In ÿMusic, B is the nominal of the sevens tone in the model major scale ÿ(the scale of C majorÿ), or of the second tone in it's relative minor scale (that of A minorÿ)ÿ. B? stands for B flat, the tone a half step , or semitone, lower than B. In German, B stands for our B?, while our B natural is called H (pronounced h„).
Ba (?), v.i. [Cf. OF. ÿbaer to open mouth, F. baer.] To kiss. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Baa (?), v.i. [Cf. G. b„en; an imitative word.] To cry baa, or bleat as a sheep.
He treble baas for help, but none can get.
Sir P.Sidney.
Baa (?), n.; pl.ÿBaas. [Cf. G. ÿb„.] The cry or bleating of a sheep; a bleat.
Baa¶ing, n. The bleating of a sheep.
Marryat.
Ba¶al (?), n.; Heb.pl. ÿBaalim (?). [Heb. ba'al lord.] 1. (Myth.) The supreme male divinity of the Ph?nitian and Canaanitish nations.
µ The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and elsewhere with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering to the different ideas of his character; as, ÿBaal-berith (the Covenant Baal), Baal-zebub (Baal of the fly).
2. pl. The whole class of divinities to whom the name Baal was applied.
Judges x. 6.
Ba¶alÏism (?), n. Worship of Baal; idolatry.
Ba¶alÏist (?), Ba¶alÏite (?), } n. A worshiper of Baal; a devotee of any false religion; an idolater.
ØBa¶ba (?), n. [F.] A kind of plum cake.
Bab¶bitt (?), v.t. To line with Babbitt metal.
Bab¶bitt met·al (?). [From the inventor, Isaac Babbittÿ of Massachusetts.] A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a none parts of tin to one of copper, or of fifty parts of tin to five of antimony and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish friction.
Bab¶ble, v.i. [imp. & p.p. Babbled (?);p. pr. & vb. n. Babbling.] [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying baÿ0, imitative of a child learning to talk.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles.
2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words.
3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate.
4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones.
In every babbling he finds a friend.
Wordsworth.
µ Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too noisy after having found a good scent.
Syn. - To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip.
Bab¶ble, v.i. 1. To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat,as words, in a childish way without understanding.
These [words] he used to babble in all companies.
Arbuthnot.
2. To disclose by too free talk, as a secret.
Bab¶ble, n. 1. Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble;twaddle. ½This is mere moral babble.¸
Milton.
2. Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
The babble of our young children.
Darwin.
The babble of the stream.
Tennyson.
Bab¶bleÏment (?), n. Babble.
Hawthorne.
Bab¶bler (?), n. 1. An idle talker; an irrational prater;a teller of secrets.
Great babblers, or talkers, are not fit for trust.
L'Estrange.
2. A hound too noisy on finding a good scent.
3. (Zo”l.) A name given to any one of family (Timalin‘) of thrushlike birds, having a chattering note.
Bab¶bleÏry (?), n. Babble. [Obs.]
Sir T. More
Babe (?), n. [Cf. Ir. bab, baban, W. baban, maban.]
1. An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby.
2. A doll for children.
Spenser.
Babe¶hood (?), n. Babyhood. [R.]
Udall.
Ba¶bel (?), n. [Heb. B¾bel, the name of the capital of Babylonia; in Genesis associated with the idea of ½confusion¸] 1. The city and tower in the land of Shinar, where the confusion of languages took place.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel.
Gen.xi.9.
2. Hence: A place or scene of noise and confusion; a confused mixture of sounds, as of voices or languages.
That babel of strange heathen languages.
Hammond.
The grinding babel of the street.
R.L.Stevenson.
Bab¶erÏy (?), n. [Perh. orig. for baboonery. Cf. Baboon, and also Babe.] Finery of a kind to please a child. [Obs.] ½Painted ÿbabery.¸
Sir P.Sidney.
Ba¶biÏan (?), Ba¶biÏon (?), n. [ See Baboon] A baboon. [Obs.]
B.Jonson.
ØBab¶ilÏlard (?), n. [F., a babbler.] (Zo”l.) The lesser whitethroat of Europe; - called also ÿbabbling warbler.
Bab¶ingÏtonÏite (?), n. [From Dr. Babbington.] (Min.) A mineral occurring in triclinic crystals approaching pyroxene in angle, and of a greenish black color.It is a silicate of iron, manganese, and lime.
