Bisulcate
Bisulcate, bī-sul′kāt, adj. (zool.) cloven-footed. [L. bi-, twice, sulcus, a furrow.]
English · e-37683-2982 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 16
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 16 of 179Bisulphate
Bisulphate, bī-sul′fāt, n. a salt of sulphuric acid, in which one-half of the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a metal. [L. bi-, twice, and Sulphate.]
English · e-37683-2983Bit
Bit, bit, n. a bite, a morsel: a small piece: the smallest degree: a small tool for boring (see Brace): the part of the bridle which the horse holds in his mouth (see Bridle)—hence, To take the bit in his teeth, to be be
English · e-37683-2984Bitch
Bitch, bich, n. the female of the dog, wolf, and fox. [A.S. bicce; Ice. bikkja.]
English · e-37683-2985 · brief source recordBite
Bite, bīt, v.t. to seize or tear with the teeth: to sting or pain: to wound by reproach: to deceive, or take in—now only passive:—pa.t. bit; pa.p. bit or bit′ten.—n. a grasp by the teeth: a nibble at the bait by a fish:
English · e-37683-2986Bitt
Bitt, bit, v.t. (naut.) to fasten round the Bitts (q.v.).
English · e-37683-2987 · brief source recordBittacle
Bittacle. Same as Binnacle.
English · e-37683-2988 · brief source recordBitter
Bitter, bit′ėr, adj. biting or acrid to the taste: sharp: painful.—n. any substance having a bitter taste.—adj. Bitt′erish.—adv. Bitt′erly.—n. Bitt′erness.—n.pl. Bitt′ers, a liquid prepared from bitter herbs or roots, an
English · e-37683-2989Bitter
Bitter (Spens.), used for Bittern.
English · e-37683-2990 · brief source recordBittern
Bittern, bit′ėrn, n. a bird of the heron family, said to have been named from the resemblance of its voice to the lowing of a bull. [M. E. bittour—Fr.—Low L. butorius (bos, taurus).]
English · e-37683-2991Bittern
Bittern, bit′ėrn, n. an oily liquid remaining in salt-works after the crystallisation of the salt, and used in the manufacture of Epsom salts.
English · e-37683-2992Bittor
Bittor, Bittour, bit′tur, n. (Dryden) the bird Bittern.
English · e-37683-2993 · brief source recordBitts
Bitts, bits, n. a frame in the forepart of a ship round which the cables are passed when the vessel rides at anchor.
English · e-37683-2994 · brief source recordBitumen
Bitumen, bi-tū′men, or bit′yu-men, n. a name applied to various inflammable mineral substances, as naphtha, petroleum, asphaltum.—v.t. Bitū′minate, to mix with or make into bitumen—also Bitū′minise.—adjs. Bitū′minous, Bi
English · e-37683-2995Bivalve
Bivalve, bī′valv, n. an animal having a shell in two valves or parts, like the oyster: a seed-vessel of like kind.—adj. having two valves.—adj. Bivalv′ular. [L. bi-, twice, valva, a valve.]
English · e-37683-2996Bivious
Bivious, biv′i-us, adj. leading two, or different, ways. [L. bivius—bi-, twice, via, a way.]
English · e-37683-2997 · brief source recordBivouac
Bivouac, biv′ōō-ak, n. the resting at night of soldiers in the open air, instead of under cover in camp.—v.i. to pass the night in the open air:—pr.p. biv′ouacking; pa.p. biv′ouacked. [Fr.—Ger. beiwacht, to watch beside—
English · e-37683-2998Bizarre
Bizarre, bi-zär′, adj. odd: fantastic: extravagant.—n. Bizar′rerie. [Fr.—Sp. bizarro, high-spirited; acc. to Littré, adapted from Basque bizarre, the beard.]
English · e-37683-3000Bizcacha
Bizcacha. See Viscacha.
English · e-37683-3001 · brief source recordBlab
Blab, blab, v.i. to talk much: to tell tales.—v.t. to tell what ought to be kept secret (with out, forth):—pr.p. blab′bing; pa.p. blabbed.—n. an open-mouthed person, a tattler: tattling.—n. Blab′ber, one who blabs. [M. E
English · e-37683-3002Black
Black, blak, adj. of the darkest colour: without colour: obscure: dismal: sullen: horrible: dusky: foul, dirty: malignant: dark-haired, wearing dark armour or clothes.—n. black colour: absence of colour: a negro: mournin
English · e-37683-3003Black-art
Black-art, blak′-ärt, n. necromancy: magic. [Acc. to Trench, a translation of the Low L. nigromantia, substituted erroneously for the Gr. necromanteia (see Necromancy), as if the first syllable had been L. niger, black.]
English · e-37683-3004Blackmail
Blackmail, blak′māl, n. rent or tribute formerly paid to robbers for protection: hush-money extorted under threat of exposure or denunciation, esp. of a baseless charge.—v.t. to extort money from a person by this expedie
English · e-37683-3005Blad
Blad, blad, n. a fragment of anything, a good lump. [Scot.]
