||Bis*mil"lah (&?;), interj. [Arabic, in the name of God!] An adjuration or exclamation common among the Mohammedans. [Written also Bizmillah.]
Bis"mite (&?;), n. (Min.) Bismuth trioxide, or bismuth ocher.
Bis"muth (&?;), n. [Ger. bismuth, wismuth: cf. F. bismuth.] (Chem.) One of the elements; a metal of a reddish white color, crystallizing in rhombohedrons. It is somewhat harder than lead, and rather brittle; masses show broad cleavage surfaces when broken across. It melts at 507° Fahr., being easily fused in the flame of a candle. It is found in a native state, and as a constituent of some minerals. Specific gravity 9.8. Atomic weight 207.5. Symbol Bi.
Chemically, bismuth (with arsenic and antimony is intermediate between the metals and nonmetals; it is used in thermo-electric piles, and as an alloy with lead and tin in the fusible alloy or metal. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic substance known.
Bismuth glance, bismuth sulphide; bismuthinite. -- Bismuth ocher, a native bismuth oxide; bismite.
Bis"muth*al (&?;), a. Containing bismuth.
Bis"muth*ic (&?;), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to bismuth; containing bismuth, when this element has its higher valence; as, bismuthic oxide.
Bis`muth*if"er*ous (&?;), a. [Bismuth + -ferous.] Containing bismuth.
{ Bis"muth*ine (&?;), Bis"muth*in*ite (&?;), } n. Native bismuth sulphide; -- sometimes called bismuthite.
Bis"muth*ous (&?;), a. Of, or containing, bismuth, when this element has its lower valence.
Bis"muth*yl` (&?;), n. (Min.) Hydrous carbonate of bismuth, an earthy mineral of a dull white or yellowish color. [Written also bismuthite.]
Bi"son (b"sn; 277), n. [L. bison, Gr. bi`swn, a wild ox; akin to OHG. wisunt, wisant, G. wisent, AS. wesend, Icel. vsundr: cf. F. bison.] (Zoöl.) (a) The aurochs or European bison. (b) The American bison buffalo (Bison Americanus), a large, gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns, which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of North America, but is now restricted to very limited districts in the region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.
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Bi*spi"nose (b*sp"ns), a. [Pref. bi- + spinose.] (Zoöl.) Having two spines.
||Bisque (&?;), n. [A corruption of biscuit.] Unglazed white porcelain.
Bisque, n. [F.] A point taken by the receiver of odds in the game of tennis; also, an extra innings allowed to a weaker player in croquet.
||Bisque, n. [F.] A white soup made of crayfish.
Bis*sex"tile (&?;), n. [L. bissextilis annus, fr. bissextus (bis + sextus sixth, fr. sex six) the sixth of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year, by the intercalation of a day.] Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365 d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But one day added every four years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more than the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress the bissextile day at the end of every century which is not divisible by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible by 400.
Bis*sex"tile, a. Pertaining to leap year.
Bis"son (&?;), a. [OE. bisen, bisne, AS. bisen, prob. for bs&?;ne; bi by + s&?;ne clear, akin to seón to see; clear when near, hence short-sighted. See See.] Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.
{ Bis"ter, Bis"tre } (&?;), n. [F. bistre a color made of soot; of unknown origin. Cf., however, LG. biester frowning, dark, ugly.] (Paint.) A dark brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood.
Bi*stip"uled (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + stipule.] (Bot.) Having two stipules.
Bis"tort (&?;), n. [L. bis + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist: cf. F. bistorte.] (Bot.) An herbaceous plant of the genus Polygonum, section Bistorta; snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as an astringent.
Bis"tou*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Bistouries (&?;). [F. bistouri.] A surgical instrument consisting of a slender knife, either straight or curved, generally used by introducing it beneath the part to be divided, and cutting towards the surface.
Bis"tre (&?;), n. See Bister.
Bi*sul"cate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + sulcate.] 1. Having two grooves or furrows.