BATTEN about 3 inches thick, nailed to the beams of the ship, instead of cleats, to sling the seamen's hammocks to.-3. In weaving, the beam for striking the weft home; a lathe. Batten (bat'n), v.t. To form or fasten with battens-To batten down, to fasten down with battens, as the hatches of a ship during a storm. He had the port-holes of his cabin battened down. Thackeray. Battening (bat'n-ing), n. 1. The operation of fixing battens to walls for nailing laths to-2 Battens fixed to a wall, to which the laths for plaster are fixed. Batter (bat'ter), v.t. [Fr. battre, It. battere, to beat, to strike, to batter, from L. L. batere, a form of L. batuere, to beat, whence also battle.] 1. To beat with successive blows; to beat with violence, so as to bruise or dent; to attack as by a battering-ram or heavy ordnance, with the view of shattering or demolishing; to cannonade. Now were the walls beaten with the rams, and many parts thereof shaken and battered. Holland. 2 To wear or impair, as by beating, long service, or the like; as, a battered pavement; a battered jade. The Tory party, according to those perverted views of Toryism unhappily too long prevalent in this country, was held to be literally defunct, except by a few old battered crones of office. Disraeli. 3. In forging, to spread metal outwardly by hammering on the end. E. H. Knight.4. [From noun batter.] To paste together with batter or other adhesive matter. [Scotch.] Batter (bat'ter), v.i. 1. To make attacks, as by a battering-ram or ordnance. Besiegers break ground at a safe distance, and advance gradually till near enough to batter. Abp. Whately. -To batter at, to make attacks upon; to try to overthrow or destroy. Shak. The tyrant has not battered at their peace. 2. To incline from the perpendicular: said of a wall whose face recedes as it rises: opposed to overhang. Retaining and breast walls batter towards the bank. E. H. Knight. Batter (bat'ter), n. [See BATTER, v.t.] 1. A mixture of several ingredients, as flour, eggs, salt, &c., beaten together with some liquor, used in cookery.-2. The leaning back of the upper part of the face of a wall, as in wharf walls and retaining walls to support embankments.-3. A glutinous substance used for producing adhesion; paste. [Scotch.] Batter (bat'er), n. In cricket, the man who wields the bat; the batsman. (The bowler) bowls a ball almost wide to the off; the batter steps out, and cuts it beautifully to where cover-point is standing. T. Hughes. Batterer (hat'tèr-ér), n. One who batters or beats. Batterers or demolishers of stately and elegant buildings.' Jer. Taylor. Battering-gun (bat'ter-ing-gun), n. Milit a cannon of heavy calibre adapted for demolishing defensive works. Battering-ram (bat'ter-ing-ram), n. 1. In milit, antiq an engine used to beat down the walls of besieged places, consisting of a large beam, with a head of iron somewhat resembling the head of a ram, whence its name. In its simplest form it was carried and forcibly driven against the wall by the hands of the soldiers, but more commonly it was suspended by ropes to a beam which was supported by posts, and balanced so as to swing backward and forward, being in this way impelled against the wall with much more ease and effect. It was also Battering-ram. often mounted on wheels and worked under cover, the assailants being protected by a kind of shed.-2. A heavy blacksmith's hammer, suspended, and worked horizontally. Battering-train (bat’ter-ing-trấn), n. Milit. a train of heavy ordnance for siege operations. 233 Batter-rule, Battering-rule (bat'tér-ről, bat'ter-ing-ról), n. A plumb-line so contrived that while the plummet hangs vertically, the wall to which it is applied may be sloping or battered. It consists of a plumb-line attached to a triangular frame, one side of which is fixed at the required angle with the line. Battery (bat'têr-i), n. [Fr. batterie, from battre, to beat. See BATTER.] 1. The act of battering; attack or assault, with the view of beating down, as by battering-ram or ordnance. At one place above the rest, by continual batterie there was such a breach as the towne lay open and naked to the enemie. Holland. 2. The instrument or agency employed in battering or attacking; as, a battery of guns; a battery of abuse. Specifically-3. Milit a body of cannon for field operations consisting generally of from four to eight guns (in the British service usually six), with complement of waggons, artillerymen, &c. 4. The personnel or complement of officers and men attached to such a battery.-5. In fort. a parapet thrown up to cover the gunners and others employed about them from the enemy's shot, with the guns employed. -Cross batteries, two batteries which play athwart each other, forming an angle upon the object battered.-En-écharpe battery, a battery which plays obliquely on the enemy's lines. Enfilade battery, a battery which scours or sweeps the whole line or length.En-revers battery, one which plays upon the enemy's back.-Floating batteries, batteries erected either on simple rafts, or on the hulls of ships, for the defence of the coast, or for the bombardment of the enemy's ports.-6. In law, the unlawful beating of another. The least degree of violence, or even the touching of another in anger, constitutes a battery.-7. In elect. a number of coated jars placed in such a manner that they may be charged at the same time, and discharged in the same manner.-Galvanic battery, a pile or series of plates of copper and zinc, or of any substances susceptible of galvanic action. See under GALVANIC. Battery-gun (bat'ter-i-gun), n. gun which can fire a number of shots consecutively or simultaneously without stopping to reload; a gun with several barrels, Milit. a or with one barrel and several chambers like a revolver pistol, such as the Gatling Battil, Battill (bat'til), v.t. [See BATTEL, gun or the mitrailleuse. a. and v.t.] To make fat; to render fertile; to batten. Ashes are marvellous improvements to battil bar ren land. Ray. Battil, Battill (bat'til), v. i. To become fat. Sleep, they said, would make her battill better. Spenser. Batting (bat'ing), n. 1. The management of a bat at play; as, the batting of the Eleven was excellent.-2. Cotton or wool in masses prepared for quilts or bed-covers. Battish (bat'ish), a. [From bat, the animal.] Of or pertaining to or resembling a bat. She clasp'd his limbs, by impious labour tired, Vernon. Battle (bat'l), n. [Fr. bataille, a battle, and formerly also, a division of an army, from L. battalia, battualia, the fighting and fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators; from batuere, to beat, to strike, to fence.] 