ØBab·iÏrous¶sa, ØBab·iÏrus¶sa (?), n. [F. babiroussa, fr.Malay ÿb¾bÆ hog + r?sa deer.] (Zo”l.) A large hoglike quadruped (Sus, or Porcus, babirussa) of the East Indies, sometimes domesticated; the Indian hog. Its upper canine
teeth or tusks are large and recurved.
Bab¶ish (?), a. Like a babe; a childish; babyish. [R.] ½Babish imbecility.¸ Drayton. - Bab¶ishÏly, adv. - Bab¶ishÏness, n. [R.]
Bab¶ism (?), n. [From Bab (Pers.ÿbab a gate), the title assumed by the founder, Mirza Ali Mohammed.] The doctrine of a modern religious sect, which originated in Persia in 1843, being a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian,Jewish and Parsee elements.
Bab¶ist, n. A believer in Babism.
ØBab¶lah (?), n. [Cf. Per. bab?l a species of mimosa yielding gum arabic.] The ring of the fruit of several East Indian species of acacia; neb-neb. It contains gallic acid and tannin, and is used for dyeing drab.
ØBa¶boo, ØBa¶bu (?), n. [Hind. b¾b?ÿ] A Hindoo gentleman; native clerk who writes English; also, a Hindoo title answering to Mr.ÿ or Esquire.
Whitworth.
BabÏoon¶ (?), n. [OE. babewin, baboin, fr.F. babouin, or LL.ÿbabewynus. Of unknown origin; cf. D. baviaan, G. pavian, baboon, F. babin lip of ape, dogs, etc., dial. G. b„ppe mouth.] (Zo”l.) One of the Old World Quadrumana, of the genera Cynocephalus and Papio; the dog-faced ape. Baboons have dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks. They are mostly African. See Mandrill, and Chacma, and Drill an ape.
BabÏoon¶ery (?), n. Baboonish behavior.
Marryat.
BabÏoon¶ish, a. Like a baboon.
Ba¶by (?), n.; pl. Babies. [Dim. of babe] 1. An infant or young child of either sex; a babe.
2. A small image of an infant; a doll.
Babies in the eyes, the minute reflection which one sees of one's self in the eyes of another.
She clung about his neck, gave him ten kisses,
Toyed with his locks, looked babies in his eyes.
Heywood.
Ba¶by, a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an infant; young or little; as, ÿbaby swans. ½Baby figure¸
Shak.
Ba¶by, v.i. [imp. & p.p. Babied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Babying.] To treat like a young child; to keep dependent; to humor; to fondle.
Young.
Ba¶by farm· (?). A place where the nourishment and care of babies are offered for hire.
Ba¶by farm·er (?). One who keeps a baby farm.
Ba¶by farm·ing. The business of keeping a baby farm.
Ba¶byÏhood (?), n. The state or period of infancy.
Ba¶byÏhouse· (?), a. A place for children's dolls and dolls' furniture.
Swift.
Ba¶byÏish, a. Like a baby; childish; puerile; simple. - Ba¶byÏishÏly, adv. - Ba¶byÏishÏness, n.
Ba¶byÏism (?), n. 1. The state of being a baby.
2. A babyish manner of acting or speaking.
Ba¶by jump·er (?). A hoop suspended by an elastic strap, in which a young child may be held secure while amusing itself by jumping on the floor.
Bab·yÏlo¶niÏan (?), a. Of or pertaining to the real or to the mystical Babylon, or to the ancient kingdom of Babylonia; Chaldean.
Bab·yÏlo¶niÏan, n. 1. An inhabitant of Babylonia (which included Chaldea); a Chaldean.
2. An astrologer; - so called because the Chaldeans were remarkable for the study of astrology.
Bab·yÏlon¶ic (?), Bab·yÏlon¶icÏal (?), } a. 1. Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as Babylonic garments,carpets, or hangings.
2. Tumultuous; disorderly. [Obs.]
Sir J.Harrington.
Bab¶yÏlo·nish (?), n. 1. Of or pertaining to, or made in, Babylon or Babylonia. ½A Babylonishÿgarment.¸
Josh. vii.21.
2. Pertaining to the Babylon of Revelation xiv.8.
3. Pertaining to Rome and papal power. [Obs.]
The... injurious nickname of Babylonish.
Gape.
4.Confused; Babel-like.
ØBab·yÏrous¶sa, ØBab·yÏrus¶sa (?), n. (Zo”l.) See Babyroussa.
Ba¶byÏship (?), n. The quality of being a baby; the personality of an infant.
