BLIGHT, bl[=i]t, _n._ a disease in plants, which blasts or withers them:
anything that injures or destroys.--_v.t._ to affect with blight: to blast:
to frustrate.--_p.adj._ BLIGHT'ING, withering, blasting. [Dr Murray notes
that it first appears in literature in the 17th century; prob. orig. of
Scand. origin; cf. Ice. _blettr_, a stain; perh. related to BLEACH, BLEAK.]
BLIN, blin, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to cease.--_n._ cessation: stoppage. [A.S.
_blinnan_, to cease, pfx. _be-_, and _linnan_, to cease.]
BLIND, bl[=i]nd, _adj._ without sight: dark: ignorant or undiscerning:
without an opening.--_n._ something to mislead: a window-screen: a
shade.--_v.t._ to make blind; to darken, obscure, or deceive; to
dazzle.--_pa.p._ bl[=i]nd'ed; _pr.p._ bl[=i]nd'ing.--_ns._ BLIND'AGE
(_mil._) a temporary wooden screen faced with earth as a protection against
splinters of shell and the like; BLIND'-COAL, non-bituminous coal.--_adj._
BLIND'ED, deprived of sight: without intellectual discernment.--_n._
BLIND'ER, one who or that which blinds; (_pl._) a horse's blinkers.--_adj._
BLIND'FOLD, having the eyes bandaged, so as not to see: thoughtless:
reckless.--_v.t._ to cover the eyes: to mislead.--_adj._ BLIND'ING, tending
to make blind.--_pr.p._ making blind.--_adv._ BLIND'LY.--_ns._ BLIND'NESS,
want of sight, ignorance, folly; BLIND'-SIDE, the side on which a person is
blind to danger: weak point; BLIND'WORM, a small reptile, like a snake,
having eyes so small as to be supposed blind.--BLIND-MAN'S BUFF, a game in
which one of the party is blindfolded and tries to catch the others. [A.S.
_blind_; Ice. _blindr_.]
BLINK, blingk, _v.i._ to glance, twinkle, or wink: to see obscurely, or
with the eyes half-closed: to shine unsteadily.--_v.t._ to shut out of
sight: to avoid or evade.--_n._ a glimpse, glance, or wink: a momentary
gleam of light, a spark.--_n._ BLINK'ARD, one who blinks or has bad
eyes.--_p.adj._ BLINKED, affected with blinking.--_n.pl._ BLINK'ERS, pieces
of leather fastened to the cheek-pieces of a horse's head-stall in driving
to prevent him seeing in any direction except straightforward. [M. E. a
variant of _blenk_, prob. the same as BLENCH (q.v.).]
BLIRT, blirt, _n._ (_Scot._) a fit of crying.--_v.i._ to burst into tears.
[Prob. the same as BLURT.]
BLISS, blis, _n._ the highest happiness: the special happiness of heaven,
heaven.--_adj._ BLISS'FUL.--_adv._ BLISS'FULLY.--_n._
BLISS'FULNESS.--_adj._ BLISS'LESS, without bliss. [A.S. _blíðs_, _blíðe_,
BLITHE.]
BLIST, blist, _pa.t._ (_Spens._) wounded: struck. [From Fr. _blesser_, to
wound.]
BLISTER, blis't[.e]r, _n._ a thin bubble or bladder on the skin, containing
watery matter: a pustule: a plaster applied to raise a blister.--_v.t._ to
raise a blister.--_ns._ BLIS'TER-BEE'TLE, BLIS'TER-FLY, the cantharis, or
Spanish fly, used for blistering; BLIS'TER-PLAS'TER, a plaster made of
Spanish flies used to raise a blister; BLIS'TER-STEEL, BLIS'TERED-STEEL,
steel blistered in the process of manufacture, used for making tools,
&c.--_adj._ BLIS'TERY. [M. E.; most prob. O. Fr. _blestre_, conn. with Old
Norse _blástr_, _blása_, to blow; Ger. _blase_.]
