsbane, henbane, etc.]
2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] The cup of deception spiced and tempered to their bane. Milton.
3. Any cause of ruin, or lasting injury; harm; woe. Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe. Herbert.
4. A disease in sheep, commonly termed the rot.
Syn.— Poison; ruin; destruction; injury; pest.
BANEBane, v. t.
Defn: To be the bane of; to ruin. [Obs.] Fuller.
BANEBERRYBane"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Actæa) of plants, of the order Ranunculaceæ, native in the north temperate zone. The red or white berries are poisonous.
BANEFULBane"ful, a.
Defn: Having poisonous qualities; deadly; destructive; injurious;noxious; pernicious. "Baneful hemlock." Garth. "Baneful wrath."Chapman.— Bane"ful*ly, adv. —Bane"ful*ness, n.
BANEWORTBane"wort, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Deadly nightshade.
BANGBang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banged; p. pr. & vb. n. Banging.] Etym:[Icel. banga to hammer; akin to Dan. banke to beat, Sw.bångas to beimpetuous, G. bengel club, clapper of a bell.]
1. To beat, as with a club or cudgel; to treat with violence; to handle roughly. The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks. Shak.
2. To beat or thump, or to cause ( something) to hit or strike against another object, in such a way as to make a loud noise; as, to bang a drum or a piano; to bang a door (against the doorpost or casing) in shutting it.
BANGBang, v. i.
Defn: To make a loud noise, as if with a blow or succession of blows; as, the window blind banged and waked me; he was banging on the piano.
BANGBang, n.
1. A blow as with a club; a heavy blow. Many a stiff thwack, many a bang. Hudibras.
2. The sound produced by a sudden concussion.
BANGBang, v. t.
Defn: To cut squarely across, as the tail of a hors, or the forelock of human beings; to cut (the hair). His hair banged even with his eyebrows. The Century Mag.
BANGBang, n.
Defn: The short, front hair combed down over the forehead, esp. when cut squarely across; a false front of hair similarly worn. His hair cut in front like a young lady's bang. W. D. Howells.
BANG; BANGUEBang, Bangue, n.
Defn: See Bhang.
BANGINGBang"ing, a.
Defn: Huge; great in size. [Colloq.] Forby.
BANGLEBan"gle, v. t. Etym: [From 1st Bang.]
Defn: To waste by little and little; to fritter away. [Obs.]
BANGLEBan"gle, n. Etym: [Hind. bangri bracelet, bangle.]
Defn: An ornamental circlet, of glass, gold, silver, or other material, worn by women in India and Africa, and in some other countries, upon the wrist or ankle; a ring bracelet. Bangle ear, a loose hanging ear of a horse, like that of a spaniel.
BANIANBan"ian, n. Etym: [Skr. banij merchant. The tree was so named by theEnglish, because used as a market place by the merchants.]
1. A Hindoo trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer. [Written also banyan.]
2. A man's loose gown, like that worn by the Banians.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The Indian fig. See Banyan. Banian days (Naut.), days in which the sailors have no flesh meat served out to them. This use seems to be borrowed from the Banians or Banya race, who eat no flesh.
BANISHBan"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banished(p. pr. & vb. n. Banishing.]Etym: [OF. banir, F. bannir, LL. bannire, fr. OHG. bannan to summon,fr. ban ban. See Ban an edict, and Finish, v. t.]
1. To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one's country, by authority of the ruling power. "We banish you our territories." Shak.
2. To drive out, as from a home or familiar place; — used with fromand out of.How the ancient Celtic tongue came to be banished from the LowCountries in Scotland. Blair.
3. To drive away; to compel to depart; to dispel. "Banish all offense." Shak.
Syn. — To Banish, Exile, Expel. The idea of a coercive removal from a place is common to these terms. A man is banished when he is forced by the government of a country (be he a foreigner or a native) to leave its borders. A man is exiled when he is driven into banishment from his native country and home. Thus to exile is to banish, but to banish is not always to exile. To expel is to eject or banish, summarily or authoritatively, and usually under circumstances of disgrace; as, to expel from a college; expelled from decent society.
BANISHERBan"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who banishes.
BANISHMENTBan"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bannissement.]
Defn: The act of banishing, or the state of being banished.He secured himself by the banishment of his enemies. Johnson.Round the wide world in banishment we roam. Dryden.
Syn. — Expatriation; ostracism; expulsion; proscription; exile; outlawry.