1. A fight or encounter between enemies or opposing armies; an engagement: usually applied to armies or large bodies of men, but applicable also to a combat between individuals, whether men or inferior animals.-2. Á body of forces, or division of an army; a battalion. The king divided his army into three battles, whereof the vanguard only with wings came to fight. Bacon. 3. More specifically, (a) the main or middle body of the army or fleet, as distinguished from the van and rear. Angus led the avant-guard, himself followed with the battle a good distance behind, and after came the arrier. Sir F. Hayward. The centre, or battle as it was called, consisting of sixty-three galleys, was led by John of Austria. Prescott. (b) That portion of the army, wherever placed and of whatever consisting, regarded as of main importance. The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it alone depended the fate of every action. Robertson. 4. An army prepared for or engaged in fight. Heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles BATTLEMENT set.' Shak.-5.† A formidable array similar to an army in battle order. On his bow-back he hath a battle set Shak. Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes. -To give battle, to attack an enemy; to join battle, properly to meet the attack, but perhaps this distinction is not always observed. -A pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously drawn up in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.-A drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.-A battle royal, (a) a battle with fists or cudgels, in which more than two are engaged; a mêlée. (b) A fight of gamecocks, in which more than two are engaged. [Provincial.]-Battle, Fight, Combat, Engagement, Conflict. Battle embraces all the movements and manoeuvres in face of the enemy, as well as the actual contact of the soldiery, and implies premeditation. It is the appropriate word for great engagements; as, the battle of Waterloo, Trafalgar. Fight has reference to actual conflict; a man may take part in a battle, and have no share in the fighting. A battle may be made up of many subordinate fights; as, the battle of the Alma, but the fight at the flag-staff, &c. Combat is a word of greater dignity than fight, but agrees with it in denoting close encounter. Engagement supposes distinctly organized bodies engaged in contact with the enemy. Conflict, lit. a clashing together, implies fierce physical encounter. Battle (bat'l), v.i. pret. & pp. battled; ppr. battling. To join in battle; to contend in fight, or any kind of struggle; to struggle; to strive or exert one's self. To meet in arms and battle in the plain.' Prior. 'Who battled for the True, the Just.' Tennyson. Battle (bat'l), v. t. 1. To cover with armed force. Fairfax.-2. To strengthen with battlements; to embattle. Battle-axe (bat'l-aks), n. An axe anciently used as a weapon of war. It was purely offensive. Battle-bolt (bat'l-bolt), n. A bolt or missile of any kind used in battle. The rushing battle-bolt sang from the three-decker.' Tennyson. Battle-club (bat'l-klub), n. A club used in battle. Battle-clubs from the isles of palm.' Tennyson. 'The Battled, Batteled (bat'ld), a. 1. Furnished or strengthened with battlements. battled towers.' Tennyson.-2. In her. a term employed when the chief, cheveron, fesse, &c., is (on one side only) borne in the form of the battlements of a castle or fortification. Called also Embattled. Battledore, Battledoor (bat'l-dor), n. [O.E batyldoure, a beetle or wooden bat used in washing clothes; comp. Sp. batallador, a fencer, batallar, to fight, to fence.] 1. An instrument of play, with a handle and a flat board or palm, used to strike a ball or shuttlecock; a racket.-2. A child's hornbook: so called from its shape. Battlefield (bat'l-feld), n. The scene of a battle. Be shot for sixpence on a battlefield.' Tennyson. Battle-flag (bat'l-flag), n. A military flag. And the battle-flags were furled.' Tennyson. Battlement (bat'l-ment), n. [Probably from battle, and term. -ment, meaning literally a structure for battle or fighting; comp. O.E. batailing, bataylynge, a battlement (Halliwell), and the verbs battle, embattle, that is, to furnish with battlements. It is doubtful, however, whether there has not been a mixing up of two words here, the other being the O. Fr. bastille, a fortress, bastiller, to fortify, to embattle.] A notched or indented parapet, formed by a series of rising BATTLEMENTED are often pannelled or pierced with circles, trefoils, &c. Battlemented (bat'l-ment-ed),a. Furnished with battlements; strengthened by battlements. The walls of Babylon Iso broad that six chariots could well drive together at the top, and so battlemented that they could not fall. Sir T. Herbert. Battle-piece (bat'l-pes), N. A painting which represents a battle, exhibiting large masses of men in action. Battler, n. See BATTELLER. Battle-song (bat'l-song), n. A song sung on the battlefield; a martial song. 'The chivalrous battle-song that she warbled alone in her joy.' Tennyson. Battle-writhen (bat'l-riTH-en), a. Twisted or distorted by stress of battle. His battlewrithen arms and mighty hands.' Tennyson. Battologist (bat-tol'o-jist), n. [See BATTOLOGY.] One that talks idly; one that needlessly repeats the same thing in speaking or writing. 'A truly dull battologist.' Whitlock. Battologize (bat-tol'o-jiz), v.t. To repeat needlessly the same thing; to iterate. Sir T. Herbert. Battology (bat-tol'o-ji), n. [Gr. battologia, from battos, a stammerer, and logos, discourse.] Idle talk or babbling; a needless repetition of words in speaking. 'That heedless battology of multiplying words.' Milton. 'Mere surplusage or battology.' Prynne. Batton (bat'n), n. Same as Batten Batton (bat'on), n. A baton or club. Spenser. Battril (bat'ril), n. See BATLET. Battue (bat-tú), n. [Fr., from battre, to beat.] 1. A method of killing game by having persons to beat a wood, copse, or other cover, with loud cries, and so drive the animals forwards toward a number of sportsmen stationed to shoot them.