BLITHE, bl[=i]th, _adj._ happy: gay; sprightly.--_adv._ BLITHE'LY.--_n._
BLITHE'NESS.--_adj._ BLITHE'SOME, joyous.--_adv._ BLITHE'SOMELY.--_n._
BLITHE'SOMENESS. [A.S. _blíðe_, joyful. See BLISS.]
BLIVE, bl[=i]v, _adv._ (_Spens._). Same as BELIVE.
BLIZZARD, bliz'ard, _n._ a blinding storm of wind and snow, a
snow-squall.--_adjs._ BLIZZ'ARDLY, BLIZZ'ARDOUS. [A modern coinage--most
prob. onomatopoeic, on the analogy of _blow_, _blast_, &c.]
BLOAT, bl[=o]t, _v.t._ to swell or puff out: to dry by smoke (applied to
fish).--_v.i._ to swell or dilate: to grow turgid.--_p.adj._
BLOAT'ED.--_n._ BLOAT'ER, a herring partially dried in smoke, esp. at
Yarmouth. [Scand., as in Sw. _blöt_, soft.]
BLOB, blob, _n._ a drop of liquid: anything soft and round, like a
gooseberry: a round spot. [Imit.]
[Illustration]
BLOCK, blok, _n._ an unshaped mass of wood or stone, &c.: the wood on which
criminals were wont to be beheaded: (_mech._) a pulley together with its
framework; a piece of wood on which something is formed: a connected group
of houses: an obstruction: a blockhead.--_v.t._ to enclose or shut up: to
obstruct: to shape or sketch out roughly.--_n._ BLOCKADE', the blocking up
of a place by surrounding it with troops or by ships.--_v.t._ to block up
by troops or ships.--_ns._ BLOCK'-HEAD, one with a head like a block, a
stupid fellow; BLOCK'-HOUSE, a small temporary fort generally made of
logs.--_adj._ BLOCK'ISH, like a block: stupid: dull.--_ns._
BLOCK'-PRINT'ING, printing of BLOCK'-BOOKS, from engraved wooden blocks or
pages; BLOCK'-SHIP, a war-ship, inefficient for service in action on
account of age, but useful in defence of ports; BLOCK'-SYS'TEM, a system of
working trains in which no train is allowed on to a section of line so long
as any other train is on that section; BLOCK'-TIN, tin in the form of
blocks or ingots. [Widely spread, but acc. to Skeat, of Celt. origin, Gael.
_ploc_, Old Ir. _blog_, a fragment. See PLUG.]
BLOKE, bl[=o]k, _n._ a fellow, a man familiarly. [Ety. quite unknown--at
any rate not Gipsy.]
BLONCKET, blongk'et, _adj._ (_Spens._) gray. [Fr. _blanchet_, whitish, dim.
of _blanc_, white.]
BLONDE, blond, _n._ a person of fair complexion with light hair and blue
eyes--opp. to _Brunette_.--_adj._ of a fair complexion: fair. [Fr.]
BLOND-LACE, blond'-l[=a]s, _n._ lace made of silk, so called from its
colour.
BLONT, blont, _adj._ (_Spens._). Same as BLUNT.