English · e-37683-3006 · brief source recordBladder
Bladder, blad′ėr, n. a thin bag distended with liquid or air: the receptacle for the urine.—adjs. Bladd′ered, Bladd′ery, swollen like a bladder.—n. Bladd′erwort, a genus of slender aquatic plants, the leaves floating. [A
English · e-37683-3007Blade
Blade, blād, n. the leaf or flat part of grass or corn: the cutting part of a knife, sword, &c.: the flat part of an oar: a dashing fellow.—n. Blade′bone, the flat bone at the back of the shoulder: the scapula.—adj. Blad
English · e-37683-3008Blae
Blae, blā, adj. blackish or blue in colour: livid: bleak.—n. Blae′berry, Scotch name for the bilberry or whortleberry. [M. E. blo, bloo—Scand. blá.]
English · e-37683-3009Blague
Blague, blag, n. blustering humbug. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-3010 · brief source recordBlain
Blain, blān, n. a boil or blister. [A.S. blegen, a blister, prob. from blawan, to blow.]
English · e-37683-3011 · brief source recordBlame
Blame, blām, v.t. to find fault with: to censure.—n. imputation of a fault: crime: censure.—adj. Blam′able, deserving of blame: faulty.—n. Blam′ableness.—adv. Blam′ably.—adj. Blame′ful, meriting blame: criminal.—adv. Bla
English · e-37683-3012Blanc-mange
Blanc-mange, bla-mawngzh′, n. a white jelly prepared with milk. [Fr. blanc, white, manger, food.]
English · e-37683-3014 · brief source recordBlanch
Blanch, blansh, v.t. to whiten.—v.i. to grow white. [Fr. blanchir—blanc, white. See Blank.]
English · e-37683-3013 · brief source recordBland
Bland, bland, adj. smooth: gentle: mild.—adv. Blandly.—n. Bland′ness. [L. blandus, perh.—mla(n)dus—Eng. mild.]
English · e-37683-3015 · brief source recordBland
Bland, bland, n. an Orcadian name for butter-milk and water. [Scand. blanda.]
English · e-37683-3016 · brief source recordBlandish
Blandish, bland′ish, v.t. to flatter and coax, to cajole.—n. Bland′ishment, act of expressing fondness: flattery: winning expressions or actions. [Fr. blandir, blandiss-, from L. blandīri.]
English · e-37683-3017Blank
Blank, blangk, adj. without writing or marks, as in white paper: empty, empty of results: vacant, confused: (poetry) not having rhyme.—n. a paper without writing: a lottery-ticket having no mark, and therefore valueless:
English · e-37683-3018Blanket
Blanket, blangk′et, n. a white woollen covering for beds: a covering for horses, &c.—v.t. to cover with a blanket: to toss in a blanket.—n. Blank′eting, cloth for blankets: the punishment of being tossed in a blanket. [F
English · e-37683-3019Blare
Blare, blār, v.i. to roar, to sound loudly, as a trumpet.—n. roar, noise. [M. E. blaren, orig. blasen, from A.S. blæsan, to blow. See Blast.]
English · e-37683-3020Blarney
Blarney, blar′ni, n. pleasing flattery or cajoling talk.—v.t. to beguile with such. [Blarney Castle, near Cork, where there is a stone difficult to reach, he who kisses which ever after possesses the gift of blarney.]
English · e-37683-3021Blasé
Blasé, bla-zā, adj. fatigued with pleasures, used up. [Fr. blaser.]
English · e-37683-3022 · brief source recordBlash
Blash, blash, n. watery stuff.—adj. Blash′y. [Scot.]
English · e-37683-3023 · brief source recordBlaspheme
Blaspheme, blas-fēm′, v.t. and v.i. to speak impiously of, as of God: to curse and swear.—n. Blasphem′er.—adj. Blas′phemous, containing blasphemy: impious.—adv. Blas′phemously.—n. Blas′phemy, profane speaking: contempt o
English · e-37683-3024Blast
Blast, blast, n. a blowing or gust of wind: a forcible stream of air: sound of a wind instrument; an explosion of gunpowder: anything pernicious.—v.t. to strike with some pernicious influence, to blight: to affect with s
English · e-37683-3025Blastoderm
Blastoderm, blas′to-derm, n. an embryological term applied to the layer or layers of cells arising from the germinal disc, or the portion of a partially segmenting egg which undergoes division. [Gr. blasto-, blastos, a s
English · e-37683-3026Blatant
Blatant, blāt′ant, adj. noisy, clamorous, loud.—adv. Blat′antly. [Prob. a coinage of Spenser.]
English · e-37683-3027 · brief source recordBlate
Blate, blāt, adj. bashful, timidly awkward. [Scot.; A.S. blát, pale.]
English · e-37683-3028 · brief source recordBlatter
Blatter, blat′tėr, v.i. to talk overmuch, to prate.—v.i. to hurry or rush noisily.—n. a clatter of words, sound of rapid motion. [L. blaterāre.]
English · e-37683-3029Blawort
Blawort, blä′wort, n. the harebell: the corn blue-bottle.—Also Blē′wart. [Scot. Blae, and wort, herb.]
English · e-37683-3030 · brief source recordBlay
Blay, blā, n. the fish bleak.—Also Bley. [See Bleak, a fish.]
