Bandoleer
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.]
English · e-37683-2184Historical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 12
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 12 of 179Bandoline
Bandoline, ban′do-lin, n. a gummy substance used for stiffening the hair and keeping it in shape. [Prob. from Band.]
English · e-37683-2185 · brief source recordBandore
Bandore, ban-dōr′, n. a musical instrument like a guitar, with three or more strings. [Sp. bandurria, Fr. mandore; L. pandura, Gr. pandoura.]
English · e-37683-2186Bandrol
Bandrol, band′rōl, n. Same as Banderol.
English · e-37683-2187 · brief source recordBands
Bands, of clergymen and barristers. See Band (2).
English · e-37683-2188 · brief source recordBandy
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 words with any one) = to discu
English · e-37683-2189Bane
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.]
English · e-37683-2190Bang
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
English · e-37683-2191Bang
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.']
English · e-37683-2192Bang
Bang. Same as Bhang.
English · e-37683-2193 · brief source recordBangle
Bangle, bang′gl, n. a ring, bracelet, or anklet.—adj. Ban′gled, adorned with such. [Hind. bangrī.]
English · e-37683-2194 · brief source recordBanian
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 o
English · e-37683-2195Banish
Banish, ban′ish, v.t. to condemn to exile: to drive away: to expel (with from, out of).—n. Ban′ishment, exile. [Fr. bannir—Low L. bannire, to proclaim. See Ban.]
English · e-37683-2196Banister
Banister, ban′istėr, n. a corr. of Baluster.
English · e-37683-2197 · brief source recordBanjo
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 str
English · e-37683-2198Bank
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
English · e-37683-2199Bank
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.]
English · e-37683-2200Bank
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
English · e-37683-2201Bankrupt
Bankrupt, bangk′rupt, n. one who breaks or fails in business; an insolvent person.—adj. insolvent: destitute (with of).—n. Bank′ruptcy, the state of being or act of becoming bankrupt. [Fr. banque-route, It. banca rotta.]
English · e-37683-2202Banksia
Banksia, bangk′sia, n. a genus of Australian shrubs, named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks (1744-1820).
English · e-37683-2203 · brief source recordBanner
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. with Band and Bind.]
English · e-37683-2204Banneret
Banneret, ban′ėr-et, n. a higher class of knight, inferior to a baron. [Fr. dim. of Banner.]
English · e-37683-2205 · brief source recordBannerol
Bannerol, ban′ėr-ol, n. Same as Banderol.
English · e-37683-2206 · brief source recordBanning
Banning, ban′ning, n. cursing. [See Ban.]
English · e-37683-2207 · brief source recordBannock
Bannock, ban′nok, n. a flat home-made cake of oatmeal, barley, or pease-meal. [Gael. bannach.]
English · e-37683-2208 · brief source recordBanns
Banns, banz, n.pl. a proclamation of marriage.—To forbid the banns, to make formal objection to a projected marriage. [From Ban.]
English · e-37683-2209Banquet
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
English · e-37683-2210Banquette
Banquette, bang-ket′, n. a raised way inside a parapet; the long seat behind the driver in a French diligence. [Fr.; It. banchetta, dim. of banca, seat.]
English · e-37683-2211Banshee
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
English · e-37683-2212Bantam
Bantam, ban′tam, n. a small variety of the common domestic fowl, supposed to be named from Bantam in Java, notable for courage.—adj. of bantam-breed: little and combative.
English · e-37683-2213Banter
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.
English · e-37683-2214Banting
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.]
English · e-37683-2215Bantling
Bantling, bant′ling, n. a child. [So called from the bands in which it is wrapped.]
English · e-37683-2216 · brief source recordBantu
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
English · e-37683-2217Banxring
Banxring, bangks′ring, n. a small insectivorous animal of Java and Sumatra. [Jav.]
English · e-37683-2218 · brief source recordBanyan
Banyan. See Banian.
English · e-37683-2219 · brief source recordBaobab
Baobab, bā′o-bab, n. a magnificent tree, native to tropical Western Africa, whose trunk is 20 to 30 feet thick, called also the Monkey-bread Tree. [African.]
English · e-37683-2220Baphomet
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 name Mahomet.]
English · e-37683-2221Baptise
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 spirit
English · e-37683-2222Bar
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 term
English · e-37683-2223Bar-sinister.
