Bay leaf, the leaf of the bay tree (Laurus nobilis). It has a fragrant odor and an aromatic taste.
Bay, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bayed (bd); p. pr. & vb. n. Baying.] [OE. bayen, abayen, OF. abaier, F. aboyer, to bark; of uncertain origin.] To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.
The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed.
Dryden.
Bay (&?;), v. t. To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear. Shak.
Bay (&?;), n. [See Bay, v. i.] 1. Deep-toned, prolonged barking. "The bay of curs." Cowper.
2. [OE. bay, abay, OF. abai, F. aboi barking, pl. abois, prop. the extremity to which the stag is reduced when surrounded by the dogs, barking (aboyant); aux abois at bay.] A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay.
Dryden.
The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts.
I. Taylor
Bay, v. t. [Cf. OE. bæwen to bathe, and G. bähen to foment.] To bathe. [Obs.] Spenser.
Bay, n. A bank or dam to keep back water.
Bay, v. t. To dam, as water; -- with up or back.
||Ba"ya (&?;), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The East Indian weaver bird (Ploceus Philippinus).
{ ||Ba*yad" (&?;), Ba*yatte" } (&?;), n. [Ar. bayad.] (Zoöl.) A large, edible, siluroid fish of the Nile, of two species (Bagrina bayad and B. docmac).
Ba`ya*dere" (&?;), n. [F., from Pg. bailadeira a female dancer, bailar to dance.] A female dancer in the East Indies. [Written also bajadere.]
Bay"-ant`ler (&?;), n. [See Bez- Antler.] (Zoöl.) The second tine of a stag's horn. See under Antler.
Bay"ard (&?;), n. 1. [OF. bayard, baiart, bay horse; bai bay + -ard. See Bay, a., and -ard.] Properly, a bay horse, but often any horse. Commonly in the phrase blind bayard, an old blind horse.
Blind bayard moves the mill.
Philips.
2. [Cf. F. bayeur, fr. bayer to gape.] A stupid, clownish fellow. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Bay"ard*ly, a. Blind; stupid. [Obs.] "A formal and bayardly round of duties." Goodman.
Bay"ber*ry (&?;), n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of the bay tree or Laurus nobilis. (b) A tree of the West Indies related to the myrtle (Pimenta acris). (c) The fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle); the shrub itself; -- called also candleberry tree.
Bayberry tallow, a fragrant green wax obtained from the bayberry or wax myrtle; -- called also myrtle wax.
Bay"bolt` (&?;), n. A bolt with a barbed shank.
Bayed (&?;), a. Having a bay or bays. "The large bayed barn." Drayton.
Bay" ice` (&?;). See under Ice.
Bay" leaf` (&?;). See under 3d Bay.
Bay"o*net (&?;), n. [F. bayonnette, baïonnette; -- so called, it is said, because the first bayonets were made at Bayonne.]
1. (Mil.) A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense.
Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which required to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.
2. (Mach.) A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.
Bayonet clutch. See Clutch. -- Bayonet joint, a form of coupling similar to that by which a bayonet is fixed on the barrel of a musket. Knight.
Bay"o*net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bayoneted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bayoneting.] 1. To stab with a bayonet.