BLOOD, blud, _n._ the red fluid in the arteries and veins of men and
animals: descent, of human beings, good birth: relationship, kindred:
elliptically for a blood-horse, one of good pedigree: a rake or swaggering
dandy about town: the blood-royal, as in 'princes of blood:' temperament:
bloodshed or murder: the juice of anything, esp. if red: the supposed seat
of passion--hence temper, anger, as in the phrase, 'his blood is up,' &c.:
the sensual nature of man.--_interj._ 'S BLOOD--God's blood.--_adjs._
BLOOD'-BESPOT'TED (_Shak._), spotted with blood; BLOOD'-BOLT'ERED
(_Shak._), sprinkled with blood as from a bolter or sieve; BLOOD'-BOUGHT,
bought at the expense of blood or life; BLOOD'-FROZ'EN (_Spens._), having
the blood frozen or chilled.--_ns._ BLOOD'GUILT'INESS, the guilt of
shedding blood, as in murder; BLOOD'HEAT, heat of the same degree as that
of the human blood (about 98° Fahr.); BLOOD'-HORSE, a horse of the purest
and most highly prized blood, origin, or stock.--_adj._ BLOOD'-HOT, as hot
or warm as blood.--_n._ BLOOD'HOUND, a large hound formerly employed in
tracing human beings: a blood-thirsty person.--_adv._ BLOOD'ILY.--_adj._
BLOOD'LESS, without blood, dead: without the shedding of blood: (_Shak._)
without spirit or activity.--_ns._ BLOOD'-LET'TING, the act of letting
blood, or bleeding by opening a vein; BLOOD'-MON'EY, money earned by laying
or supporting a capital charge against any one, esp. if the charge be false
or made by an accomplice; BLOOD'-POIS'ONING, a name popularly, but loosely,
used of pyæmia and allied diseases; BLOOD'-PUD'DING, a pudding made with
blood and other materials; BLOOD'-REL[=A]'TION, one related by blood or
marriage; BLOOD'-SAC'RIFICE (_Shak._), a sacrifice made with bloodshed;
BLOOD'SHED, the shedding of blood: slaughter.--_adjs._ BLOOD'SHOT (of the
eye), red or inflamed with blood; BLOOD'-SIZED, sized or smeared with
blood.--_n._ BLOOD'-SPAV'IN, a disease of horses consisting of the swelling
of a vein on the inside of the hock, from a checking of the blood.--_adj._
BLOOD'-STAINED, stained with blood: guilty of murder.--_ns._ BLOOD'-STONE,
a dark-green variety of quartz, variegated with blood-like spots of red
jasper, the heliotrope; a brown ore of iron, hematite; BLOOD'-SUCK'ER, an
animal that sucks blood, esp. a leech: an extortioner, one who sponges upon
another.--_adj._ BLOOD'-SUCK'ING (_Shak._), that sucks or draws
blood.--_ns._ BLOOD'-TAX, conscription or universal military service, as
drawing from the nation a certain number of lives or recruits annually;
BLOOD'-THIRST'INESS, thirst or desire for shedding blood.--_adj._
BLOOD'-THIRST'Y, having a thirst or desire to shed blood.--_ns._
BLOOD'-VES'SEL, a vessel in which blood circulates, a vein or artery;
BLOOD'-WORM, a small red earthworm used by anglers.--_adj._ BLOOD'Y, of the
nature of blood: stained with blood: murderous, cruel: vulgarly, as an
_adj._ emphasising anger or the like: as an _adv._ employed as a mere
intensive--most prob. from the habits of the 'bloods' about the beginning
of the 18th century (Etheredge, '_bloody_-drunk').--_v.t._ to make
bloody.--_n._ BLOOD'Y-BONES, a phrase, together with _Rawhead_, applied to
a children's bugbear.--_adjs._ BLOOD'Y-EYED; BLOOD'Y-FACED.--_ns._
BLOOD'Y-FLUX, dysentery, in which the discharges from the bowels are mixed
with blood; BLOOD'Y-HAND (_her._), the armorial device of Ulster, hence of
baronets.--_adj._ BLOOD'Y-MIND'ED.--_ns._ BLOOD'Y-MIND'EDNESS;
BLOOD'Y-SWEAT, a sweat accompanied with the discharge of blood.--AVENGER OF
BLOOD, the next-of-kin to a murdered man, whose duty it was to avenge his
death--the Hebrew _Goël_.--EATING OF BLOOD, prohibited under the Old
Testament dispensation, Jews still killing their own butcher-meat.--IN
BLOOD, in full vigour; IN HOT or COLD BLOOD, under or free from excitement
or sudden passion. [A.S. _blód_--root _blówan_, to bloom; cog. with Old.
Fris. _blód_, Ger. _blut_.]
BLOOM, bl[=oo]m, _v.i._ to put forth blossoms: to flower: to be in a state
of beauty or vigour: to flourish: to give a bloom or warm tint to
anything.--_n._ a blossom or flower: the opening of flowers: rosy colour:
the prime or highest perfection of anything: the first freshness of beauty
of anything: the flush or glow on the cheek--(_Spens._) BLOSME.--_p.adj._
BLOOM'ING, bright, shining, flourishing: (_slang_) full-blown.--_adjs._
BLOOM'LESS, without bloom; BLOOM'Y, flowery: flourishing. [Ice. _blóm_; cf.