Bac (?), n. [F. See Back a vat]
1. A broad, flatbottomed ferryboat, usually worked by a rope.
2. A vat or cistern. See 1st Back.
Bac¶caÏlau¶reÏate (?), n. [NL. baccalaureatus, fr.LL. baccalaureus a bachelor of arts, fr. baccalarius, but as if fr L. bacca lauri bayberry, from the practice of the bachelor's wearing a garland of bayberries. See Bachelor.]
1. The degree of bachelor of arts. (B.A. or A.B.), the
first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges.
2. A baccalaureate sermon. [U.S.]
Bac·caÏlau¶reÏate, a. Pertaining to a bachelor of arts.
Baccalaureate sermon, in some American colleges, a sermon delivered as a farewell discourse graduating class.
ØBac·caÏra¶, Bac·caÏrat¶ (?), n. [F.] A French game of cards, played by a banker and punters.
BacÏca¶re, BacÏka¶re } (?), interj. Stand back! give place! - a cant word of the Elizabethan writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a knowledge of Latin which he did not possess.
Baccare! you are marvelous forward.
Shak.
Bac¶cate (?), a. [L. baccatus, fr. L. bacca berry.]
(Bot.) Pulpy throughout, like a berry; - said of fruits.
Gray.
Bac¶caÏted (?), a. 1. Having many berries.
2. Set or adorned with pearls. [Obs.]
Bac¶chaÏnal (?), a.ÿ[L. Bacchanalis. See Bacchanalia.]
1. Relating to Bacchus or his festival.
2. Engaged in drunken revels; drunken and riotous or noisy.
Bac¶chaÏnal (?), n. 1. A devotee of Bacchus; one who indulges in drunken revels; one who is noisy and riotous when intoxicated; a carouser. ½Tipsy bacchanals.¸
Shak.
2. pl. The festival of Bacchus; the bacchanalia.
3. Drunken revelry; an orgy.
4. A song or dance in honor of Bacchus.
ØBac·chaÏna¶liÏa (?), n. pl. [L. Bacchanalÿa place devoted to Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchusÿthe god of wine, Gr. ?]
1. (Myth.) A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.
2. Hence: A drunken feast; drunken reveler.
Bac·chaÏna¶liÏan (?), a. Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness.
Even bacchanalian madness has its charms.
Cowper.
Bac·ahaÏna¶liÏan, n. A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
Bac·chaÏna¶liÏanÏism (?), n. The practice of bacchanalians; bacchanals; drunken revelry.
Bac¶chant (?), n.; pl. E. Bacchants, L. Bacchantes. [L. bacchans, -antis, p. pr. of bacchariÿ to celebrate the festival of Bacchus.]
1. A priest of Bacchus.
2. A bacchanal; a reveler.
Croly.
Bac¶chant, a. Bacchanalian; fond of drunken revelry; wine-loving; reveling; carousing.
Byron.
Bac¶chante (?), n.; L. pl. Bacchantes 1. A priestess of Bacchus.
2. A female bacchanal.
BacÏchan¶tic (?), a. Bacchanalian.
Bac¶chic (?), Bac¶chicÏal (?) }, a. [L. Bacchicus, Gr. ?] Of or relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial, or riotous,with intoxication.
ØBacÏchi¶us (?), n.; pl. Bacchii. [L. Bacchiusÿpes, Gr. ? (sc. ? foot).] (Pros.) A metrical foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones; according to some, two long and a short.
Bac¶chus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. ?] (Myth.) The god of wine, son of Jupiter and Semele.
BacÏcif¶erÏous (?), a. [L.ÿbaccifer;ÿbaccaÿberry + ferre to bear] Producing berries. ½ÿBacciferousÿtrees.¸
Ray.
Bac¶ciÏform (?), a. [L. bacca berry + -form. ] Having the form of a berry.
BacÏciv¶oÏrous (?), a. [L. bacca berry + varare to devour.] (Zo”l.) Eating, or subsisting on, berries; as,ÿbaccivorous birds.
Bace (?), n., a., &v. See Base. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Bach¶aÏrach, Back¶aÏrack } (?), n. A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine.
Bache¶eÏlor (?), n. [OF. bacheler young man, F. bachelierÿ (cf.Pr. bacalar, Sp.bachiller, Pg. bacharel, It. baccalare), LL. baccalarius the tenant of a kind of farm called baccalaria, a soldier not old or rich enough to lead his retainers into battle with a banner, person of an inferior academical degree aspiring to a doctorate. In the latter sense, it was afterward changed to baccalaureus. See Baccalaureate, n.]