-2. The game turned out by the beaters. Batty (bat'i), a. [From bat, an animal.] Belonging to or resembling a bat. Batty wings. Shak. Batz (bäts), n. [G., a bear.] A small copper coin with a mixture of silver, bearing the image of a bear, formerly current in some parts of Germany and Switzerland, value i§d. Baubee, n. See BAWBEE. Bauble (ba'bl), n. [O.E. babil, babulle, babel, &c., O.Fr. babole, baboulet, Fr. babiole, a toy or baby-thing; from same Celtic root as babe.] 1. A short stick with a fool's head, frequently ornamented with asses' ears fantastically carved on it, anciently carried by the fools attached to great houses. It frequently had at the other end a flapper with which they used to affect to belabour people. Fool's Bauble. 2. A trifling piece of finery; that which is gay or showy without real value; a gewgaw; a trifle. Walpole is constantly showing us things, not of very great value indeed, yet things which we are pleased to see and which we can see nowhere else. They are baubles; but they are made curiosities either by his grotesque workmanship or by some association belonging to them. Macaulay. Baublet (ba'bl), a. Trifling; insignificant. Shak. Baubling (bạʼbl-ing), a. Contemptible. A baubling vessel was he captain of.' Shak. Baudt (bad), v.t. [W. bawaidd, dirty, mean, vile.] To foul or dirty. Her shoone smeared with tallow, Skelton. Baude, a. [O. Fr., a word adopted by the French from the Teutonic, and then passing into English; really a form of bold.] Joyous; riotously joyous. Chaucer. Baudekin, Baudkin (bad'e-kin, bad'kin), n. [O. Fr. baudequin. See BALDACHINO.] A sumptuous species of cloth for garments used by the nobility of the middle ages, and 234 composed of silk interwoven with threads of gold. Baudelairet (bad'e-lār), n. [Probably from L.L. balteus, a belt; comp. baudricke, baldrick.] A knife or dagger carried in the girdle. Bauderie, Baudrie, tn. Bawdry. Chaucer. Baudricke, Bauldricke,† (bad'rik, bald'rik), n. [See BALDRICK.] A baldrick. Spenser. Baudrons (bad'rönz), n. [Perhaps connected with bawd, a hare.] Puss; a cat. [Scotch.] Bauge (baj), n. [After Bauge, a town in Maine-et-Loire, France, where it was manufactured.] A drugget fabricated of thread spun thick, and of coarse wool. Bauhinia (ba-hin'i-a), n. [Named in honour of John and Caspar Bauhin, botanists of the sixteenth century, because the leaves generally consist of two lobes or parts, which were thought symbolic of the two brothers.] A genus of plants, nat. order Leguminosae. The species are usually twining plants, found in the woods of hot countries, and often stretch ing from tree to tree like living cables. Many of the species are showy and interesting. The dried leaves and young buds of B. tomentosa are prescribed in India for dysentery. The bark of B. variegata is used in tanning; that of B. racemosa in making ropes; and the old wood of the former species is a kind of ebony. Bauk (bak), n. Scotch form of Balk (which see). Bauld (bald), a. Bold. Ferguson the bauld and slie. Burns. [Scotch.] Baulea (ba'lé-a), n. A round-bottomed passenger-boat used on the shallower parts of the Ganges, having a mast and sail, but generally propelled by oars. Baulite (bal'it), n. [After Baula, a mountain in Iceland.] A white transparent mineral, in very thin splinters, found in the matter ejected by Krabla, in Iceland. It is a variety of glassy felspar, and melts before the blowpipe into a clear glass. Baulk (bak), n. Same as Balk (which see). Bauxite (bos'it), n. A clay found at Baux, near Arles. It contains about one-third of its weight of alumina, with silica, iron, and water. The aluminium is extracted at Newcastle by a complicated process which does not remove the iron and silicon Bavarette (bav-a-ret), n. [Fr., dim. of bavette, a bib, from bave, It. bava, the saliva which runs involuntarily from the mouth of an infant.] A bib to put before the bosom of a child. A native or in Of or pertaining Bavarian (ba-vā'ri-an), n. habitant of Bavaria. Bavarian (ba-vā'ri-an), a. to Bavaria. Bavaroy (bav'a-roi), n. [Fr. Bavarois, Bavarian.] A kind of cloak or surtout. Let the loop'd bavaroy the fop embrace. Gay. Bavian,† (ba'vi-an), n. Same as Babian. Bavin (bav'in), n. [Prov. E. bavin, baven, connected by Wedgwood with O. Fr. baffe, a faggot.] A faggot of brushwood; light and combustible wood used for lighting fires. 'Mounted on a hazel bavin.' Hudibras. The bavin, though it burne bright, is but a blaze. Lyly. Bavin (bav'in), a. Resembling bavin. 'Rash, bavin wits, soon kindled and soon burnt.' Shak. Bavin (bav'in), v.t. gots. To make up into fag Kid or bavin them, and pitch them upon their ends to preserve them from rotting. Evelyn. Bawbee, Baubee (ba-be'), n. [Fr. bas-billon, the worst kind of billon-bas, low, and billon, brass coinage alloyed or rather washed with a little silver. Popularly referred to Sc. babie, an infant, because the coin was said to bear the impress of James VI. when a child; but the name as well as the coin was in existence before his time.] A halfpenny. In the pl. money; cash. [Scotch.] Bawble (ba'bl), n. Same as Bauble. Bawbling (ba bl-ing), a. Same as Baubling. Bawcock (ba'kok), n. [Either from Fr. beau, fine, beautiful, and cock, or, more probably, from 0. Fr. baud, bold, wanton, and cock.] A fine fellow. 'How now, my bawcock?' Shak. Bawd (bad), n. [Probably from O.E. baude, merry, wanton; O. Fr. baud, bold, wanton (see BAUDE); or from W. baw, filth, bawaidd, filthy.] A procurer or procuress; a person who keeps a house of prostitution, and conducts criminal intrigues: now usually applied only to females. He (Pandarus) is named Troilus' bawd. Skelton. BAY Bawdt (bad), v.i. To provide women for lewd purposes; to act as procuress. Leucippe is agent for the king's lust, and bawda for the whole court. Spectator Bawdt (bad), v.t. Same as Baud. Bawd (bad), n. A hare. [Provincial English and Scotch.] In the extract there is a play on bawd in this sense and bawd in that given above. A bawd, a bawd! so ho!-What hast thou found? No hare, sir. Shak Bawd-born (bad'born), a. Born of a bawd; a bawd from birth. Shak. Bawdily (ba'di-li), adv. In a bawdy manner; obscenely; lewdly. Bawdiness (ba'di-nes), n. Obscenity; lewd [See BALDRICK.] The youths' gilt swords were at their thighs, with silver bawaricks bound. Chapman. 2. A cord or thong for the clapper of a bell Bawdry (bad'ri), n. [See BAWD.] 1. The practice of procuring women for the gratification of lust.-2. Obscenity; filthy, lewd language; smuttiness. It is most certain that barefaced bawdry is the Dryden. poorest pretence to wit imaginable. 3. Illicit intercourse; fornication. 'We must be married or we must live in bawdry.” Shak.