English · e-37683-3031 · brief source recordBlaze
Blaze, blāz, n. a rush of light or of flame: a bursting out or active display: a white spot on the face of a horse or ox: a mark made on a tree by cutting off a strip of bark to mark a track or a boundary.—v.i. to burn w
English · e-37683-3032Blaze
Blaze, blāz, Blazon, blā′zn, v.t. to proclaim, to spread abroad.—n. Blaz′er (Spens.), one who spreads abroad or proclaims. [Same as Blare; Blazon is the M. E. blasen, with the n retained.]
English · e-37683-3033Blazon
Blazon, blā′zn, v.t. to make public: to display: to draw or to explain in proper terms the figures, &c., in armorial bearings.—n. the science or rules of coats-of-arms.—ns. Blaz′oner, one who blazons: a herald: a slander
English · e-37683-3034Bleach
Bleach, blēch, v.t. to make pale or white: to whiten, as textile fabrics.—v.i. to grow white.—ns. Bleach′er, one who bleaches, or that which bleaches; Bleach′ery, a place for bleaching; Bleach′-field, a place for bleachi
English · e-37683-3035Bleak
Bleak, blēk, adj. colourless: dull and cheerless: cold, unsheltered.—adv. Bleak′ly.—n. Bleak′ness. [A.S. blæc, blâc, pale, shining; a different word from blac (without accent), black. The root is blican, to shine.]
English · e-37683-3036Bleak
Bleak, blēk, n. a small white river-fish.
English · e-37683-3037 · brief source recordBlear
Blear, blēr, adj. (as in Blear-eyed, blēr′-īd) sore or inflamed: dim or blurred with inflammation. [Low Ger. bleer-oged, 'blear-eyed.']
English · e-37683-3038Bleat
Bleat, blēt, v.i. to cry as a sheep.—n. the cry of a sheep, any similar cry, even of the human voice.—n. Bleat′ing, the cry of a sheep. [A.S. blǽtan; L. balāre, Gr. blēchē, a bleating; root bla-; formed from the sound.]
English · e-37683-3039Bleb
Bleb, bleb, n. a transparent blister of the cuticle: a bubble, as in water. [See Bulb.]
English · e-37683-3040 · brief source recordBled
Bled, bled, pa.t. and pa.p. of Bleed.
English · e-37683-3041 · brief source recordBlee
Blee, blē, n. (Mrs Browning) complexion, colour. [A.S. bléo.]
English · e-37683-3042 · brief source recordBleed
Bleed, blēd, v.i. to lose blood: to die by slaughter: to issue forth or drop as blood: to have money extorted from one: to feel great pity for, as in the phrase, 'the heart bleeds:' to be as red as blood.—v.t. to draw bl
English · e-37683-3043Blemish
Blemish, blem′ish, n. a stain or defect: reproach.—v.t. to mark with any deformity: to tarnish: to defame.—n. Blem′ishment (Spens.), the state of being blemished, disgrace. [O. Fr. blesmir, blemir, pr.p. blemissant, to s
English · e-37683-3044Blench
Blench, blensh, v.i. to shrink or start back: to flinch. [From root of Blink.]
English · e-37683-3045 · brief source recordBlench
Blench, blensh, adj. or adv. based on the payment of a nominal yearly duty.—Also Blanch. [See Blank.]
English · e-37683-3046 · brief source recordBlend
Blend, blend, v.t. to mix together: to confound.—v.i. to be mingled or mixed:—pa.p. blend′ed and blent.—n. a mixture:—n. Blend′ing, the act of mingling: the process by which the fusion of paints is effected. [A.S. blanda
English · e-37683-3047Blende
Blende, blend, n. native sulphuret of zinc. [Ger. blenden, to dazzle, from the lustre of the crystals.]
English · e-37683-3048 · brief source recordBlenheim
Blenheim, blen′em, n. a kind of spaniel named from the Duke of Marlborough's house.
English · e-37683-3049 · brief source recordBlennorrhœa
Blennorrhœa, blen-no-rē′a, n. discharge of mucus. [Gr. blennos, mucus.]
English · e-37683-3050 · brief source recordBlenny
Blenny, blen′ni, n. a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, covered with mucus or slimy matter. [Gr. blennos, mucus.]
English · e-37683-3051 · brief source recordBlent
Blent, blent, (obs.) pa.p. of Blend—mixed: mingled: (Spens.) blinded, obscured.
English · e-37683-3052 · brief source recordBless
Bless, bles, v.t. to invoke a blessing upon: to make joyous, happy, or prosperous: to consecrate by some religious rite, to cross one's self: to extol as holy, to pronounce happy, to invoke the divine favour upon: to wis
English · e-37683-3053Bless
Bless, bles, v.t. (Spens.) to brandish. [Blaze(?).]
English · e-37683-3054 · brief source recordBlest
Blest, blest, pa.p. of Bless.
English · e-37683-3055 · brief source recordBlether
Blether, bleth′er, v.i. to talk garrulous nonsense.—n. fluent, garrulous nonsense—also Blath′er.—p.adj. Bleth′ering, over-talkative.—ns. Bleth′erskate, Blath′erskite (Amer.), a blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. [M. E.
English · e-37683-3056Blew
Blew, blōō, pa.t. of Blow.
English · e-37683-3057 · brief source recordBlewits
Blewits, blū′its, n. a kind of mushroom. [Fr. Blue.]