Bar-sinister. Variant of Baton-sinister (q.v. under Baton).
English · e-37683-2297 · brief source recordBaracan
Baracan. Same as Barracan.
English · e-37683-2224 · brief source recordBarage
Barage, ba-rāzh′, n. a light, silky dress-stuff, named from Barèges in the Pyrenees.
English · e-37683-2243 · brief source recordBaragouin
Baragouin, bä-rag-wēn, n. any jargon or unintelligible language. [Fr.; from Bret. bara, bread, and gwîn, wine, supposed to have originated in the Breton soldiers' astonishment at white bread.]
English · e-37683-2225Barb
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′ate
English · e-37683-2226Barb
Barb, bärb, n. a swift kind of horse, the breed of which came from Barbary in North Africa.
English · e-37683-2227 · brief source recordBarbacan
Barbacan. See Barbican.
English · e-37683-2228 · brief source recordBarbarous
Barbarous, bär′bar-us, adj. uncivilised: rude: savage: brutal.—adjs. Bar′baresque, pertaining to Barbary: barbarous, esp. in art; Barbār′ian, uncivilised: savage: without taste or refinement: foreign.—n. an uncivilised m
English · e-37683-2229Barbary ape
Barbary ape, bär′bar-i āp, n. the magot, or small tailless ape found in Africa and also on the rock of Gibraltar.
English · e-37683-2230 · brief source recordBarbecue
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
English · e-37683-2231Barbel
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.]
English · e-37683-2232Barber
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-s
English · e-37683-2233Barberry
Barberry, bär′ber-i, n. a thorny shrub with yellow flowers and red berries, common in hedges. [Low L. berberis; the Ar. barbaris is borrowed.]
English · e-37683-2234Barbette
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.]
English · e-37683-2235Barbican
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 Per
English · e-37683-2236Barbule
Barbule, bärb′ūl, n. (bot.) a small barb or beard: a pointed barb-like process fringing the barbs of a feather. [See Barbel.]
English · e-37683-2237Barcarolle
Barcarolle, bär′ka-rōl, n. a boat-song of the Venetian gondoliers: a musical composition of a similar character. [It. barcaruolo, a boatman, from barca, a bark, a barge, a boat.]
English · e-37683-2238Bard
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.]
English · e-37683-2239Barded
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, and barda‛ah, mule's pack-s
English · e-37683-2240Bare
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: uns
English · e-37683-2241Bare
Bare, bār, old pa.t. of Bear.
English · e-37683-2242 · brief source recordBargain
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 (with for): to
English · e-37683-2244Barge
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; B
English · e-37683-2245Barge-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. [The barge here may be conn. with Low L. bargus, a gallows.]
English · e-37683-2246Barghest
Barghest, bär′gest, n. a dog-like goblin portending death. [Perh. conn. with Ger. berg-geist, mountain-ghost.]
English · e-37683-2247 · brief source recordBaric
Baric. See Barium.
English · e-37683-2248 · brief source recordBarilla
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.]
English · e-37683-2249Baritone
Baritone, bar′i-tōn. Same as Barytone.
English · e-37683-2250 · brief source recordBarium
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. [From Baryta; cf. soda, sodium.]
English · e-37683-2251Bark
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 a
English · e-37683-2252Bark
Bark, Barque, bärk, n. a barge: a ship of small size, square-sterned, without head-rails: technically, a three-masted vessel whose mizzen-mast is fore-and-aft rigged instead of being square-rigged, like the fore and main
English · e-37683-2253Bark
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.
English · e-37683-2254Barker's mill
Barker's mill, bärk′ėrz mil, a water-wheel invented in the 18th century by Dr Barker.
English · e-37683-2255 · brief source recordBarley
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 as John Barleycorn, the grain from which malt is made: a si
English · e-37683-2256Barley
Barley, bär′li, interj. (Scot.) a term used in games in demand of a truce, parley (of which it is most prob. a corruption).
English · e-37683-2257Barley-brake
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. [P
English · e-37683-2258Barm
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.]
English · e-37683-2259Barm-cloth
Barm-cloth, bärm′-kloth, n. (Morris) an apron. [A.S. barm, bosom, -beran, to bear, and Cloth.]
English · e-37683-2261 · brief source recordBarmbrack
Barmbrack, bärm′brak, n. a currant-bun. [Ir. bairigen breac, speckled cake.]