-4. Bawds collectively. Udall Bawdship (bad'ship), n. The office of a bawd. Ford. Bawdy (ba'di), a. [From bawd.] Obscene; lewd; indecent; smutty; unchaste. Bawdy-house (ba'di-hous), n. A house of lewdness and prostitution; a house of illfame kept for the resort and unlawful commerce of lewd persons of both sexes. Bawhorse (ba'hors), n. Bathorse (which see). Bawk, Bawlk (bak), n. Balk (which see). Bawl (bal), v.i. (Probably an imitative word; comp. waul, caterwaul, Icel. baula, to low; Sw. böla, A. Sax. bellan, to bark; L. balo, to bleat.] To cry out with a loud full sound; to make vehement or clamorous outcries. as in pain, exultation, demand, and the like; to shout. They bawl for freedom in their senseless mood Bawl (bal), v.t. To proclaim by outcry; to shout out. Still must I hear? shall hoarse Fitzgerald bawi His creaking couplets in a tavern hall! Byren. Bawl (bal), n. A vehement clamour; an outcry; as, the children set up a loud bawl Bawler (bal'èr), n. One who bawls. Bawn (ban), n. [Ir. and Gael. babhun (pron. bawn), an inclosure, a fortress.] 1. Originally an earthwork strengthened with stakes surrounding a castle or house in Ireland; hence, any similar inclosed place, whether designed as a fortification or as an inclosure for cattle.-2. A large house, including all its appurtenances, as offices, court-yard, &c. Swift. [Irish.] Bawn (ban), v.t. [See the noun.] In Ireland, to surround or inclose with a bawn. Bawrelt (ba'rel), n. A kind of hawk. Bawsin, Bawson (ba'sn), n. [0. Fr. bauzan, baugant, Pr. bausan, It. balzano, marked with white, striped with white: said of animals, especially horses; O.E. and Sc. baresoned, having a white streak down the face, derived by Diez from It. balza, border, strip of trimming, from L. balteus, a belt.] A badger, from the streaks of white on his face. 'His mittens were of bawson's skin.' Drayton. Bawsin-faced, Bawson-faced (ba'snfast), a. [See BAWSIN.] Having a white spot on the forehead or face, as a horse, cow, &c. Baxter (bak'ster), n. A baker, properly a female baker. [Old English and Scotch] See BAKESTER. Baxterian (baks-të'ri-an), a. Pertaining to Richard Baxter, a celebrated English divine; as, the Baxterian scheme of doctrine. Bay (bā), a. [Fr. bai, L. badius, brown, chestnut-coloured; hence bayard, baize } Red or reddish, inclining to a chestnut colour: applied to the colour of horses. The shades of this colour are light bay, dark bay, dappled bay, gilded bay, chestnut bay. Bay (ba), n. [Fr. baie, It. baja, Sp. Pg. bakia, and LL. baia, a bay. Of doubtful origin, several etymologies being proposed, such as, (1) It. badare, Catalan badar, to open the mouth, to gape, whence badia, a bay, which might become bahia, like Fr. trakır. It. tradire; (2) a Basque word baia, baiya, a BAY harbour (whence Bayonne); (3) the Teutonic stem in G. biegen, Goth. biugan, A. Sax. beogan, E. bow, to bend.] 1. A recess in the shore of a sea or lake, differing from a creek in not being so long and narrow; the expanse of water between two capes or headlands; a gulf.-2. An anchorage or roadstead for ships; a port; a harbour. A bay or rode for ships. Cotgrave. Port le Blanc, a bay in Brittany.' Shak. Go to the bay and disembark my coffers. Shak. 3. A pond-head or a pond formed by a dam for the purpose of driving mill-wheels.4 A principal compartment or division in the architectural arrangement of a building, marked either by the buttresses or pilasters on the walls, by the disposition of the main ribs of the vaulting of the interior, by the main arches and pillars, the principals of the roof, or by any other leading features that separate it into corresponding portions. Oxford Glossary. [The analogy that originated this use of the word was probably suggested by the resemblance of buttresses or the other divisional features mentioned, to the capes that mark off a bay in the sea.] In this sense, or a somewhat more extended one, the word has a great many specific significations; as, (a) in arch. the part of a window included between the mullions; a day; a light. (b) In bridge-building, the portion between two piers. (c) In carp. a portion of a compound or framed floor included between two girders, or between a girder and the wall.-A bay of joists, the joists between two binding-joists, or between two girders in a framed floor.-A bay of roofing, the small rafters and their supporting purlins between two principal rafters. (d) In mining, the space between two frames in a gallery. (e) Naut. that part of a ship on each side between decks which lies between the bitts; the foremost messing-place between decks in a ship-of-war.-Sick bay, a portion of the fore-part of the main-deck reserved for the sick and wounded. (f) In plastering, the space between two screeds. See SCREED. Bay (ba), n. A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay Hol Bay (ba), n. [Fr. baie, L. bacca, a berry.] 1 A berry, especially of the laurel-tree. The bays or berries that it beareth.' land.-2 The laurel-tree, noble laurel, or sweet bay (Laurus nobilis). (See LAUREL) The term bay is given also to a number of trees and shrubs more or less resembling the L. nobilis. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Ps. xxxvii. 35. & An honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel; hence, fame or renown due to achievement or merit: in this sense used chiefly in the plural. I play'd to please myself, on rustick reed, Nor sought for bay, the learned shepherd's meed. W. Browne. Beneath his reign shall Eusden wear the bays. Pope. Bay (ba), n. [Probably a short form of O. Fr. abai, abbai, a barking, whence abbayer, to bark, Mod. Fr. aboi, a barking, aux abois, at bay, when the stag reduced to extremities turns and faces the dogs that stand barking in front of him; either from L. baubari, to bark, and prefix a, ab, for L. ad, to, or as Wedgwood thinks from ba, a syllable naturally representing the sound made in opening the mouth, whence Fr. bayer, to gape, or stand gaping; It. badare, to stand gazing, stare a bada, to stand watching.] 1. The bark of a dog; especially, a deep-toned bark. 2 The state of being so hard pressed by enemies as to be compelled to turn round and face them from impossibility of escape; thus, a stag is at bay when he stands facing the dogs. Nor fight was left, nor hopes to force his way; 3 The state of being kept off by the bold attitude of an opponent; the state of being prevented by an enemy, or by any kind of resistance, from making further advance. We have now, for ten years together, turned the whole force and expense of the war where the enemy was best able to hold us at bay. Swift. Bay (ba), v.i. [O. Fr. abbayer, Mod. Fr. aboyer, It bajare, abbajare, to bark. See the noun.] To bark, as a dog at his game; especially, to bark with a deep sound. The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed. Dryden. 