English · e-37683-3058 · brief source recordBlight
Blight, blīt, n. a disease in plants, which blasts or withers them: anything that injures or destroys.—v.t. to affect with blight: to blast: to frustrate.—p.adj. Blight′ing, withering, blasting. [Dr Murray notes that it
English · e-37683-3059Blin
Blin, blin, v.t. (Spens.) to cease.—n. cessation: stoppage. [A.S. blinnan, to cease, pfx. be-, and linnan, to cease.]
English · e-37683-3060 · brief source recordBlind
Blind, blīnd, adj. without sight: dark: ignorant or undiscerning: without an opening.—n. something to mislead: a window-screen: a shade.—v.t. to make blind; to darken, obscure, or deceive; to dazzle.—pa.p. blīnd′ed; pr.p
English · e-37683-3061Blink
Blink, blingk, v.i. to glance, twinkle, or wink: to see obscurely, or with the eyes half-closed: to shine unsteadily.—v.t. to shut out of sight: to avoid or evade.—n. a glimpse, glance, or wink: a momentary gleam of ligh
English · e-37683-3062Blirt
Blirt, blirt, n. (Scot.) a fit of crying.—v.i. to burst into tears. [Prob. the same as Blurt.]
English · e-37683-3063 · brief source recordBliss
Bliss, blis, n. the highest happiness: the special happiness of heaven, heaven.—adj. Bliss′ful.—adv. Bliss′fully.—n. Bliss′fulness.—adj. Bliss′less, without bliss. [A.S. blíðs, blíðe, Blithe.]
English · e-37683-3064Blist
Blist, blist, pa.t. (Spens.) wounded: struck. [From Fr. blesser, to wound.]
English · e-37683-3065 · brief source recordBlister
Blister, blis′tėr, n. a thin bubble or bladder on the skin, containing watery matter: a pustule: a plaster applied to raise a blister.—v.t. to raise a blister.—ns. Blis′ter-bee′tle, Blis′ter-fly, the cantharis, or Spanis
English · e-37683-3066Blithe
Blithe, blīth, adj. happy: gay; sprightly.—adv. Blithe′ly.—n. Blithe′ness.—adj. Blithe′some, joyous.—adv. Blithe′somely.—n. Blithe′someness. [A.S. blíðe, joyful. See Bliss.]
English · e-37683-3067Blive
Blive, blīv, adv. (Spens.). Same as Belive.
English · e-37683-3068 · brief source recordBlizzard
Blizzard, bliz′ard, n. a blinding storm of wind and snow, a snow-squall.—adjs. Blizz′ardly, Blizz′ardous. [A modern coinage—most prob. onomatopœic, on the analogy of blow, blast, &c.]
English · e-37683-3069Bloat
Bloat, blōt, v.t. to swell or puff out: to dry by smoke (applied to fish).—v.i. to swell or dilate: to grow turgid.—p.adj. Bloat′ed.—n. Bloat′er, a herring partially dried in smoke, esp. at Yarmouth. [Scand., as in Sw. b
English · e-37683-3070Blob
Blob, blob, n. a drop of liquid: anything soft and round, like a gooseberry: a round spot. [Imit.]
English · e-37683-3071 · brief source recordBlock
Block, blok, n. an unshaped mass of wood or stone, &c.: the wood on which criminals were wont to be beheaded: (mech.) a pulley together with its framework; a piece of wood on which something is formed: a connected group
English · e-37683-3072Bloke
Bloke, blōk, n. a fellow, a man familiarly. [Ety. quite unknown—at any rate not Gipsy.]
English · e-37683-3073 · brief source recordBloncket
Bloncket, blongk′et, adj. (Spens.) gray. [Fr. blanchet, whitish, dim. of blanc, white.]
English · e-37683-3074 · brief source recordBlond-lace
Blond-lace, blond′-lās, n. lace made of silk, so called from its colour.
English · e-37683-3076 · brief source recordBlonde
Blonde, blond, n. a person of fair complexion with light hair and blue eyes—opp. to Brunette.—adj. of a fair complexion: fair. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-3075Blont
Blont, blont, adj. (Spens.). Same as Blunt.
English · e-37683-3077 · brief source recordBlood
Blood, blud, n. the red fluid in the arteries and veins of men and animals: descent, of human beings, good birth: relationship, kindred: elliptically for a blood-horse, one of good pedigree: a rake or swaggering dandy ab
English · e-37683-3078Bloom
Bloom, blōōm, v.i. to put forth blossoms: to flower: to be in a state of beauty or vigour: to flourish: to give a bloom or warm tint to anything.—n. a blossom or flower: the opening of flowers: rosy colour: the prime or
English · e-37683-3079Bloomer
Bloomer, blōōm′ėr, n. and adj. a dress for women, partly resembling men's dress, devised by Mrs Bloomer of New York about 1849, consisting of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt falling a little below the knee, and a pa
English · e-37683-3080Bloomery
Bloomery, blōōm′ėr-i, n. the first forge through which iron passes after it has been melted from the ore, and where it is made into Blooms, or rough ingots, for hammering or drawing out.
English · e-37683-3081Blore
Blore, blōr, n. a violent gust of wind. [Prob. related to Blare and Blow.]
English · e-37683-3082 · brief source recordBlosme
Blosme. See Bloom.