BANISTER Ban"is*ter, n. Etym: [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.]
Defn: A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the guitar, and its body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is played with the fingers and hands.
BANJO Ban"jo, n. [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.]
Defn: A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the guitar, and its body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is played with the fingers and hands.
BANJORINEBan`jo*rine", n. [From banjore banjo. See Banjo.] (Music.)
Defn: A kind of banjo, with a short neck, tuned a fourth higher than the common banjo; — popularly so called.
BANK Bank, n. Etym: [OE. banke; akin to E. bench, and prob. of Scand. origin.; cf. Icel. bakki. See Bench.]
1. A mound, pile, or ridge of earth, raised above the surrounding level; hence, anything shaped like a mound or ridge of earth; as, a bank of clouds; a bank of snow. They cast up a bank against the city. 2 Sam. xx. 15.
2. A steep acclivity, as the slope of a hill, or the side of a ravine.
3. The margin of a watercourse; the rising ground bordering a lake, river, or sea, or forming the edge of a cutting, or other hollow. Tiber trembled underneath her banks. Shak.
4. An elevation, or rising ground, under the sea; a shoal, shelf, or shallow; as, the banks of Newfoundland.
5. (Mining) (a) The face of the coal at which miners are working. (b) A deposit of ore or coal, worked by excavations above water level. (c) The ground at the top of a shaft; as, ores are brought to bank. Bank beaver (Zoöl.), the otter. [Local, U.S.] — Bank swallow, a small American and European swallow (Clivicola riparia) that nests in a hole which it excavates in a bank.
BANKBank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banked(p. pr. & vb. n. Banking.]
1. To raise a mound or dike about; to inclose, defend, or fortify with a bank; to embank. "Banked well with earth." Holland.
2. To heap or pile up; as, to bank sand.
3. To pass by the banks of. [Obs.] Shak. To bank a fire, To bank up a fire, to cover the coals or embers with ashes or cinders, thus keeping the fire low but alive.
BANK Bank, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. F. banc. Of German origin, and akin to E. bench. See Bench.]
1. A bench, as for rowers in a galley; also, a tier of oars. Placed on their banks, the lusty Trojan sweep Neptune's smooth face, and cleave the yielding deep. Waller.
2. (Law) (a) The bench or seat upon which the judges sit. (b) The regular term of a court of law, or the full court sitting to hear arguments upon questions of law, as distinguished from a sitting at Nisi Prius, or a court held for jury trials. See Banc. Burrill.
3. (Printing)
Defn: A sort of table used by printers.
4. (Music)
Defn: A bench, or row of keys belonging to a keyboard, as in an organ. Knight.
BANKBank, n. Etym: [F. banque, It. banca, orig. bench, table, counter, ofGerman origin, and akin to E. bench; cf. G. bank bench, OHG. banch.See Bench, and cf. Banco, Beach.]
1. An establishment for the custody, loan, exchange, or issue, of money, and for facilitating the transmission of funds by drafts or bills of exchange; an institution incorporated for performing one or more of such functions, or the stockholders (or their representatives, the directors), acting in their corporate capacity.
2. The building or office used for banking purposes.
3. A fund from deposits or contributions, to be used in transacting business; a joint stock or capital. [Obs.] Let it be no bank or common stock, but every man be master of his own money. Bacon.
4. (Gaming)
Defn: The sum of money or the checks which the dealer or banker has as a fund, from which to draw his stakes and pay his losses.
5. In certain games, as dominos, a fund of pieces from which the players are allowed to draw. Bank credit, a credit by which a person who has give — Bank of deposit, a bank which receives money for safe keeping. — Bank of issue, a bank which issues its own notes payable to bearer.
BANKBank, v. t.
Defn: To deposit in a bank.
BANKBank, v. i.
1. To keep a bank; to carry on the business of a banker.
2. To deposit money in a bank; to have an account with a banker.
BANKABLEBank"a*ble, a.
Defn: Receivable at a bank.
BANK BILLBank" bill`.
1. In America (and formerly in England), a promissory note of a bank payable to the bearer on demand, and used as currency; a bank note.
2. In England, a note, or a bill of exchange, of a bank, payable to order, and usually at some future specified time. Such bills are negotiable, but form, in the strict sense of the term, no part of the currency.
BANK BOOKBank" book`.
Defn: A book kept by a depositor, in which an officer of a bank enters the debits and credits of the depositor's account with the bank.