2. To drive or pursue so as to compel to stand at bay; to chase or hunt. "They bayed the bear with hounds of Sparta. Shak. 3. To express by barking. 'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home. Byron. Baya (ba'ya), n. [Hind.] The weaver-bird (Ploceus philippinus), a very interesting East Indian passerine bird, somewhat like our bullfinch, remarkable for its extremely curious nest. This resembles a bottle, and is suspended from the branch of a tree, so that neither apes, serpents, nor even squirrels can reach it. The entrance, moreover, is from beneath, and there are two chambers, one for the male, the other for the female. The baya is easily tamed, and will fetch and carry at command. Bayadeer, Bayadere (ba-ya-der), n. [Pg. bailadeira, from bailar, to dance.] In the East Indies, a regular dancing girl; a prostitute. Bayal (ba'al), n. A fine kind of cotton. Simmonds. Bayamo (ba-ya'mo), n. A violent blast of wind accompanied by vivid lightning blowing from the land on the south coast of Cuba, and especially from the Bight of Ba yamo. The second Bay-antler (ba'ant-ler), n. branch of a stag's antler; the bez-antler. See ANTLER. Bayard (ba'ard), n. [O.Fr. bayart, bayard, a bay-horse-bay, and suffix -ard (which see). Many examples of the use of this word seem to contain a reference to a particular horse of this name celebrated in the romances of chivalry.] A bay horse; also, a horse generally. Blind bayard moves the mill. Philips. Who so bold as blind bayard. Proverbial saying. Bayard (ba'ard), n. [0. Fr. bayarde, a gaper, from bayer, to gape.] A man that gapes or gazes earnestly at a thing; an unmannerly beholder; a stupid, doltish fellow; a clown. This he presumes to do, being a bayard, who never had the soul to know what conversing means, but as his provender and the familiarity of his kitchen schooled his conceptions. Milton. Bayardly + (ba'ard-li), a. [See BAYARD, one that gapes.] Blind; stupid. 'A blind credulity, a bayardly confidence, or an imperious insolence.' Jer. Taylor. Bayberry (ba'be-ri), n. In bot. (a) the fruit of the bay-tree or Laurus nobilis, (b) The fruit of Myrica cerifera. (c) The plant Myrica cerifera (wax-myrtle). - Bayberry tallow, a substance obtained from the bay. berry or wax-myrtle. Called also Myrtle wax. Bay-bolt (ba'bōlt), n. A bolt with a barbed shank. E. H. Knight. Bayet (ba), v.t. [See BATHE.] To bathe. He feeds upon the cooling shade, and bayes Bayed (bad), a. Having bays, as a building. The large-bayed barn." Drayton. Bayonet (ba'on-et), n. [Fr. baionnette, O. Fr. bayonnette, It. baionetta, Sp. bayoneta, usually derived from Bayonne in France, be 1 1, Common Bayonet. 2, Sword Bayonet. cause bayonets are said to have been first made there. The word occurs as early as 1571 at least, but it seems to have been originally applied to weapons very different from the modern bayonet. Cotgrave, under the word Bayonnette, describes it as 'a kinde of small flat pocket dagger, furnished with knives; or a great knife to hang at the girdle, like a dagger;' he also gives the word bayonnier, which he says is the same as arbalestier. The latter word suggests bayonne, as the weapon used by the bayonnier, of which bayonnette would be a diminutive. Probably the derivation from the town of Bayonne is erroneous.] 1. A short triangular sword or dagger, formerly with a handle fitted BAY-WINDOW to the bore of a gun, where it was inserted for use after the soldier had fired; but now made with an iron handle and ring, which go over the muzzle of the piece, so that the soldier fires with his bayonet fixed.-2. In mach. a pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to connect and disconnect parts of the machinery. See BAYONET-CLUTCH. Bayonet (ba'on-et), v.t. To stab with a bayonet; to compel or drive by the bayonet. You send troops to sabre and bayonet us into submission. Burke. In Bayonet-clutch (ba'on-et-kluch), n. mach. a form of clutch armed usually with two prongs a a, which, in gear, act on the ends or lugs' of a friction-strap b, fitted on a side-boss of the wheel to be driven, and which is loose on the same shaft. The clutch is attached to the shaft by a feather-key, and when drawn back or out of gear with the strap the wheel remains at rest, and the clutch continues to revolve with the shaft. When it is required to set the machinery again in motion, the clutch is thrown forward by the fork c, and its prongs, engaging with the strap, gradually put the wheel in motion. Bayonet-joint (ba'on-et-joint), n. A form of coupling resembling the mode of attachment adopted for fixing a bayonet on a Bayonet-clutch. musket. Bayou (bi-ö), n. [Fr. boyau, a gut, a long narrow passage.] In Southern States of N. America, the outlet of a lake; a channel for water. Under the shore his boat was tied, Longfellow. Bay-rum (ba'rum), n. A spirit obtained by distilling the leaves of the bay-tree. Bays, Bayzet (bāz), n. Same as Baize. Bay-salt (ba'salt), n. A general term for coarse-grained salt, but properly applied to salt obtained by spontaneous or natural evaporation of sea-water in large shallow tanks or bays. Page. In arch. the stall in Bay-stall (ba'stal), n. the bay of a window; a window-seat. Bayt + (bat), n. and v. Same as Bait (which see). Spenser. Bay-tree (ba'trē), n. The laurel-tree (Laurus nobilis); also, in America, a name for the Magnolia glauca. Bay-window (ba'win-do), n. In arch. pro Bay-window (interior), Ockwells, Berks. perly, a window forming a recess or bay in a room, projecting outwards, and rising from the ground or basement on a plan rectangular, semi-octagonal, or semi-hexagonal, but always straight-sided. The term is, however, also often employed to designate a bow-window, which more properly forms the segment of a circle, and an oriel-window, which is supported on a kind of bracket, and is usually on the first-floor. BAY-YARN Bay-yarn (ba'yärn), n. Woollen yarn. Bazaar, Bazar (ba-zär), n. [Per. bazár, a market.] 