English · e-37683-2260 · brief source recordBarmecide
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 the Arabian Nights, in which a beggar is entertained to an imaginary feast by o
English · e-37683-2262Barmkin
Barmkin, bärm′kin, n. the rampart of a castle.
English · e-37683-2263 · brief source recordBarn
Barn, bärn, n. a building in which grain, hay, &c. are stored.—v.t. to store in a barn.—ns. and adjs. Barn′-door, Barn′-yard, as in barn-yard fowl.—n. Barn′-owl, the commonest of British owls.—Barn-door, in cricket, used
English · e-37683-2264Barnaby
Barnaby, bärn′a-bi, n. form of Barnabas, 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.
English · e-37683-2265Barnacle
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 tha
English · e-37683-2266Barnacle
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 which ber
English · e-37683-2267Barney
Barney, bär′ni, n. (slang) humbug: a prize-fight.
English · e-37683-2268 · brief source recordBarnumise
Barnumise, bär′num-īz, v.t. to advertise and display on a great scale.—n. Bar′numism. [From Barnum, a great showman (1810-91).]
English · e-37683-2269Barograph
Barograph, bar′o-graf, n. a barometer which records automatically variations of atmospheric pressure. [Gr. baros, weight, graphein, to write.]
English · e-37683-2270Barometer
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′etr
English · e-37683-2271Barometz
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
English · e-37683-2272Baron
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 real
English · e-37683-2273Baronet
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
English · e-37683-2274Baroque
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 eart
English · e-37683-2275Baroscope
Baroscope, bar′ō-skōp, n. an instrument for indicating changes in the density of the air. [Gr. baros, weight, skopein, to see.]
English · e-37683-2276Barouche
Barouche, ba-rōōsh′, n. a double-seated four-wheeled carriage with a falling top. [It. baroccio—L. birotus, two-wheeled, from bis, twice, rota, a wheel.]
English · e-37683-2277Barque
Barque. Same as Bark (2).
English · e-37683-2278 · brief source recordBarquentine
Barquentine, bär′ken-tēn, n. same as Barkantine (q.v. under Bark, a ship). [Formed from Barque, like Brigantine from Brig.]
English · e-37683-2279Barracan
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.]
English · e-37683-2280Barrace
Barrace, bar′as, n. (obs.) the lists in a tournament. [O. Fr. barras—barre, bar.]
English · e-37683-2281 · brief source recordBarrack
Barrack, bar′ak, n. a building for soldiers, esp. in garrison (generally in pl.). [Fr. baraque (It. baracca, Sp. barraca, a tent); acc. to Diez from barra, bar.]
English · e-37683-2282Barracoon
Barracoon, bar′a-kōōn, n. a depôt for slaves. [Sp.—barraca.]
English · e-37683-2283 · brief source recordBarracoota
Barracoota, -cuda, bar′a-kōō′ta, -kōō′da, n. a voracious West Indian fish.—Also Barracou′ta, an Australian food-fish. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-2284Barrage
Barrage, bär′āj, n. the forming of an artificial bar in order to deepen a river. [Fr. barrage—barre, bar.]
English · e-37683-2285 · brief source recordBarranca
Barranca, bar-ran′ka, n. a deep gorge, with steep sides.—Also Barran′co. [Sp. Am.]
English · e-38700-10029 · brief source recordBarrator
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 th
English · e-37683-2286Barrel
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
English · e-37683-2287Barren
Barren, bar′en, adj. incapable of bearing offspring: unfruitful: dull, stupid: unprofitable (with of).—adj. Bar′ren-beat′en.—adv. Bar′renly.—n. Bar′renness.—adjs. Bar′ren-spir′ited; Bar′ren-wit′ted. [O. Fr. barain, braha
English · e-37683-2288Barret
Barret, bar′et, n. a flat cap, esp. the Biretta (q.v.). [Fr. barrette, Sp. birreta. See Biretta.]
English · e-37683-2289 · brief source recordBarricade
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 form Barricā′do. [Fr.; barrique, a cas
English · e-37683-2290Barrico
Barrico, bar-ē′ko, n. a small cask. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-2291 · brief source recordBarrier
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
English · e-37683-2292Barrister
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 revi
English · e-37683-2293Barrow
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. form bearwe—beran, to bear.]
