Book"worm` (&?;), n. 1. (Zoöl.) Any larva of a beetle or moth, which is injurious to books. Many species are known.
2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation.
I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a bookworm as any there.
Pope.
Book"y (&?;), a. Bookish.
Boo"ly (&?;), n.; pl. Boolies (&?;). [Ir. buachail cowherd; bo cow + giolla boy.] A company of Irish herdsmen, or a single herdsman, wandering from place to place with flocks and herds, and living on their milk, like the Tartars; also, a place in the mountain pastures inclosed for the shelter of cattle or their keepers. [Obs.] [Written also boley, bolye, bouillie.] Spenser.
Boom (bm), n. [D. boom tree, pole, beam, bar. See Beam.] 1. (Naut.) A long pole or spar, run out for the purpose of extending the bottom of a particular sail; as, the jib boom, the studding-sail boom, etc.
2. (Mech.) A long spar or beam, projecting from the mast of a derrick, from the outer end of which the body to be lifted is suspended.
3. A pole with a conspicuous top, set up to mark the channel in a river or harbor. [Obs.]
4. (Mil. & Naval) A strong chain cable, or line of spars bound together, extended across a river or the mouth of a harbor, to obstruct navigation or passage.
5. (Lumbering) A line of connected floating timbers stretched across a river, or inclosing an area of water, to keep saw logs, etc., from floating away.
Boom iron, one of the iron rings on the yards through which the studding-sail booms traverse. -- The booms, that space on the upper deck of a ship between the foremast and mainmast, where the boats, spare spars, etc., are stowed. Totten.
Boom (bm), v. t. (Naut.) To extend, or push, with a boom or pole; as, to boom out a sail; to boom off a boat.
Boom (bm), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boomed (&?;), p. pr. & vb. n. Booming.] [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. bommen to hum, D. bommen to drum, sound as an empty barrel, also W. bwmp a hollow sound; aderyn y bwmp, the bird of the hollow sound, i. e., the bittern. Cf. Bum, Bump, v. i., Bomb, v. i.] 1. To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the bittern, and some insects.
At eve the beetle boometh
Athwart the thicket lone.
Tennyson.