1. In the East, an exchange, market-place, or place where goods are exposed for sale, usually consisting of small shops or stalls in a narrow street or series of streets. These bazaar-streets are frequently shaded by a light material laid from roof to roof, and sometimes are arched over. Marts for the sale of miscellaneous articles, chiefly fancy goods, are now to be found in most Bazaar in Cairo. European cities bearing the name of bazaars; and the term has been extended to structures arranged as market-places for specific articles; as, a horse-bazaar.-2. A sale of miscellaneous articles in furtherance of some charitable or other purpose; a fancy fair. The articles there sold are mostly of fancy work, and contributed gratuitously. Bazaar-maund (ba-zar'mand), n. An old Indian weight equal to 724 lbs. avoirdupois: so called in contradistinction to factorymaund. See MAUND. Bazaras (ba-zar'as), n. A large flat-bottomed pleasure-boat used on the Ganges, navigated with sails and oars. Bazat, Baza (baz'at, baz'a), n. A long, fine spun cotton from Jerusalem, whence it is called Jerusalem cotton. Bdellium (del'li-um), n. [L. bdellium, Gr. bdellion, a plant, a fragrant gum which exudes from it, from Heb. bedolach, a precious article of merchandise mentioned along with gold and precious stones (Gen. ii. 12). The opinion of the Rabbins, which Bockhart supports, is that bedolach signifles originally a pearl, and as a collective noun pearls, which may be compared to grains of manna -hence its secondary sense of a gum.] An aromatic gum resin brought chiefly from Africa and India, in pieces of different sizes and figures, externally of a dark reddish brown, internally clear, and not unlike glue. To the taste it is slightly bitterish and pungent; its odour is agreeable. In the mouth it becomes soft and sticks to the teeth; on a red-hot iron it readily catches flame, and burns with a crackling noise. It is used as a perfume and a medicine, being a weak deobstruent. Indian bdellium is the produce of Balsamodendron Roxburghii; African, of B. africanum; Egyptian bdellium is obtained from the doum palm (Hyphone thebaica); and Sicilian is produced by Daucus gummifer, a species of the genus to which the carrot belongs. Bdellometer (del-lom'et-ér), n. [Gr. bdello, I suck, and metron, a measure.] An instrument proposed as a substitute for the leech, consisting of a cupping-glass, to which a scarificator and exhausting syringe are attached. Bdellostoma (del-los'to-ma), n. [Gr. bdella, a leech, and stoma, mouth.] A genus of cyclostomous fishes nearly allied to the glutinous hag (Myxine glutinosa). They are found in the Southern Ocean. Be (be), v.i. substantive verb, pres. am, art (sometimes beest), is, are (sometimes be); pret. was, were; subj. be; imper. be; pp. 236 been; ppr. being. [This is one of the three different verbal roots that are required in the conjugation of the substantive verb, the others being am and was. In English, unless in compound tenses, it is now almost confined to the subjunctive, imperative, infinitive, and participles, but in Anglo-Saxon, Old English, and up even to the time of Milton, it was conjugated in the present indicative, singular and plural, nor is the present quite obsolete in written English yet, being also common in the dialects. In A. Sax. it was in the pres. bed or beom, bist, bith, pl. beóth; subj. beó, pl. beon; imper. beo, pl. beóth; inf. beon; in later times we find beth and bes in the third person singular, and ben (sometimes bin) in the plural. The root be is seen in O.Sax. bium, O.H.G. pim, G. bin, I am, and is allied to A. Sax. buan, to dwell, L. fui, I was, futurus, about to be, future, Skr. bhú, to be. See AM and WAS.] 1. To have à real state or existence; to exist in the world of fact, whether physical or mental. Time was, Time is, and Time shall be no more. Southey. To be, or not to be, that is the question. Shak. 2. It asserts connection merely between a subject and predicate without necessarily involving a predicate in itself: (a) Connection of identity; as, John is the man. (b) Connection of relation-(1) Between a characteristic or permanent attribute and a subject; as, John is a man; John is mortal; John is brave. (2) Between an accidental quality, state, or condition, and the subject; as, John is hungry; things are so. Be is often thus used, especially in negative sentences, with a clause introduced by that for the predicate, in the same sense as is expressed by such phrases as: it is (not) the case; it is (not) because. 'Were it not that I have bad dreams. Shak. And yet it is not that I bear thee love; But since that thou canst talk of love so well, (3) Connection of place-relation; as, John is at home; he was in town yesterday.-3. Used before a personal noun, or pronoun, or noun personified, with the prepositions to, with, &c., before the latter, in the sense which the Latin verb est has before a personal dative; as, est mihi liber (a book is to me, i.e. I have a book); that is, indicating possession on the part of the person. Shak. Half all Cominius' honours are to Marcius. This mode of speech is, however, most frequently employed to express a salutation, wish, or the like. 'Peace be to the brethren.' Eph. vi. 23.-4. In addition to its use as an independent verb, be (and its conjugational forms) is employed as an auxiliary in forming the tenses of other verbs. It is so used (a) in forming the passive voice of transitive verbs; as, he is or has been disturbed. In such passive forms (of modern origin) as is being written, was being written, which express an uncompleted action, being has the sense of becoming. (b) It is used in forming the perfect and pluperfect tenses of many intransitive verbs expressing a change of place or condition, where the use of this auxiliary instead of have shows that what is looked to is rather the result of the action or process expressed by the verb than the action or process itself. This mode of construction was formerly much more common than it is now, but it is not by any means obsolete. Among the verbs so construed are such as go, come, ride, flee, fly, steal away, rise, sink, fall, &c.; become, grow, turn, chance, escape, perish, fade, cease, vanish. The heathen are perished out of his land (that is, have perished and now no longer exist in his land). Ps. x. 16. Sometimes even the perfect and pluperfect of the verb to be are construed with a participle of such an intransitive verb. The invalid . moaned out a feeble complaint Dickens. that the girl had been gone an hour. It forms, with the infinitive, a particular future tense, which often expresses duty, necessity, or purpose; as, government is to be supported; we are to pay our just debts. Where it is used only with its own infinitive it often expresses mere futurity, as in the colloquial expression that is to be for future. 