English · e-37683-2294Barrow
Barrow, bar′rō, n. originally a mountain, hillock: a mound raised over graves in former times. [A.S. beorg; cog. with Ger. berg.]
English · e-37683-2295Barrow
Barrow, bar′rō, n. a long sleeveless flannel garment for infants. [A.S. beorgan, to protect.]
English · e-37683-2296 · brief source recordBarter
Barter, bär′tėr, v.t. to give one thing in exchange for another (with for, away).—v.i. to traffic by exchanging.—n. traffic by exchange of commodities.—n. Bar′terer, one who barters. [Prob. from O. Fr. barat.]
English · e-37683-2298Bartholomew-tide
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 spelt Bar′tlemy.—Black Bartholomew, 24th August 1662, the day on
English · e-37683-2299Bartisan
Bartisan, bär′ti-zan, n. a small overhanging turret projecting from an angle on the top of a tower. [Apparently an adaptation by Scott of Scot. bertisene, traceable to O. Fr. bretesche, a parapet of wood.]
English · e-37683-2300Barton
Barton, bar′ton, n. a farm-yard. [A.S. bere-tún, yard, bere, barley, and tún, enclosure.]
English · e-37683-2301 · brief source recordBarycentric
Barycentric, bar-i-sen′trik, adj. pertaining to the centre of gravity. [Gr. barys, heavy, kentron, centre.]
English · e-37683-2302 · brief source recordBaryta
Baryta, ba-rī′ta, Barytes, ba-rī′tēz, n. the earth present in the minerals witherite and heavy spar.—adj. Baryt′ic, of or containing baryta. [From Gr. barys, heavy.]
English · e-37683-2303Barytone
Barytone, bar′i-tōn, n. a deep-toned male voice between bass and tenor: a singer with such a voice: in Greek, applied to words not having an acute accent on the last syllable. [Through Fr. from Gr. barys, heavy, deep, an
English · e-37683-2304Bas-relief
Bas-relief, bä-re-lēf′, Bass-relief, bas′re-lēf′, n. (sculp.) figures which do not stand far out from the ground on which they are formed—also used in the Italian form Bass′o-rilie′vo. [See Base, low, and Relief.]
English · e-37683-2334Basalt
Basalt, bas-awlt′, n. a hard, dark-coloured rock of igneous origin.—adj. Basalt′ic. [L. basaltes, an African word.]
English · e-37683-2305 · brief source recordBasanite
Basanite, bas′an-īt, n. a kind of quartz serviceable for testing the purity of the precious metals by the marks made. [Gr. basanos, touchstone.]
English · e-37683-2306Basbleu
Basbleu. Same as Blue-stocking (q.v. under Blue).
English · e-37683-2307 · brief source recordBascinet
Bascinet. Same as Basinet.
English · e-37683-2308 · brief source recordBascule
Bascule, bas′kūl, n. an apparatus of the lever kind, in which one end is raised while the other is depressed. [Fr. bas, down, and cul, the posteriors.]
English · e-37683-2309Base
Base, bās, n. that on which a thing rests: foot: bottom: foundation: support: the chief ingredient, as in dyeing and chemistry: the starting-point, in a race: the fixed goal across which the ball is struck in hockey, the
English · e-37683-2310Base
Base, bās, adj. low in place, value, estimation, or principle: mean: vile: worthless: debased: counterfeit: (law) servile, as opposed to free: humble: (B. and Shak.) lowly.—adj. Base′-born, illegitimate.—adv. Base′ly.—ad
English · e-37683-2311Base
Base, bās, v.t. a form of Abase.
English · e-37683-2312 · brief source recordBase
Base, bās, n. an old game played by two sides occupying contiguous spaces, called bases or homes, off which any player is liable to be touched with the hand or struck by a ball by the enemy, and so attached to their side
English · e-37683-2313Base-ball
Base-ball, bās′-bawl, n. a game played with a bat and a ball, and run round bases, marking the circuit to be taken by each player of the inside after striking the ball. There are nine players on each side; the pitcher, o
English · e-37683-2314Basecourt
Basecourt, bās′kōrt, n. the outer court of a mansion, which contained the stable-yard and servants' accommodation, as distinguished from the principal quadrangle: an inferior court of justice. [Fr. basse-court.]