English · e-37683-3083 · brief source recordBlossom
Blossom, blos′om, n. a flower-bud, the flower that precedes fruit.—v.i. to put forth blossoms or flowers: to flourish and prosper.—n. Bloss′oming.—adj. Bloss′omy, covered with flowers, flowery. [A.S. blóstm, blóstma, fro
English · e-37683-3084Blot
Blot, blot, n. a spot or stain: an obliteration, as of something written: a stain in reputation.—v.t. to spot or stain: to obliterate or destroy: to disgrace: to dry writing with blotting-paper:—pr.p. blot′ting; pa.p. bl
English · e-37683-3085Blot
Blot, blot, n. a piece liable to be taken at backgammon: a weak place in anything. [Ety. obscure; Dut. bloot, naked.]
English · e-37683-3086 · brief source recordBlotch
Blotch, bloch, n. a dark spot on the skin: a pustule.—v.t. to mark or cover with blotches.—adjs. Blotched, Blotch′y. [Prob. formed on Blot.]
English · e-37683-3087Blouse
Blouse, blowz, n. a loose sack-like outer garment, somewhat like the English smock-frock. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-3088 · brief source recordBlow
Blow, blō, n. a stroke or knock: a sudden misfortune or calamity.—At a blow, by a single action, suddenly; To come to blows, To exchange blows, to come to hostilities; Without striking a blow, without a struggle. [A.S. b
English · e-37683-3089Blow
Blow, blō, v.i. to bloom or blossom:—pr.p. blōw′ing; pa.p. blōwn. [A.S. blówan; Ger. blühen. See Bloom, Blossom.]
English · e-37683-3090 · brief source recordBlow
Blow, blō, v.i. to produce a current of air: to move, as air or the wind.—v.t. to drive air upon or into: to drive by a current of air, as 'to blow away, down,' &c.: to sound, as a wind-instrument: to breathe hard or wit
English · e-37683-3091Blowze
Blowze, blowz, n. a ruddy, fat-faced wench.—adjs. Blowzed, Blowz′y, fat and ruddy, or flushed with exercise, dishevelled, slatternly. [Perh. related to root of Blush; or of cant origin.]
English · e-37683-3092Blubber
Blubber, blub′ėr, n. the fat of whales and other sea animals.—v.i. to weep effusively.—p.adj. Blubb′ered, of a face swollen with weeping. [M. E. blober, bluber; most likely onomatopœic]
English · e-37683-3093Blucher
Blucher, blōōch′ėr, n. a strong leather half-boot or high shoe, named from Marshal Blücher, the Prussian general at Waterloo.
English · e-37683-3094Bludgeon
Bludgeon, blud′jun, n. a short stick with a heavy end to strike with. [First in 18th century; origin very obscure; from a cant word conn. with Blood.]
English · e-37683-3095Blue
Blue, blōō, n. the colour of the sky when unclouded—hence the sea, the sky, as in 'a bolt from the blue:' one of the seven primary colours.—adj. of the colour blue: learned, pedantic: indecent or obscene, as in blue stor
English · e-37683-3096Bluff
Bluff, bluf, adj. blustering: rough and hearty in manners: outspoken: steep.—n. a high steep bank overlooking the sea or a river: the act of bluffing at cards, as in poker—hence any kind of boastful swagger intended to i
English · e-37683-3097Blunder
Blunder, blun′der, v.i. to make a gross mistake, to flounder about: to utter thoughtlessly.—n. a gross mistake.—p.adj. Blun′dering, apt to make gross mistakes: apt to stumble.—To blunder away, to throw away some opportun
English · e-37683-3098Blunderbuss
Blunderbuss, blun′dėr-bus, n. a short hand-gun with a wide bore. [Corr. of Dut. donderbus—donder, thunder, bus, a box, barrel of a gun, a gun; Ger. donnerbüchse.]
English · e-37683-3099Blunt
Blunt, blunt, adj. having a dull edge or point; rough, outspoken, dull.—v.t. to dull the edge or point: to weaken.—n. (slang) money.—adj. Blunt′ish.—adv. Bluntly.—n. Blunt′ness.—adj. Blunt′-wit′ted (Shak.) dull, stupid.
English · e-37683-3100Blur
Blur, blur, n. a blot, stain, or spot.—v.t. to blot, stain, obscure, or blemish (with out, over):—pr.p. blur′ring; pa.p. blurred. [A variety of Blear.]
English · e-37683-3101Blurt
Blurt, blurt, v.t. to utter suddenly or unadvisedly (with out).—n. an abrupt outburst.—p.adj. Blurt′ing, impulsively frank. [From sound. Cf. Blirt.]
English · e-37683-3102Blush
Blush, blush, n. a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, &c.: any reddish colour: sudden appearance.—v.i. to show shame or confusion by growing red in the face: to grow red.—n. Blush′et (Ben Jonson), a young, mo
English · e-37683-3103Bluster
Bluster, blus′tėr, v.i. to make a noise like a blast of wind: to bully or swagger.—n. a blast or roaring as of the wind: bullying or boasting language: a storm of anger.—n. Blus′tering, a noisy blowing as of a blast: swa
English · e-37683-3104Bo
Bo, bō, interj. a word used to frighten children.—To say bo to a goose, to open the mouth, to say even a word.
English · e-37683-3105 · brief source recordBo-peep
Bo-peep, bo-pēp′, n. a simple play among children in which one peeps from behind something and cries 'Bo.'
