BIPAROUS, bip'ar-us, _adj._ bearing two at a birth. [L. _bis_, twice,
_par-[)e]re_, to bring forth.]
BIPARTITE, bi'part-[=i]t, or b[=i]-pärt'[=i]t, _adj._ divided into two like
parts.--_n._ BIPARTI'TION, the act of dividing into two corresponding
parts. [L. _bi-_, _bis_, twice, _partitus_, divided--_part-[=i]re_, to
divide.]
BIPED, b[=i]'ped, _n._ an animal with two feet.--_adjs._ B[=I]'PED,
B[=I]'PEDAL, having two feet. [L. _bipes_--_bi-_, _bis_, twice, _ped-em_,
foot.]
BIPENNATE, b[=i]-pen'[=a]t, BIPENNATED, b[=i]-pen'[=a]t-ed, _adj._ having
two wings. [L. _bi-_, and PENNATE.]
BIPENNIS, b[=i]-pen'nis, _n._ an axe with two blades, one on each side of
the handle, usually seen depicted in the hands of the Amazons. [L.--_bis_,
twice, _penna_, wing.]
BIPETALOUS, b[=i]-pet'al-us, _adj._ having two petals or flower-leaves. [L.
_bi-_, twice, and PETAL.]
BIPINNATE, b[=i]-pin'n[=a]t, _adj._ doubly pinnate. [L. _bi-_, twice, and
PINNATE.]
BIQUADRATIC, b[=i]-kwod-rat'ik, _n._ a quantity twice squared, or raised to
the fourth power.--BIQUADRATIC EQUATION, an equation with one unknown
quantity raised to the fourth power; BIQUADRATIC ROOT, the square root of
the square root of a number. [L. _bi-_ twice, and _quadratus_, squared.]
BIQUINTILE, b[=i]-kwin'til, _n._ (_astron._) the aspect of planets when
they are twice the fifth part (144 degrees) of a great circle from each
other. [L. _bi-_, twice, _quintus_, the fifth.]
BIRCH, b[.e]rch, _n._ a hardy forest-tree, with smooth, white bark and very
durable wood: a rod for punishment, consisting of a birch twig or
twigs.--_adjs._ BIRCH, BIRCH'EN, made of birch. [A.S. _berc_, _bierce_;
Ice. _björk_, Sans. _bh[=u]rja_.]
BIRD, b[.e]rd, _n._ a general name for feathered animals.--_v.i._ to catch
or snare birds.--_ns._ BIRD'-BOLT (_Shak._), a short thick bolt or arrow
with a blunted point, used for killing birds without piercing them;
BIRD'-CAGE, a cage or box made of wire and wood for holding birds;
BIRD'-CALL, an instrument used by fowlers to call or allure birds to them,
by imitating their notes; BIRD'-CATCH'ER, one who catches birds: a fowler;
BIRD'-CATCH'ING, the art or practice of catching birds; BIRD'-CHER'RY, a
bush bearing an astringent wild-fruit in drupes.--_adj._ BIRD'-EYED, having
eyes quick of sight, like those of a bird: quick-sighted.--_ns._
BIRD'-FAN'CIER, one who has a fancy for rearing birds: one who keeps birds
for sale; BIRD'ING (_Shak._), catching birds by means of hawks trained for
the purpose; BIRD'ING-PIECE, a fowling-piece; BIRD'-LIME, a sticky
substance used for catching birds; BIRD'-OF-PAR'ADISE, a kind of Eastern
bird with splendid plumage; BIRD'S'-EYE, a kind of tobacco; BIRD'S'-NEST,
the nest in which a bird lays her eggs and hatches her young;
BIRD'-SP[=I]'DER, a species of large spiders which prey on small birds,
found in Brazil.--_adj._ BIRD'-WIT'TED, flighty: incapable of sustained
attention.--BIRD'S-EYE VIEW, a general view from above, as if by a bird on
the wing, a representation of such, a general view or résumé of a subject;
BIRD'S-FOOT TREFOIL, the popular name of several leguminous plants, having
clusters of cylindrical pods resembling a bird's foot.--A LITTLE BIRD TOLD
ME, I heard in a way I will not reveal. [A.S. _brid_, the young of a bird,
a bird: either from root of BREED (_bredan_, to breed) or of BIRTH
(_beran_, to bear).]
BIREME, b[=i]'r[=e]m, _n._ an ancient vessel with two rows of oars.
[Fr.--L. _biremis_--_bi-_, twice, and _remus_, an oar.]
[Illustration]
BIRETTA, bir-et'a, _n._ a square cap worn by clergy--by priests, black;
bishops, purple; cardinals, red. [It. _berretta_--Low L. _birretum_, a
cap.]
BIRK, b[.e]rk, _n._ Scotch and prov. Eng. for BIRCH.--_adj._ BIRK'EN
(_Scot._), birchen.
BIRKIE, birk'i, _n._ a strutting or swaggering fellow: a fellow
generally.--_adj._ active. [_Scot._ A dubious connection with Scand.
_berkja_, to bark, boast, has been suggested.]
BIRL, birl, _v.t._ to spin anything round: to throw down a coin as one's
share in a joint contribution.--_v.i._ to whirl round. [_Scot._, an
onomatopoeic word.]
BIRLE, birl, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_Scot._) to ply with drink: to
carouse.--_ns._ BIRL'ER (_Cumberland_); BIRL'ING, the act of drawing
liquor. [A.S. _byrelian_, _byrele_, a cup-bearer, _beran_, to bear.]