English · e-37683-2315Basenet
Basenet. Same as Basinet.
English · e-37683-2316 · brief source recordBash
Bash, bash, v.t. to beat or smash in.—n. Bash. [Prob. Scand.]
English · e-37683-2317 · brief source recordBashaw
Bashaw, ba-shaw′, n. a pasha: a haughty man—now usually written Pasha or Pacha (q.v.).—ns. Bashaw′ism, Bashaw′ship. [Turk.]
English · e-37683-2318Bashful
Bashful, bash′fōōl, adj. easily confused: modest: shy: wanting confidence.—v.i. Bash (Spens.), to be abashed.—adv. Bash′fully.—n. Bash′fulness.—adj. Bash′less, unashamed. [See Abash.]
English · e-37683-2319Bashi-bazouk
Bashi-bazouk, bash′i-ba-zōōk′, n. a Turkish irregular trooper. They are mostly Asiatics, and are brutal plundering ruffians, capable, as in 1876 in Bulgaria, of the most devilish atrocities. [Turk. bashi-bozuq.]
English · e-37683-2320Bashlyk
Bashlyk, bash′lik, n. a kind of hood with long ends worn in Russia. [Russ. bashluikŭ, a Caucasian hood.]
English · e-37683-2321 · brief source recordBasil
Basil, baz′il, n. a mainly tropical or subtropical genus of Labiatæ, characterised by a pleasant aromatic smell and taste, and reckoned amongst sweet herbs.—Sweet basil is an Indian annual long cultivated in Europe for s
English · e-37683-2322Basil
Basil, baz′il, n. a sheepskin roughly tanned and undressed.
English · e-37683-2323 · brief source recordBasil
Basil. See Bezel.
English · e-37683-2324 · brief source recordBasilica
Basilica, baz-il′ik-a, n. among the Romans, a large oblong hall, with double colonnades and a semicircular apse at the end, used for judicial and commercial purposes—many of them were afterwards converted into Christian
English · e-37683-2325Basilicon
Basilicon, baz-il′ik-on, n. a name given to various kinds of ointment as possessing sovereign virtues. [Gr. basilikon, royal.]
English · e-37683-2326Basilisk
Basilisk, baz′il-isk, n. a fabulous creature, about a foot long, with a black-and-yellow skin and fiery red eyes, so named, according to Pliny, from the crest on the head like a crown—variously regarded as a kind of drag
English · e-37683-2327Basin
Basin, bās′n, n. a wide open vessel or dish: any hollow place containing water, as a dock: the area drained by a river and its tributaries. [O. Fr. bacin—Low L. bachinus, perh. from the Celtic.]
English · e-37683-2328Basinet
Basinet, bas′i-net, n. a light globular headpiece worn alone with a visor, or with the great helm resting on the shoulders, worn over it.—Also Bas′net.
English · e-37683-2329Basis
Basis, bās′is, n. the foundation, or that on which a thing rests: the pedestal of a column: the groundwork or first principle:—pl. Bas′es. [See Base (1).]
English · e-37683-2330Bask
Bask, bask, v.i. to lie in the warmth or sunshine. [Scand. badask, to bathe.]
English · e-37683-2331 · brief source recordBasket
Basket, bas′ket, n. a vessel made of plaited twigs, rushes, or other flexible materials.—ns. Bas′ketful, as much as fills a basket; Bas′ket-hilt, the hilt of a sword with a covering wrought like basket-work to defend the
English · e-37683-2332Basque
Basque, bask, adj. relating to the Basques, or their wonderful language, with its extreme variability of dialects—the only example of a consistently incorporating language.—n. a native of the Basque provinces: the distin
English · e-37683-2333Bass
Bass, bās, n. the low or grave part in music.—adj. low, deep, grave.—v.t. to sound in a deep tone.—ns. Bass′-horn, a musical wind-instrument, a modification of the bassoon, much lower and deeper in its tones; Thor′ough-b
English · e-37683-2335Bass
Bass. Same as Bast.
English · e-37683-2336 · brief source recordBass
Bass, Basse, bas, n. a marine fish allied to the perch. [A.S. bærs; cf. Ger. bars, the perch.]
English · e-37683-2337 · brief source recordBass-viol
Bass-viol, bās′-vī′ol, n. a musical instrument with four strings, used for playing the bass in concerted music; the violoncello. [See Bass, low, and Viol.]