English · e-37683-3216 · brief source recordBo-tree
Bo-tree, bō′-trē, n. the name given in Ceylon to the Pipal or Peepul of India (Ficus religiosa), held sacred by the Buddhists, and planted close by every temple. [Singh. bo, from Pali bodhi, perfect knowledge.]
English · e-37683-3261Boa
Boa, bō′a, n. a genus of serpents which includes the largest species of serpents (the Boa-Constric′tor), which kill their prey by constriction or pressure: a long serpent-like coil of fur, feathers, or the like, worn rou
English · e-37683-3106Boad
Boad. Same as Abode, pa.p. of Abide: also the same as Bode.
English · e-37683-3107 · brief source recordBoanerges
Boanerges, bo-an-erj′es, n. a noisy preacher or shouting orator. ['Sons of thunder'—Mark, iii. 17.]
English · e-37683-3108 · brief source recordBoar
Boar, bōr, n. the male of swine, or its flesh.—adj. Boar′ish, swinish: brutal.—n. Boar′-spear, a spear used in boar-hunting. [A.S. bár; Dut. beer; Ger. bär.]
English · e-37683-3109Board
Board, bōrd, n. a broad and thin strip of timber: a table to put food on: food: a table round which persons meet for some kind of business: any council or authorised body of men, as a 'school-board:' the deck of a ship:
English · e-37683-3110Boast
Boast, bōst, v.i. to talk vaingloriously: to brag (with of),—v.t. to brag of: speak proudly or confidently of, esp. justifiably: to magnify or exalt one's self.—n. an expression of pride: a brag: the cause of boasting.—a
English · e-37683-3111Boat
Boat, bōt, n. a small open vessel usually moved by oars: a small ship: a vessel like a boat in shape, as a 'sauce-boat.'—v.i. to sail about in a boat.—ns. Boat′-hook, an iron hook fixed to a pole used for pulling or push
English · e-37683-3112Boatswain
Boatswain, bōt′swān (colloq. bō′sn), n. a petty officer on board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to duty with a whistle. [Boat, and swain, Scand. sveinn, a boy.]
English · e-37683-3113Bob
Bob, bob, v.i. to move quickly up and down, to dangle: to fish with a bob.—v.t. to move in a short, jerking manner:—pr.p. bob′bing; pa.p. bobbed.—n. a short jerking motion: a slight blow: anything that moves with a bob o
English · e-37683-3114Bob
Bob, bob, n. (slang) a shilling. [Hardly the O. Fr. bobe = 1½d.]
English · e-37683-3115 · brief source recordBob
Bob, bob, Bobby, bob′i, n. a shortened familiar form of Robert: a familiar name for a policeman—from Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary at the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1828.—n. Light′-bob, a soldier of the
English · e-37683-3116Bobadil
Bobadil, bob′a-dil, n. a swaggering boaster, from Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour.
English · e-37683-3117 · brief source recordBobbery
Bobbery, bob′er-i, n. a noisy row. [Hindi bāp re! O father!—Col. Yule.]
English · e-37683-3118 · brief source recordBobbin
Bobbin, bob′in, n. a small piece of wood on which thread is wound.—n. Bobb′inet, a kind of fine netted lace made by machines. [Fr. bobine, prob. Celt.; cf. Gael. baban, a tassel.]
English · e-37683-3119Bobolink
Bobolink, bob′ō-lingk, n. a North American singing bird, found in the northern states in spring and summer. [At first Bob Lincoln, from the note of the bird.]
English · e-37683-3120Bobstays
Bobstays, bob′stāz, n.pl. (naut.) ropes or stays used to confine the bowsprit downward to the stem or cutwater, and counteract the strain of the foremast-stays.
English · e-37683-3121Bobtail
Bobtail, bob′tāl, n. a short or cut tail: a word applied in contempt to the rabble, as in 'tag-rag and bobtail.'—adj. Bob′tailed, with tail cut short.
English · e-37683-3122Bocage
Bocage. See Boscage.
English · e-37683-3123 · brief source recordBode
Bode, bōd, v.t. to portend or prophesy.—v.i. to be an omen: to foreshow.—adj. Bode′ful, boding, ominous.—n. Bode′ment, an omen, presentiment.—pr.p. Bod′ing, presaging.—n. an omen or portent. [A.S. bodian, to announce—bod
English · e-37683-3124Bode
Bode, bōd (Spens.). Same as Abode.
English · e-37683-3125 · brief source recordBodega
Bodega, bo-dē′ga, n. a wine-shop. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-3126 · brief source recordBodge
Bodge, boj, v.i. to make bad work, to fail.—n. Bodg′er, a botcher, a pedlar. [A form of Botch.]
English · e-37683-3127 · brief source recordBodice
Bodice, bod′is, n. a woman's outer garment covering the waist and bust: the close-fitting waist or body of a woman's gown.
English · e-37683-3128Bodikin
Bodikin, bod′i-kin, n. a form of an oath, ''Od's bodikins' = God's little body.
English · e-37683-3129 · brief source recordBodkin
Bodkin, bod′kin, n. a small dagger: a small instrument for pricking holes or for dressing the hair: a large blunt needle.—To sit, or ride, bodkin, to be wedged in tight between two others. [Prob. conn. with W. bidog, a d
English · e-37683-3130Bodle
Bodle, bod′l, n. a Scotch copper coin, equal to about one-sixth of an English penny, the smallest coin. [Said to be named from a mint-master, one Bothwell.]