BANK DISCOUNTBank discount.
Defn: A sum equal to the interest at a given rate on the principal (face) of a bill or note from the time of discounting until it becomes due.
BANKER Bank"er, n.Etym: [See the nouns Bank and the verbs derived from them.]
1. One who conducts the business of banking; one who, individually, or as a member of a company, keeps an establishment for the deposit or loan of money, or for traffic in money, bills of exchange, etc.
2. A money changer. [Obs.]
3. The dealer, or one who keeps the bank in a gambling house.
4. A vessel employed in the cod fishery on the banks of Newfoundland. Grabb. J. Q. Adams.
5. A ditcher; a drain digger. [Prov. Eng.]
6. The stone bench on which masons cut or square their work. Weale.
BANKERESSBank"er*ess, n.
Defn: A female banker. Thackeray.
BANKINGBank"ing, n.
Defn: The business of a bank or of a banker. Banking house, an establishment or office in which, or a firm by whom, banking is done.
BANK NOTEBank" note`.
1. A promissory note issued by a bank or banking company, payable to bearer on demand.
Note: In the United States popularly called a bank bill.
2. Formerly, a promissory note made by a banker, or banking company, payable to a specified person at a fixed date; a bank bill. See Bank bill, 2. [Obs.]
3. A promissory note payable at a bank.
BANKRUPT Bank"rupt, n. Etym: [F. banqueroute, fr. It. bancarotta bankruptcy; banca bank (fr. OHG. banch, G. bank, bench) + rotta broken, fr. L. ruptus, p.p. of rumpere to break. At Florence, it is said, the bankrupt had his bench ( i.e., money table) broken. See 1st Bank, and Rupture, n.]
1. (Old Eng. Low)
Defn: A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts tending to defraud his creditors. Blackstone.
2. A trader who becomes unable to pay his debts; an insolvent trader; popularly, any person who is unable to pay his debts; an insolvent person. M
3. (Law)
Defn: A person who, in accordance with the terms of a law relating to bankruptcy, has been judicially declared to be unable to meet his liabilities.
Note: In England, until the year 1861 none but a "trader" could be made a bankrupt; a non-trader failing to meet his liabilities being an "insolvent". But this distinction was abolished by the Bankruptcy Act of 1861. The laws of 1841 and 1867 of the United States relating to bankruptcy applied this designation bankrupt to others besides those engaged in trade.
BANKRUPTBank"rupt, a.
1. Being a bankrupt or in a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay, or legally discharged from paying, one's debts; as, a bankrupt merchant.
2. Depleted of money; not having the means of meeting pecuniary liabilities; as, a bankrupt treasury.
3. Relating to bankrupts and bankruptcy.
4. Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once possessed, or something one should possess). "Bankrupt in gratitude." Sheridan. Bankrupt law, a law by which the property of a person who is unable or unwilling to pay his debts may be taken and distributed to his creditors, and by which a person who has made a full surrender of his property, and is free from fraud, may be discharged from the legal obligation of his debts. See Insolvent, a.
BANKRUPTBank"rupt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bankrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.Bankrupting.]
Defn: To make bankrupt; to bring financial ruin upon; to impoverish.
BANKRUPTCYBank"rupt*cy, n.; pl. Bankruptcies(
1. The state of being actually or legally bankrupt.
2. The act or process of becoming a bankrupt.
3. Complete loss; — followed by of.
BANKSIDEBank"side`, n.
Defn: The slope of a bank, especially of the bank of a steam.
BANK-SIDEDBank"-sid`ed, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having sides inclining inwards, as a ship; — opposed to wall- sided.
BANK SWALLOWBank" swal"low.
Defn: See under 1st Bank, n.
BANLIEUE Ban"li*eue`, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. bannum leucae, banleuca; bannum jurisdiction + leuca league.]
Defn: The territory without the walls, but within the legal limits, of a town or city. Brande & C.
BANNER Ban"ner, n. Etym: [OE. banere, OF. baniere, F. bannière, bandière, fr. LL. baniera, banderia, fr. bandum banner, fr. OHG. bant band, strip of cloth; cf. bindan to bind, Goth. bandwa, bandwo, a sign. See Band, n.]
1. A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle. Hang out our banners on the outward walls. Shak.
2. A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or motto, extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a procession, or suspended in some conspicuous place.
3. Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner. Banner fish (Zoöl.), a large fish of the genus Histiophorus, of the Swordfish family, having a broad bannerlike dorsal fin; the sailfish. One species (H. Americanus) inhabits the North Atlantic.
BANNEREDBan"nered, a.
Defn: Decorated with a banner or banners "bannered host." Milton.
BANNERET Ban"ner*et, n.Etym: [OE. baneret, OF. baneret, F. banneret; properly a dim. of OF. baniere. See Banner.]
1. Originally, a knight who led his vassals into the field under his own banner; — commonly used as a title of rank.
2. A title of rank, conferred for heroic deeds, and hence, an order of knighthood; also, the person bearing such title or rank.
Note: The usual mode of conferring the rank on the field of battle was by cutting or tearing off the point of the pennon or pointed flag on the spear of the candidate, thereby making it a banner.
3. A civil officer in some Swiss cantons.
4. A small banner. Shak.
BANNEROLBan"ner*ol, n.
Defn: A banderole; esp. a banner displayed at a funeral procession and set over the tomb. See Banderole.
BANNITIONBan*ni"tion, n. Etym: [LL. bannitio. See Banish.]
Defn: The act of expulsion.[Obs.] Abp. Laud.
BANNOCKBan"nock, n. Etym: [Gael. bonnach.]
Defn: A kind of cake or bread, in shape flat and roundish, commonly made of oatmeal or barley meal and baked on an iron plate, or griddle; — used in Scotland and the northern counties of England. Jamieson. Bannock fluke, the turbot. [Scot.]
BANNSBanns, n. pl. Etym: [See Ban.]
Defn: Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in a church, or other place prescribed by law, in order that any person may object, if he knows of just cause why the marriage should not take place.
BANQUETBan"quet, n. Etym: [F., a feast, prop. a dim. of banc bench; cf. It.banchetto, dim. of banco a bench, counter. See Bank a bench, and cf.Banquette.]
1. A feast; a sumptuous entertainment of eating and drinking; often, a complimentary or ceremonious feast, followed by speeches.
2. A dessert; a course of sweetmeats; a sweetmeat or sweetmeats. [Obs.] We'll dine in the great room, but let the music And banquet be prepared here. Massinger.
BANQUETBan"quet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banqueted; p. pr. & vb. n. Banqueting.]
Defn: To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; tofeast.Just in time to banquet The illustrious company assembled there.Coleridge.
BANQUETBan"quet, v.i.
1. To regale one's self with good eating and drinking; to feast. Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets, I would not taste thy treasonous offer. Milton.
2. To partake of a dessert after a feast. [Obs.] Where they did both sup and banquet. Cavendish.
BANQUETTEBan*quette", n. Etym: [F. See Banquet, n.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A raised way or foot bank, running along the inside of a parapet, on which musketeers stand to fire upon the enemy.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A narrow window seat; a raised shelf at the back or the top of a buffet or dresser.
BANQUETTER; BANQUETERBan"quet*ter, n.
Defn: One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts.
BANSHEE; BANSHIE Ban"shee, Ban"shie, n. Etym: [Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir. bean woman + Gael. sith fairy.]
Defn: A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to warn a family of the speedy death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the house.
BANSSHEE; BANSHIE Bans"shee, Ban"shie, n. [Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir. bean woman + Gael. sith fairy.] (Celtic Folklore)
Defn: A supernatural being supposed to warn a family of the approaching death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice.
BANSTICKLEBan"stic`kle, n. Etym: [OE. ban, bon, bone + stickle prickle, sting.See Bone, n., Stickleback.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish, the three-spined stickleback.
BANTAMBan"tam, n.
Defn: A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably brought from Bantam, a district of Java.
BANTAM WORKBan"tam work`.
Defn: Carved and painted work in imitation of Japan ware.
BANTENGBan"teng, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild ox of Java (Bibos Banteng).
BANTERBan"ter, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bantered(p. pr. & vb. n. Bantering.]Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. F. badiner to joke, or perh. fr. E. bandyto beat to and fro. See Badinage, and cf. Barter fr. OF. barater.]
1. To address playful good-natured ridicule to, — the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity. Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day. W. Irving.
2. To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit, characteristic, and the like. [Archaic] If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them. Chatham.
3. To delude or trick, — esp. by way of jest. [Obs.] We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars with hopes of being at least his lordship's chaplain. De Foe.
4. To challenge or defy to a match. [Colloq. Southern and Western U.S.]
BANTERBan"ter, n.