1. A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.
W.Irving.
2. An unmarried woman. [Obs.]
B.Jonson.
<-- p. 110 -->
3. A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a bachelorÿof arts.
4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [Obs.]
6. (Zo”l.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.
Bach¶eÏlorÏdom (?), n. The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors.
Bach¶eÏlorÏhood (?), n. The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship.
Bach¶eÏlorÏism (?), n. Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors.
W.Irving.
Bach¶eÏlor's but¶ton (?), (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (ÿCentaures cyanus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena).
µ Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers ½from their similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this kingdom¸, according to Johnson's Gerarde, p.472(1633); but by other writers ascribed to " a habit of country fellows to carry them in their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts.¸
Dr.Prior.
Bach¶eÏlorÏship , n. The state of being a bachelor.
Bach¶elÏry (?), n. [OF. bachelerie.] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BaÏcil¶lar (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.) Shaped like a rod or staff.
ØBac¶ilÏla·riÏ‘ (?), n. pl. [ NL., fr.L. bacillum, dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.) See ÿDiatom.
Bac¶ilÏlaÏry (?), a. Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped.
BaÏcil¶liÏform (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff + Ïform.] Rod-shaped.
BaÏcil¶lus (?), n.; pl. Bacilli (?). [NL., for L. bacillum. See Bacillarle.] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism.
Back (?), n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bak tray, bowl.] 1. A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
Hop back, Jack back, the cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper.- Wash back, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form wash. - Water back, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is heated.
2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1
Back (?), n. [As b‘c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b?g? flight. Cf. Bacon.] 1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end o the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the ÿback of a horse, fish, or lobster.
2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds.
Milton.
3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the ÿbacksÿand palms to kiss.
Donne.
4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the ÿback of a chimney.
5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or resource in reserve.
This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof.
Shak.
8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
A bak to walken inne by daylight.
Chaucer.
Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge;as, to ridicule a person behind his back. - Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line. - To be or lie on one's back, to be helpless. - To put, or get, one's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked.). [Colloq.] - To see the back of, to get rid of. - To turn the back, to go away; to flee. - To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.
Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
Back charges, charges brought forward after an account has been made up. - Back filling (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling up the space between two walls, or between the inner and outer faces of a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or vault. - Back pressure. (Steam Engine) See under Pressure.ÿ- Back rest, a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work, to steady it in turning.- Back slang, a kind of slang in which every word is written or pronounced backwards; as, nam for ÿman. - Back stairs, stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Also used adjectively. See ÿBack stairs, Backstairs, and Backstair, in the Vocabulary. - Back step (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front. - Back stream, a current running against the main current of a stream; an eddy. - To take the back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat. [Colloq.]
Back (?), v.i.ÿ[imp. & p.p. Backed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]
1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
I will back him [a horse] straight.
Shak.
2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me.
Shak.
3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
A garden ... with a vineyard backed.
Shak.
The chalk cliffs which back the beach.
Huxley.
6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to backÿ a friend. ½Parliament would be backed by the people.¸
Macaulay.
Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments.
South.
The mate backed the captain manfully.
Blackw. Mag.
8. To bet on the success of; - as, to back a race horse.
To back an anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one. - To back the field, in horse racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively designated ½the field¸, will win. - To back the oars, to row backward with the oars. - To back a rope, to put on a preventer. - To back the sails, to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern. - To back up, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends. - To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender. - To back water (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars, paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward.}
Back, v.i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; - used of the wind.
3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which
has pomted; - said of a dog. [Eng.]
To back and fill, to manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.] - To back out, To back down, to retreat or withdraw from a promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.]
Cleon at first ... was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to ÿback out.
Jowett (Thucyd.)
Back, adv. [Shortened from aback.] 1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step ÿback.
2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something left behind; to go ÿback to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it.
3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism.
4. ( Of time) In times past; ago. ½Sixty or seventy years back.¸
Gladstone.
5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
The angel of the Lord ... came, and rolled back the stone from the door.
Matt. xxvii.2.
6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep ÿback the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
The Lord hath kept thee back from honor.
Numb. xxiv.11.
8. In return, repayment, or requital.
What have I to give you ÿback!
Shak.
9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words.
10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]
Back and forth, backwards and forwards; to and fro. - To go back on, to turn back from; to abandon; to betray;as, to go back on a friend; to go back on one's professions. [Colloq.]