English · e-37683-3131Bodrages
Bodrages, bod′rā-jiz, n.pl. (Spens.) a hostile attack, a raid. [Ir. buaidhreadh, a disturbance.]
English · e-37683-3132 · brief source recordBody
Body, bod′i, n. the whole frame of a man or lower animal: the main part of an animal, as distinguished from the limbs: the main or middle part of anything: matter, as opposed to spirit: substance or substantial quality:
English · e-37683-3133Bœotian
Bœotian, be-ō′shyan, adj. pertaining to Bœotia in Greece, noted for the dullness of its inhabitants—hence stupid, dull.
English · e-37683-3134 · brief source recordBoer
Boer, bōōr, n. a Dutch colonist at the Cape engaged in agriculture. [Dut. boer. See Boor.]
English · e-37683-3135 · brief source recordBog
Bog, bog, n. soft ground: a marsh or quagmire.—v.t. to sink or to entangle.—n. Bog′-butt′er, a mineral substance, resembling butter, found in Irish bogs.—adj. Bogg′y.—ns. Bog′let, Bog′land; Bog′-moss, a genus of moss pla
English · e-37683-3136Boggard
Boggard, Boggart. See Bogle.
English · e-37683-3137 · brief source recordBoggle
Boggle, bog′l, v.i. to stop or hesitate as if at a bogle: to start with fright: to make difficulties about a thing: to equivocate.—n. a scruple, objection: a bungle.—n. Bogg′ler, one who boggles: a doubter: (Shak.) one w
English · e-37683-3138Bogie
Bogie, Bogey, bōg′i, n. a low truck on four wheels, so constructed as to turn easily, a trolly: a revolving under-carriage, as in a locomotive engine. [Ety. unknown; perh. conn. with Bogy, a fiend.]
English · e-37683-3139Bogle
Bogle, bōg′l, n. a spectre or goblin: a scarecrow: a bugbear, or source of terror—also Bogg′le.—Bogg′ard is a common form in the North country. [Scot. bogle, a ghost; W. bwg, a goblin. See Bug.]
English · e-37683-3140Bogus
Bogus, bō′gus, adj. counterfeit, spurious. [An American cant word, of very doubtful origin—it may possibly be ult. related to Bogy.]
English · e-37683-3141Bogy
Bogy, Bogey, bōg′i, n. a goblin: a bugbear or special object of dread, the devil.—n. Bog′yism. [A form of Boggle and Boggard.]
English · e-37683-3142Bohea
Bohea, bo-hē′, n. the lowest quality of black tea: tea generally. [Chin.]
English · e-37683-3143 · brief source recordBohemian
Bohemian, bo-hē′mi-an, n. and adj. applied to persons of loose or irregular habits: an artist or man of letters, or indeed any one, who sets social conventionalities aside.—n. Bohē′mianism. [Fr. bohémien, a gipsy, from t
English · e-37683-3144Boiar
Boiar. Same as Boyar.
English · e-37683-3145 · brief source recordBoil
Boil, boil, v.i. to bubble up from the action of heat: to be hot: to be excited or agitated.—v.t. to heat to a boiling state: to cook or dress by boiling.—ns. Boil′er, one who boils: that in which anything is boiled: a v
English · e-37683-3146Boil
Boil, boil, n. an inflamed swelling or tumour. [A.S. býl; Ger. beule.]
English · e-37683-3147 · brief source recordBoisterous
Boisterous, bois′tėr-us, adj. wild: noisy: turbulent: stormy.—adv. Bois′terously.—n. Bois′terousness. [M. E. boistous, approximating, but not in sense, to the O. Fr. boisteus, whence modern boiteux, lame. The Celtic word
English · e-37683-3148Bolas
Bolas, bō′las, n. missiles used by the South American gauchos, consisting of balls or stones strung together, swung round the head and hurled, usually so as to entangle the legs of an animal running. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-3149Bold
Bold, bōld, adj. daring or courageous: forward or impudent: presumptuous: executed with spirit: striking to the sight, well marked: steep or abrupt.—v.t. Bold′en (obs.), to make bold.—adj. Bold′faced, impudent.—adv. Bold
English · e-37683-3150Bole
Bole, bōl, n. the round stem or body of a tree. [Scand. bolr; Ger. bohle, a plank.]
English · e-37683-3151 · brief source recordBole
Bole, bōl, n. an earthy mineral resembling clay in structure, and consisting essentially of silica, alumina, red oxide of iron, and water; the bole of Lemnos, Lemnian Earth, is red in colour, and was once used as a tonic
English · e-37683-3152Bole
Bole, bōl, n. a recess in a wall: an opening to admit light and air. [Scot.; origin unknown.]
English · e-37683-3153 · brief source recordBolero
Bolero, bo-lā′ro, or bo-lē′ro, n. Spanish national dance: also the air to which it is danced. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-3154 · brief source recordBoletus
Boletus, bol-ē′tus, n. a genus of fungi, having a pore-like surface occupying the place of gills. [Gr. bōlitēs, mushroom.]