Defn: The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good- humored raillery; pleasantry. Part banter, part affection. Tennyson.
BANTERERBan"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who banters or rallies.
BANTINGISMBan"ting*ism, n.
Defn: A method of reducing corpulence by avoiding food containing much farinaceous, saccharine, or oily matter; — so called from William Banting of London.
BANTLING Bant"ling, n. Etym: [Prob. for bandling, from band, and meaning a child wrapped in swaddling bands; or cf. G. bäntling a bastard, fr. bank bench. Cf. Bastard, n.]
Defn: A young or small child; an infant. [Slightly contemptuous ordepreciatory.]In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings. W.Irving.
BANTUBan"tu, n.
Defn: A member of one of the great family of Negroid tribes occupying equatorial and southern Africa. These tribes include, as important divisions, the Kafirs, Damaras, Bechuanas, and many tribes whose names begin with Aba-, Ama-, Ba-, Ma-, Wa-, variants of the Bantu plural personal prefix Aba-, as in Ba-ntu, or Aba-ntu, itself a combination of this prefix with the syllable -ntu, a person. — Ban"tu, a.
BANXRINGBanx"ring, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian insectivorous mammal of the genus Tupaia.
BANYANBan"yan, n. Etym: [See Banian.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree of the same genus as the common fig, and called the Indian fig (Ficus Indica), whose branches send shoots to the ground, which take root and become additional trunks, until it may be the tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of men.
BANZAIBan"zai", interj. [Jap. banzai, banzei, ten thousand years, forever.]
Defn: Lit., May you live ten thousand years; — used in salutation of the emperor and as a battle cry. [Japan]
BAOBABBa"o*bab, n. Etym: [The native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A gigantic African tree (Adansonia digitata), also naturalized in India. See Adansonia.
BAPHOMET Baph"o*met, n.Etym: [A corruption of Mahomet or Mohammed, the Arabian prophet: cf. Pr. Bafomet, OSp. Mafomat, OPg. Mafameda.]
Defn: An idol or symbolical figure which the Templars were accused of using in their mysterious rites.
BAPTISM Bap"tism, n. Etym: [OE. baptim, baptem, OE. baptesme, batisme, F. baptême, L. baptisma, fr. Gr. , fr. to baptize, fr. to dip in water, akin to deep, Skr. gah to dip, bathe, v. i.]
Defn: The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.
BAPTISMALBap*tis"mal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. baptismal.]
Defn: Pertaining to baptism; as, baptismal vows. Baptismal name, theChristian name, which is given at baptism.
BAPTISMALLYBap*tis"mal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a baptismal manner.
BAPTISTBap"tist, n. Etym: [L. baptista, G. ]
1. One who administers baptism; — specifically applied to John, the forerunner of Christ. Milton.
2. One of a denomination of Christians who deny the validity of infant baptism and of sprinkling, and maintain that baptism should be administered to believers alone, and should be by immersion. See Anabaptist.
Note: In doctrine the Baptists of this country [the United States] are Calvinistic, but with much freedom and moderation. Amer. Cyc. Freewill Baptists, a sect of Baptists who are Arminian in doctrine, and practice open communion. — Seventh-day Baptists, a sect of Baptists who keep the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, as the Sabbath. See Sabbatarian. The Dunkers and Campbellites are also Baptists.
BAPTISTERY; BAPTISTRY Bap"tis*ter*y,Bap"tis*try, n.; pl. Baptisteries (, -tries (. Etym: [L. baptisterium, Gr. : cf. F. baptistère.] (Arch.) (a) In early times, a separate building, usually polygonal, used for baptismal services. Small churches were often changed into baptisteries when larger churches were built near. (b) A part of a church containing a font and used for baptismal services.
BAPTISTICBap*tis"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. ]
Defn: Of or for baptism; baptismal.
BAPTISTICALBap*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Baptistic. [R.]
BAPTIZABLEBap*tiz"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being baptized; fit to be baptized. Baxter.
BAPTIZATIONBap`ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: Baptism. [Obs.]Their baptizations were null. Jer. Taylor.
BAPTIZEBap*tize", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baptized (; p. pr. & vb. n.Baptizing.] Etym: [F. baptiser, L. baptizare, fr.Gr. . See Baptism.]
1. To administer the sacrament of baptism to.
2. To christen ( because a name is given to infants at their baptism); to give a name to; to name. I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. Shak.