Goth. _blôma_, Ger. _blume_.]
BLOOMER, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r, _n._ and _adj._ a dress for women, partly
resembling men's dress, devised by Mrs _Bloomer_ of New York about 1849,
consisting of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt falling a little below
the knee, and a pair of Turkish trousers.
BLOOMERY, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r-i, _n._ the first forge through which iron passes
after it has been melted from the ore, and where it is made into BLOOMS, or
rough ingots, for hammering or drawing out.
BLORE, bl[=o]r, _n._ a violent gust of wind. [Prob. related to BLARE and
BLOW.]
BLOSME. See BLOOM.
BLOSSOM, blos'om, _n._ a flower-bud, the flower that precedes
fruit.--_v.i._ to put forth blossoms or flowers: to flourish and
prosper.--_n._ BLOSS'OMING.--_adj._ BLOSS'OMY, covered with flowers,
flowery. [A.S. _blóstm_, _blóstma_, from root of BLOOM.]
BLOT, blot, _n._ a spot or stain: an obliteration, as of something written:
a stain in reputation.--_v.t._ to spot or stain: to obliterate or destroy:
to disgrace: to dry writing with blotting-paper:--_pr.p._ blot'ting;
_pa.p._ blot'ted.--_n._ and _adj._ BLOT'TESQUE, a painting executed with
heavy blot-like touches, a daub or (_fig._) a vigorous descriptive
sketch.--_n._ BLOTTING-P[=A]'PER, unsized paper, used for absorbing
ink.--_adj._ BLOT'TY. [Prob. Scand., as in Dan. _plet_, Ice. _blettr_, a
spot.]
BLOT, blot, _n._ a piece liable to be taken at backgammon: a weak place in
anything. [Ety. obscure; Dut. _bloot_, naked.]
BLOTCH, bloch, _n._ a dark spot on the skin: a pustule.--_v.t._ to mark or
cover with blotches.--_adjs._ BLOTCHED, BLOTCH'Y. [Prob. formed on BLOT.]
BLOUSE, blowz, _n._ a loose sack-like outer garment, somewhat like the
English smock-frock. [Fr.]
BLOW, bl[=o], _n._ a stroke or knock: a sudden misfortune or calamity.--AT
A BLOW, by a single action, suddenly; TO COME TO BLOWS, TO EXCHANGE BLOWS,
to come to hostilities; WITHOUT STRIKING A BLOW, without a struggle. [A.S.
_bléowan_ is doubtful, cog. with Dut. _blouwen_, to dress (beat) flax, Ger.
_bl[=a]uen_, to beat hard. The noun appears in the 15th century without
evidence of parentage.]
BLOW, bl[=o], _v.i._ to bloom or blossom:--_pr.p._ bl[=o]w'ing; _pa.p._
bl[=o]wn. [A.S. _blówan;_ Ger. _blühen_. See BLOOM, BLOSSOM.]
BLOW, bl[=o], _v.i._ to produce a current of air: to move, as air or the
wind.--_v.t._ to drive air upon or into: to drive by a current of air, as
'to blow away, down,' &c.: to sound, as a wind-instrument: to breathe hard
or with difficulty: to spout, as whales: (_prov._) to boast: to spread by
report: to fan or kindle:--_pa.t._ blew (bl[=oo]); _pa.p._ blown
(bl[=o]n).--_ns._ BLOW'-BALL, the downy head of a dandelion in seed;
BLOW'ER, a metal plate put upon the upper part of a fireplace, so as to
increase the draught through the fire: a machine for driving a blast of
air, as into a furnace; BLOW'-FLY, or _Flesh-fly_, an insect of the order
Diptera, and of the large family Muscidæ, to which the common house-fly and
blue-bottle belong.--_p.adj._ BLOWN, out of breath, tired: swelled: stale,
worthless.--_n._ BLOW'PIPE, a pipe through which a current of air is blown
on a flame, to increase its heat: a kind of weapon much used by some of the
Indian tribes of South America both in hunting and war, consisting of a
long straight tube in which a small poisoned arrow is placed, and forcibly
expelled by the breath.--_adj._ BLOW'Y.--TO BLOW HOT AND COLD, to be
favourable and unfavourable by turns, to be irresolute; TO BLOW OFF (steam,
&c.), to allow to escape, to escape forcibly; TO BLOW ONE'S OWN TRUMPET, to
sound one's own praises; TO BLOW OVER, to pass away, to subside, as a
danger or a scandal; TO BLOW UP, to shatter or destroy by explosion: to
scold; TO BLOW UPON, to take the bloom, freshness, or the interest off
anything, to bring into discredit: to inform upon. [A.S. _bláwan_; Ger.