English · e-37683-3155Bolide
Bolide, bol′īd, n. a large meteor or fireball. [Fr.—L. bolid-em, bolis—Gr. bolis, ballein, to throw.]
English · e-37683-3156 · brief source recordBolin
Bolin, an obsolete form of Bowline.
English · e-37683-3157 · brief source recordBoll
Boll, bōl, n. one of the round heads or seed-vessels of flax, poppy, &c.: a pod or capsule.—p.adjs. Bolled (bōld), swollen, podded; Bollen (bōln), swollen (Shak.). [A form of Bowl; A.S. bolla.]
English · e-37683-3158Boll
Boll, bōl, n. a measure of capacity for grain, &c., used in Scotland and the north of England—in Scotland = 6 imperial bushels; in England, varying from 2 to 6 bushels: also a measure of weight, containing, for flour, 14
English · e-37683-3159Bollandist
Bollandist, bol′an-dist, n. one of the Jesuit writers who continued the Acta Sanctorum (q.v.), begun by John Bolland (1596-1665).
English · e-37683-3160Bollard
Bollard, bol′ard, n. a post on a wharf to which vessels are secured: a thick piece of wood on the forepart of a whale-boat, round which the line is turned when a whale is harpooned. [Prob. Bole.]
English · e-37683-3161Bologna
Bologna, bol-ōn′ya, adj. from a town of Italy, which gives its name to Bologna phial, Bologna phosphorus, and Bologna or 'Polony' sausages.—adj. Bologn′ese.
English · e-37683-3162Bolometer
Bolometer, bō-lom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring minute amounts of radiant heat. [Gr. bolē, ray (ballein, to throw), metron, a measure.]
English · e-37683-3163Bolster
Bolster, bōl′stėr, n. a long round pillow or cushion: a pad: anything resembling it in form or use, esp. any piece of mechanism affording a support against pressure.—v.t. to support with a bolster: to hold up.—p.adj. Bol
English · e-37683-3164Bolt
Bolt, bōlt, n. a bar or pin used to fasten a door, &c.: an arrow: a thunderbolt, as in 'a bolt from the blue.'—v.t. to fasten with a bolt: to throw or utter precipitately: to expel suddenly: to swallow hastily.—v.i. to r
English · e-37683-3165Bolt
Bolt, bōlt, v.t. (better spelling, Boult), to sift, to separate the bran from, as flour: to examine by sifting: to sift through coarse cloth.—ns. Bolt′er, a sieve: a machine for separating bran from flour; Bolt′ing, the
English · e-37683-3166Bolus
Bolus, bō′lus, n. a rounded mass of anything: a large pill. [L. bolus—Gr. bōlos, a lump.]
English · e-37683-3167 · brief source recordBomb
Bomb, bom, or bum, n. a hollow projectile, usually of cast-iron, fired from a mortar, filled with gunpowder and fitted with a time-fuse: any similar missile or case of explosives, as a dynamite bomb.—n. Bom′bard, an engi
English · e-37683-3168Bombasine
Bombasine, Bombazine, bom′-, bum-ba-zēn′, n. a twilled or corded fabric of silk and worsted, or of cotton and worsted.—n. Bom′bax, a genus of silk-cotton trees, native to tropical America. [Fr. bombasin—Low L. bombasinum
English · e-37683-3169Bombast
Bombast, bom′-, bum′bast, n. inflated or high-sounding language: originally cotton or any soft material used for stuffing garments.—adj. Bombas′tic, high-sounding: inflated. [Low L. bombax, cotton—Gr. bombyx, silk.]
English · e-37683-3170Bombax
Bombax. See Bombasine.
English · e-37683-3171 · brief source recordBombay-duck
Bombay-duck, bom-bā′-duk, n. a fish of the family Scopelidæ, nearly allied to the salmon and trout family, which is salted, dried, and eaten as a relish.
English · e-37683-3172Bombyx
Bombyx, bom′biks, n. the silkworm. [Gr.]
English · e-37683-3173 · brief source recordBon
Bon, bong, adj. good—French, occurring in some English but not Anglicised phrases, as Bon accord, good-will, agreement; Bon mot, a jest or smart saying; Bon ton, good style, the fashionable world; Bon vivant, one who liv
English · e-37683-3174Bona fide
Bona fide, bō′na fīd′ā, adv. and adj. in good faith, with sincerity, genuine. [L.]
English · e-37683-3175 · brief source recordBona-roba
Bona-roba, bō′na-rō′ba, n. (Shak.) a showy wanton, a courtesan. [It. buona roba, lit. a fine gown.]
English · e-37683-3178 · brief source recordBonanza
Bonanza, bon-an′za, n. a term common in the Pacific States for a rich mass of gold: any mine of wealth or stroke of luck. [Sp.]
English · e-37683-3176Bonapartism
Bonapartism, bō′na-pärt-izm, n. attachment to the dynasty of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French.—n. Bō′napartist.
English · e-37683-3177Bonbon
Bonbon, bong′bong, n. a sweetmeat.—n. Bonbon′iere, a fancy box for holding such. [Fr., 'very good'—bon, good.]
English · e-37683-3179 · brief source recordBond
Bond, bond, n. that which binds, a band: link of connection or union: a writing of obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract: any constraining or any cementing force: in building, the connection of one stone or br
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