English · e-37683-2343Bassa
Bassa, bas′sa, n. Same as Bashaw.
English · e-37683-2338 · brief source recordBasset
Basset, bas′et, n. a short-legged dog used in unearthing foxes and badgers: an old Venetian game at cards, resembling faro, widely popular in the 18th century: (geol.) the outcrop or emergence of mineral strata at the su
English · e-37683-2339Bassinet
Bassinet, Bassinette, bas′si-net, n. a kind of basket with a hood in which an infant is placed as in a cradle: a similarly shaped perambulator. [Fr. dim. of basin, a basin.]
English · e-37683-2340Basso
Basso, bas′so, n. the same as Bass (1): also a bass singer.
English · e-37683-2341 · brief source recordBassoon
Bassoon, bas-ōōn′, n. (It. fagotto) a musical wind-instrument filling an important place in the modern orchestra, of the reed species, made of maple-wood or plane-tree, its compass from B flat below the bass stave to C i
English · e-37683-2342Bast
Bast, bast, n. the inner bark of the lime-tree: matting made of it. [A.S. bæst; Dut., Dan., Ger. bast.]
English · e-37683-2344 · brief source recordBastard
Bastard, bas′tard, n. a child born of parents not married.—adj. born out of wedlock: not genuine: resembling, but not identical with, the species bearing the name: of abnormal shape or size: false.—n. Bas′tard-bar, a pop
English · e-37683-2345Baste
Baste, bāst, v.t. to beat with a stick. [Prob. conn. with Ice. beysta, Dan. böste, to beat.]
English · e-37683-2346 · brief source recordBaste
Baste, bāst, v.t. to drop fat or butter over meat while roasting to keep it from burning and to improve the flavour. [Ety. unknown.]
English · e-37683-2347Baste
Baste, bāst, v.t. to sew slightly or with long stitches. [O. Fr. bastír, from Old High Ger. bestan, to sew.]
English · e-37683-2348 · brief source recordBastille
Bastille, bast-ēl′, n. an old fortress in Paris long used as a stale prison, and demolished by a revolutionary mob in July 1789: any prison regarded as a symbol of tyranny. [Fr.—O. Fr. bastir (Fr. bâtir), to build.]
English · e-37683-2349Bastinado
Bastinado, bast-in-ād′o, v.t. to beat with a baton or stick, esp. on the soles of the feet (a form of punishment in the East):—pr.p. bastinād′ing or bastinād′oing; pa.p. bastinād′ed or bastinād′oed.—ns. Bastinade′, Basti
English · e-37683-2350Bastion
Bastion, bast′yun, n. a kind of tower at the angles of a fortification.—adj. Bast′ioned. [Fr.—O. Fr. bastir, to build.]
English · e-37683-2351 · brief source recordBat
Bat, bat, n. a heavy stick: a flat club for striking the ball in cricket, a club for base-balls, a batsman: the clown's sword in a pantomime: a piece of brick: (slang) rate of speed, style.—v.i. to use the bat in cricket
English · e-37683-2352Bat
Bat, bat, n. an animal with a body like a mouse, but which flies on wings attached mainly to its fore-feet, but extending along its sides to the hind-feet. [M. E. bakke, apparently from Scand.; cf. Dan. aftenbakke, eveni
English · e-37683-2353Batable
Batable, bāt′a-bl, adj. debatable, disputable. [A contr. of Debatable.]
English · e-37683-2354 · brief source recordBatata
Batata, ba-tä′ta, n. a plant with tuberous roots, the sweet potato. [Sp. batata, potato.]
English · e-37683-2355 · brief source recordBatavian
Batavian, ba-tā′vi-an, adj. pertaining to the ancient Batavi in the Low Countries, or to the modern Dutch, their descendants.
English · e-37683-2356Batch
Batch, bach, n. the quantity of bread baked or of anything made or got ready at one time: a set. [From Bake.]
English · e-37683-2357 · brief source recordBate
Bate. Same as Abate.
English · e-37683-2358 · brief source recordBate
Bate, bāt, n. (Spens.) strife, contention.—adj. Bate′-breed′ing (Shak.). [Abbrev. of Debate.]
English · e-37683-2359 · brief source recordBate
Bate, bāt, n. diminution (dial., esp. in combination).