Bac¶aÏrack (?), n. See Bacharach.
BacÏka¶re (?), interj. Same as Baccare.
Back¶band· (?),n. [2nd backÿ, n. + band.] (Saddlery) The band which passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage.
Back¶bite·, v.i. [2nd back, n., + bite] To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (as absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent).
Spenser.
Back¶bite·, v.i. To censure or revile the absent.
They are arrant knaves, and will ÿbackbite.
Shak.
Back¶bit·er (?), n. One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
Back¶bit·ing (?), n. Secret slander; detraction.
Backbiting, and bearing of false witness.
Piers Plowman.
Back¶board· (?), n. [2nd ÿbackÿ,n. + board.]
1. A board which supports the back wen one is sitting;
specifically, the board athwart the after part of a boat.
2. A board serving as the back part of anything, as of a wagon.
3. A thin stuff used for the backs of framed pictures, mirrors, etc.
4. A board attached to the rim of a water wheel to prevent the water from running off the floats or paddies into the interior of the wheel.
W.Nicholson.
5. A board worn across the back to give erectness to the figure.
Thackeray.
Back¶bond· (?), n. [Back, adv. + ÿbond.] (Scots Law) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.
Back¶bone¶, n. [2d back, n. + bone.ÿ]
1. The column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column.
2. Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone.
The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic axis, or backbone of the country.
Darwin.
We have now come to the backbone of our subject.
Earle.
3. Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness.
Shelley's thought never had any ÿbackbone.
Shairp.
To the backbone, through and through; thoroughly; entirely. ½Staunch to ÿthe backbone.¸
Lord Lytton.
Back¶boned¶ (?), a. Vertebrate.
Back¶cast· (?), n. [ Back, adv.+ ÿcast.] Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.]
Back¶ door¶ (?). A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.
Atterbury.
Back¶door¶, a. Acting from behind and in concealment; as backdoor intrigues.
Back¶down· (?), n. A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [Colloq.]
Backed (?), a. Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-ÿbacked; hump-backed.
Back¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.
Back¶fall· (?), n. [2nd back ,n. + fall] A fall or throw on the back in wrestling.
Back¶friend· (?), n. [Back, n. or adv. + friend] A secret enemy. [Obs.]
South.
Back¶gam·mon (?), n. [ Origin unknown; perhaps fr.Dan. bakke tray + E.ÿgame; or very likely the first part is from E.back, adv., and the game is so called because the men are often set back.] A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a ½board¸ marked off into twenty-four spaces called ½points¸. Each player has fifteen pieces, or ½men¸, the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called ÿtables.
Backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two ½tables¸.
Back¶gam·mon, v.i. In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first ½table¸.
Back¶ground· (?), n. [ÿBack, a. + ground.]
1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance,
as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
2. (Paint.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.
µ The distance in a picture is usually divided into foreground, middle distance, and background.
Fairholt.
3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.
4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished ... performance.
Mrs.Alexander.
A husband somewhere in the background.
Thackeray.
Back¶hand· (?), n. [Back, adv. + ÿhand.] A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right.
Back¶hand·, a. 1. Sloping from left to right; - said of handwriting.
2. Backhanded; indirect; oblique. [R.]
Back¶hand·ed, a. 1. With the hand turned backward; as, a ÿbackhanded blow.
2. Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; as, a ÿbackhandedÿ compliment.
3.Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, a backhanded letters.
Back¶hand·edÏness, n. State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect methods.
Back¶hand·er (?), n. A backhanded blow.
Back¶house· (?), n. [ÿBack, a. + house.] A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a necessary.
Back¶ing, n. 1. The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything backward.
2. That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability.
3. Support or aid given to a person or cause.
4. (Bookbinding) The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before putting on the cover.
Back¶joint· (?), n. [Backÿ, a. or adv. + joint.] (a) A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab or other filling.
Back¶lash· (?), n. [ÿBackÿ, adv. + lash.] (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
Back¶less, a. Without a back.
Back¶log·(?), n. [ÿBack, a. + log.] A large stick of wood, forming the of a fire on the hearth. [U.S.]
There was first a backlog, from fifteen to four and twenty inches in diameter and five feet long, imbedded in the ashes.
S.G. Goodrich.
Back¶piece· (?), Back¶plate· (?),} n. [ÿBack, n. or a. + ÿpiece, plate.ÿ] A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which covers the back; armor for the back.
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