'My wife that is to be.' Dickens.--Been and, a common vulgarism introduced pleonastically into the perfect and pluperfect tenses of other verbs: often extended to been and gone and. [It has been thought better to exhibit the uses of the verb in its various forms (a, are, is, was, were, &c.) here rather than in fragmentary details at each individual form.] Be- (be), a prefix common to the Teutonic. languages, the same word as by. It has various uses. (a) It changes substantives and adjectives into verbs; as, befriend, be night, becalm, belittle. (b) It changes intransitive verbs into transitive, sometimes modifying the root-meaning of the simple verb; as, bespeak, bethink, beseem, bequeath (e) It modifies also the root-meaning of cer tain transitive verbs; as, behold, beseech, befit. (d) It adds an intensive force to certain transitive verbs, without modifying their root-meaning; as, bedaub, bepraise, besmear. (e) It changes the indirect object of the simple verb into the direct, and vice versi; thus, I strew the roses on the ground, but I bestrew the ground with roses; I sprinkle water on a dress, but I besprinkle a dress with water. () It is the prefix of certain participles or participial adjectives, which have no finite tenses, or whose finite tenses are very rarely used; as, beloved, betroubled, bemused. (g) It enters into the composttion of certain nouns substantive; as, be hest, behalf, behoof. (h) It changes certain nouns into adverbs and prepositions; as. because, before, below, beside, besides. (1) It represents other Anglo-Saxon prefixes; as believe A. Sax. gelyfan, G. glauben. [Though a pure Anglo-Saxon prefix, it is frequently conjoined with Romance stems: comp. in addition to several of the above, the verbs becharm, besiege, betray.] Beach (bech), n. [Origin very doubtful Perhaps Icel. bakki, a bank, the shore, with the k softened into ch. Comp. kirk, church; birk, birch, &c.] The shore of the sea or of a lake, which is washed by the tide and waves; the strand. It may be sometimes used for the shore of large rivers.-Raised beaches, in geol. a term applied to those long terraced level pieces of land, consisting of sand and gravel, and containing marine shells, now, it may be, a considerable distance above and away from the sea, but bearing sufficient evidences of having been at one time sea-beaches. In Scotland such a terrace has been traced extensively along the coast of the Western Highlands and elsewhere, at 25 feet above the present sealevel. Beach (bech), v.t. To run on a beach; as, we beached the ship. Beach-comber (bech'kom-ér), n. 1. Naut a fellow who prowls about the sea-shore to plunder wrecks, and pick up waifs and strays of any kind.-2. A long wave rolling in from the ocean. [American.] Beached (becht), p. and a. 1. Having a beach; bordered by a beach; formed by, or consisting of, a beach. Upon the beached verge of the salt flood.' Shak. [Rare.}2. Run on a beach; stranded. Beach-man (bech'man), n. A person on the coast of Africa who acts as interpreter to ship-masters, and assists in conducting the trade. Beach-master (bech'mas-ter), n. Naut a superior officer with plenary powers, gener ally a captain, appointed to superintend the disembarkation of an attacking force. He generally leads the storming party. Beachy (bech'i), a. Having a beach or beaches; consisting of a beach or beaches 'The beachy girdle of the ocean.' Shak. Beacon (be kn), n. [A. Sax. been, bedcen, a sign, a beacon, whence beck, beckon. See BECK.] An object visible to some dis tance, and serving to notify the presence of danger; as a signal-fire to give notice of the approach of an enemy; a mark or object of some kind placed conspicuously on a coast or over a rock or shoal at sea for the guid ance of vessels; hence, in general, anything serving a kindred purpose. BEACON signal. That beacons the darkness of heaven.' Campbell Beacon (be kn), v.i. To serve as a beacon. Not in vain the distance beacons. Tennyson. T. Beaconage (bē’'kn-āj), n. Money paid for Ere yet, in scorn of Peter's-pence, Tennyson. 3 Any small globular body, as a small piece of metal on a gun-barrel to take aim by, a drop of liquid, and the like. Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow. Shak. 4 In chem, a glass globule for trying the strength of spirits. Beads are numbered according to their specific gravities, and the strength of the spirit is denominated by the number of that one which remains suspended in it, and neither sinks to the bottom nor floats on the surface. Beads, in determining the strength of spirits, are now for the most part superseded by the hydrometer. 5 In arch and joinery, a small round moulding sometimes cut into short embossments, like pearls in a necklace; an astragal. The bead is of frequent occurrence in architecture, particularly in the classical styles, and is used in picture-frames and other objects carved in wood. Among joiners beads are wariously modified, as (a) Bead and butt, framed work, where the panel is flush with the framing, and has a bead run In arch. a moulding Beading (bed'ing), n. in imitation of a bead. Beadle (be'dl), n. [A. Sax. býdel or baædel, from the A. Sax. beódan, to bid, order, or command. See BID.] 1. A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites persons to appear and answer. Called also an Apparitor or Summoner. 2. An officer in a university whose chief business is to walk with a mace in public processions; a bedell. 3. A parish officer whose business is to punish petty offenders; a church officer with various subordinate duties, as waiting on the clergyman, keeping order in church, attending meetings of vestry or session, &c. And I, forsooth in love! I, that have been love's whip; A very beadle to a humorous sigh, A critic, nay, a night-watch constable. Shak. Beadleism (bē'dl-ism), n. The acts, habits, language, &c., of beadles. Dickens. Beadlery (bē’dl-ri), n. The office or jurisdiction of a beadle. Beadleship (bē’dl-ship), n. The office of a beadle. Bead-mould (běd'mōld), n. A species of fungus which attacks fruit-preserves. Its stems consist of single cells, loosely jointed together, so as to present the appearance of strings of beads. In carp. a plane Bead-moulding (bēd'mōld-ing), n. In arch. Bead-plane (bed'plan), n. same as Bead, 5. for forming a bead. Bead-proof (béd'pröf), a. 1. A term applied to spírituous liquors on whose surface, after being shaken, a crown of bubbles will stand for some time.