English · e-37683-2360 · brief source recordBate
Bate, bāt, v.i. (Shak.) to beat the wings impatiently: (obs.) to be impatient. [O. E. batre—Low L. batĕre.]
English · e-37683-2361 · brief source recordBateau
Bateau, bä-to′, n. a light river-boat, esp. those used on Canadian rivers. [Fr.—O. Fr. batel, boat.]
English · e-37683-2362 · brief source recordBateless
Bateless, bāt′les, adj. (Shak.) that cannot be bated or blunted.
English · e-37683-2363 · brief source recordBatfowling
Batfowling, bat′fowl-ing, n. the catching birds at night when at roost. [Bat, club, and Fowl.]
English · e-37683-2364 · brief source recordBath
Bath, bäth, n. water for plunging the body into: a bathing: a house for bathing: a place for undergoing medical treatment by means of bathing: (phot.) a solution in which plates are plunged:—pl. Baths (bäthz).—ns. Bath′-
English · e-37683-2365Bath
Bath, bäth, n. the largest Jewish liquid measure, containing about six gallons. [Heb.]
English · e-37683-2366 · brief source recordBathe
Bathe, bāth, v.t. to wash as in a bath: to wash or moisten with any liquid: to moisten, suffuse, encompass.—v.i. to take a bath.—n. the act of taking a bath.—ns. Bath′ing-box, a box for bathers to undress and dress in; B
English · e-37683-2367Bathometer
Bathometer, bath-om′et-ėr, n. an instrument for ascertaining depth. [Gr. bathos, depth, metron, measure.]
English · e-37683-2368 · brief source recordBathorse
Bathorse, baw′hors, n. a packhorse carrying the baggage of an officer. [Fr. bât, a pack-saddle.]
English · e-37683-2369 · brief source recordBathos
Bathos, bā′thos, n. a ludicrous descent from the elevated to the mean in writing or speech.—adj. Bathet′ic, irregularly formed on the analogy of pathos, pathetic. [Gr. bathos, depth, from bathys, deep.]
English · e-37683-2370Bathybius
Bathybius, bath-ib′i-us, n. name given to a supposed low form of life at the bottom of some parts of the deep sea. [Formed from Gr. bathys, deep, and bios, life.]
English · e-37683-2371Bathymetry
Bathymetry, bath-im′et-ri, n. the science of measuring the depth of seas and lakes. [Gr. bathys, deep, metria, measurement.]
English · e-37683-2372Bating
Bating, bāt′ing, prep. abating, excepting.
English · e-37683-2373 · brief source recordBatiste
Batiste, ba-tēst′, n. usual French name for cambric: applied in commerce to a fine texture of linen and cotton. [Littré derives from Baptiste, the original maker; others from its use in wiping the heads of children after
English · e-37683-2374Batlet
Batlet, bat′let, n. a wooden mallet used by laundresses for beating clothes. [Dim. of Bat.]
English · e-37683-2375 · brief source recordBatman
Batman, bat′man, baw′man, n. a man who has charge of a bathorse. [See Bathorse.]
English · e-37683-2376 · brief source recordBaton
Baton, bat′on, Batoon, ba-toon′, n. a staff or truncheon, esp. of a policeman: a marshal's staff.—v.t. to strike with a baton.—n. Bat′on-sin′ister, a well-known heraldic indication of illegitimacy, improperly called Bar-
English · e-37683-2377Batrachia
Batrachia, ba-trā′ki-a, n.pl. the order of reptiles which includes the frogs.—adj. and n. Batrā′chian. [From Gr. batrachos, a frog.]
English · e-37683-2378Batswing
Batswing, bats′wing, n. a kind of gas-burner, with a slit at the top which causes the flame to take the shape of a bat's wing.
English · e-37683-2379Batta
Batta, bat′ta, n. an allowance to officers in the British Indian army in addition to their ordinary pay: subsistence money. [Hind.]
English · e-37683-2380Battailant
Battailant, bat′tāl-ant, adj. (Spens.) fighting.—adj. Bat′tailous (arch.), war-like. [Fr. bataillant, pr.p. of batailler, to fight. See Battle.]
English · e-37683-2381Battalia
Battalia, bat-tāl′ya, n. the order of battle: the main body of an army in array. [It. battaglia. Doublet of Battle.]
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