3. To sanctify; to consecrate.
BAPTIZEMENTBap*tize"ment, n.
Defn: The act of baptizing.[R.]
BAPTIZERBap*tiz"er, n.
Defn: One who baptizes.
BAR Bar, n. Etym: [OE. barre, F. barre, fr. LL. barra, W. bar the branch of a tree, bar, baren branch, Gael. & Ir. barra bar.
1. A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door. Thou shalt make bars of shittim wood. Ex. xxvi. 26.
2. An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.
3. Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier. Must I new bars to my own joy create Dryden.
4. A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
5. Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.
6. (Law) (a) The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court. (b) The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence. (c) The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the legal profession. (d) A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.
7. Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
8. A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.
9. (Her.)
Defn: An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.
10. A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.
11. (Mus.)
Defn: A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
Note: A double bar marks the end of a strain or main division of a movement, or of a whole piece of music; in psalmody, it marks the end of a line of poetry. The term bar is very often loosely used for measure, i.e., for such length of music, or of silence, as is included between one bar and the next; as, a passage of eight bars; two bars' rest.
12. (Far.) pl. (a) The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed. (b) The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center of the sole.
13. (Mining) (a) A drilling or tamping rod. (b) A vein or dike crossing a lode.
14. (Arch.) (a) A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town. (b) A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a window; a sash bar. Bar shoe (Far.), a kind of horseshoe having a bar across the usual opening at the heel, to protect a tender frog from injury. — Bar shot, a double headed shot, consisting of a bar, with a ball or half ball at each end; — formerly used for destroying the masts or rigging in naval combat. — Bar sinister (Her.), a term popularly but erroneously used for baton, a mark of illegitimacy. See Baton. — Bar tracery (Arch.), ornamental stonework resembling bars of iron twisted into the forms required. — Blank bar (Law). See Blank. — Case at bar (Law), a case presently before the court; a case under argument. — In bar of, as a sufficient reason against; to prevent. — Matter in bar, or Defence in bar, a plea which is a final defense in an action. — Plea in bar, a plea which goes to bar or defeat the plaintiff's action absolutely and entirely. — Trial at bar (Eng. Law), a trial before all the judges of one the superior courts of Westminster, or before a quorum representing the full court.
BAR Bar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barred (p. pr. & vb. n. Barring.] Etym: [ F. barrer. See Bar, n.]
1. To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
2. To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; — sometimes with up. He barely looked the idea in the face, and hastened to bar it in its dungeon. Hawthorne.
3. To except; to exclude by exception. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me By what we do to- night. Shak.
4. To cross with one or more stripes or lines. For the sake of distinguishing the feet more clearly, I have barred them singly. Burney.
BARACABa*ra"ca, n.
Defn: An international, interdenominational organization of Bible classes of young men; — so named in allusion to the Hebrew word Berachah (Meaning blessing) occurring in 2 Chron. xx. 26 and 1 Chron. xii.
BARADBar"ad, n. [Gr. weight.] (Physics)
Defn: The pressure of one dyne per square centimeter; — used as a unit of pressure.
BARAESTHESIOMETER; BARESTHESIOMETER Bar`æs*the`si*om"e*ter, Bar`es*the`si*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. weight + æsthesiometer.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the delicacy of the sense of pressure. — Bar`æs*the`si*o*met"ric, Bar`es*the`si*o*met"ric (#), a.
BARATHEABar`a*the"a, n.
Defn: A soft fabric with a kind of basket weave and a diapered pattern.
BARBBarb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See Beard, n.]
1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it. The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his mouth. Walton.
2. A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. [Obs.]
3. pl.
Defn: Paps, or little projections, of the mucous membrane, which mark the opening of the submaxillary glands under the tongue in horses and cattle. The name is mostly applied when the barbs are inflamed and swollen. [Written also barbel and barble.]
4. The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else. "Having two barbs or points." Ascham.
5. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] Spenser.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively constitute the vane. See Feather.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and southeastern coasts of the United States; — also improperly called whiting.
8. (Bot.)
Defn: A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
BARBBarb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbed (p. pr. & vb. n. Barbing.]
1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.]
2. To clip; to mow. [Obs.] Marston.
3. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc. But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. Milton.
BARBBarb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. Barbarie.]
1. The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduces from Barbary into Spain by the Moors.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought from Barbary.
BARBBarb, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. bard.]
Defn: Armor for a horse. Same as 2d Bard, n., 1.