-2. A term applied to spirit which comes up to a certain standard of See strength, as ascertained by beads. BEAD, 4. Bead-roll (bēd'rōl), n. In the R. Cath. Ch. a list or catalogue of persons for the repose of whose souls a certain number of prayers is to be said or counted off on the beads of a chaplet rosary; a roll of prayers or hymns; hence, any list or catalogue. The bead-roll of her vicious tricks.' Prior. Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled On Fame's eternal bead-roll worthy to be filed. Spenser. Beads-man (bēdz'man), n. 1. A man employed in praying, generally in praying for another. In this sense the word was used in former times at the conclusion of petitions or letters to great men as we now use 'servant' or 'humble servant.' Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for ever unto almighty God. Fuller. 2. One who resides in a bede-house, or is supported from its funds.-3. A privileged beggar. [Scotch.] In this last use spelled more frequently Bedesman (which see). Bead-snake (bēd'snāk), n. The popular name of the Elaps fulvius, a beautiful snake of North America, inhabiting cultivated grounds, especially plantations of the sweetpotato, and burrowing in the ground. It is finely marked with yellow, carmine, and black. Though it possesses poison-fangs it never seems to use them. Beads-woman (bēdz’wu̟-man), n. 1. A praying woman: sometimes used as equivalent to 'humble servant." (See BEADSMAN.) 'Honour done to your poor beads-woman.' B. Jonson.-2. A woman who resides in an alms-house. Bead-tool (bed'töl), n. A turning tool which has its cutting face ground to a concave curve, so that it may produce a convex moulding when applied to the work. Bead-tree (bēd'trē), n. The Melia Azedarach, nat. order Meliaces. Its nuts are used for beads in necklaces by Roman Catholics, especially in Spain and Portugal; hence the name. See MELIA. Beady (bed'i), a. Bead-like. Miss Crawley could not look without seeing Mr. Bute's beady eyes eagerly fixed on her. Thackeray. Beagle (bé'gl), n. [Origin unknown. By some conjectured to be of Celtic origin; Ir and Gael. beag, little.] 1. A small hound. formerly kept to hunt hares, now almost superseded by the harrier, which sometimes is called by its name. The beagle is smaller than the harrier, compactly built, smoothhaired, and with pendulous ears. The smallest of them are little larger than the lapdog. There beagles flew To haud the souter lads in order. F. Mayne. Beak (bek), n. [O.E. beek, bek, bec, &c., from Fr. bec, It. becco, L. beccus, a beak, from the Celtic Armor. bek, beg, Ir. and Gael. bec, a beak. Formerly bec in French was applied to several weapons of the pike or halberd kind, hence possibly meaning 3.] 1. In zool. (a) the bill or neb of a bird. (b) The prolongation of the mouth or mandibles of some fishes, reptiles, and insects, in form analogous to the beak of a bird. (c) The upper or projecting part of the shell near the hinge of a bivalve, as in the clam. (d) The narrow prolongation of a univalve shell beyond the aperture in the axial line, containing what is usually called the canal.-2. Anything ending in a point like a beak; as, (a) naut. a pointed piece of wood fortified with brass, fastened to the prow of ancient galleys, and intended to pierce the vessels of an enemy; a similar, but infinitely more powerful appendage of iron or steel affixed immediately under the water-line to the prow of modern ramships. (See RAM.) Also, that part of a ship before the forecastle which is fastened to the stem and supported by the main knee. (b) The horn of an anvil. (e) In farriery, a little shoe at the toe about an inch long, turned up and fastened in upon the fore part of the hoof. (d) In arch. a little fillet left on the edge of a larmier, which forms a channel behind for preventing the water from running down the lower bed of the cornice. (e) In bot. a process, terminating the fruit of certain plants, as of saxifrages and geraniums.-3. A magistrate; a judge; a policeman. [Slang.] Beak (bek), v.t. Among cock-fighters, to take hold with the beak. Beaked (bēkt), a. Having a beak or something resembling a beak; beak-shaped; as, (a) ending in a point, like a beak. Each beaked promontory.' Milton. (b) Having a long beak-like mouth, as some insects. (c) In bot terminated by a process in the shape of a bird's beak; rostrate. Beaker (bek'êr), n. [Sc. bicker, Icel. bikarr, Dan. bæger, D. beker, G. becher, a beaker, a drinking vessel, from L.L. bicarium, a cup. from Gr. bikos, a wine-jar.] A large drinking cup or glass. O for a beaker full of the warm south, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene! Keats. Beakiron (bek'ī-érn), n. 1. A bickern; an anvil with a long beak or horn adapted to reach the interior surfaces of sheet-metal ware, used in various forms by blacksmiths, coppersmiths, and workers in sheet-metal. Beal (bel), n. [See BOIL, n.] A small inflammatory tumour; a pustule. Beal (bel), v.i. To gather matter; to swell and come to a head, as a pimple; to fester; to suppurate. [Old English and Scotch.] Beal, Biel (bel), n. [Gael.] A mouth; an opening, as between hills; a narrow pass. [Scotch.] Angus M'Aulay mumbled over a number of hard Gaelic names descriptive of the different passes, precipices, corries, and beals, through which he said the road lay to Inverary. Sir W. Scott. Be-all (be'al), n. All that is to be. That but this blow Shak Beam (bēm), n. [A. Sax. beâm, a beam, a post, a tree, a ray of light; D. boom, G. baum, Goth. bagms, a tree. The secondary sense of ray is evidently from the resemblance of sunbeams to straight shafts; comp. L. radius, a ray, a spoke of a wheel, a rod, and G. strahl, an arrow, a spoke, a ray or beam.] 1. A long straight and strong piece of wood, iron, or steel, especially when holding an important place in some structure, and serving for support or consolidation; a long piece fixed or movable in a machine or tool: often equivalent to girder. It is used in a number of more or less specific senses; as, (a) any large piece of timber long in proportion to its thickness, prepared for use. (b) One of the principal horizontal timbers in a building, especially one connecting two opposite rafters; a timber serving to strengthen any piece of wooden framework. (c) The part of a balance from the ends of which the scales are suspended. "The doubtful beam long nods from side to side. Pope.-To kick the beam, to rise as |