_blähen_, _blasen_; L. _flare_.]
BLOWZE, blowz, _n._ a ruddy, fat-faced wench.--_adjs._ BLOWZED, BLOWZ'Y,
fat and ruddy, or flushed with exercise, dishevelled, slatternly. [Perh.
related to root of BLUSH; or of cant origin.]
BLUBBER, blub'[.e]r, _n._ the fat of whales and other sea animals.--_v.i._
to weep effusively.--_p.adj._ BLUBB'ERED, of a face swollen with weeping.
[M. E. _blober_, _bluber_; most likely onomatopoeic]
BLUCHER, bl[=oo]ch'[.e]r, _n._ a strong leather half-boot or high shoe,
named from Marshal _Blücher_, the Prussian general at Waterloo.
BLUDGEON, blud'jun, _n._ a short stick with a heavy end to strike with.
[First in 18th century; origin very obscure; from a cant word conn. with
BLOOD.]
BLUE, bl[=oo], _n._ the colour of the sky when unclouded--hence the sea,
the sky, as in 'a bolt from the blue:' one of the seven primary
colours.--_adj._ of the colour blue: learned, pedantic: indecent or
obscene, as in _blue_ stories.--_ns._ BLUE'-BEARD, a monster who murders a
series of wives in Perrault's famous _conte_, before he is himself cut off:
one who is 'unfortunate' with his wives after the fashion of Henry VIII.;
BLUE'BELL, a plant that bears blue bell-shaped flowers; BLUE'-BIRD, a small
American bird akin to the warblers; BLUE'-BLACK, black with a tinge of
blue; BLUE'-BOOK, the name popularly applied to the reports and other
papers printed by parliament, because usually stitched up in blue paper
wrappers; BLUE'-BOT'TLE, a common name for the Blue Cornflower: a familiar
name for a policeman or beadle; BLUE'-CAP, a fish of the salmon kind with
blue spots on its head: the blue titmouse: (_Shak._) a Scotchman, from his
blue bonnet; BLUE'-EYE, a beautiful little bird in New South Wales, one or
the honey-eaters; BLUE'-FISH, a fish of the family Scomberidæ, abundant on
the east coast of North America.--_n.pl._ BLUE'-GOWNS, the name commonly
given to a former class of privileged mendicants in Scotland--called also
the _King's Bedesmen_.--_ns._ BLUE'-GRASS, a permanent grass found in
Europe and North America; BLUE'-GUM, a kind of Eucalyptus; BLUE'-JACK'ET, a
seaman in the navy, as distinguished from a marine; BLUE'-JAY, a common
North American bird of the [Illustration] jay family; BLUE'NESS;
BLUE'-NOSE, a nickname for a Nova Scotian; BLUE'-P[=E]'TER, a blue flag
with white square in the centre, used in the navy as a signal for sailing;
BLUE'PILL, a mercurial pill, used as a purgative in cases of torpid or
inflamed liver; BLUE'-STOCK'ING, a name given to learned ladies who display
their acquirements in a pedantic manner, to the neglect of womanly
graces--about 1750 Mrs Montague and others began to substitute literary
conversation for cards, and the name implying a disregard for the
conventional costume of polite society was suggested by the blue stockings
of Benjamin Stillingfleet--the French _bas bleu_ is a translation;
BLUE'-STONE, blue copperas, sulphate of copper; BLUE'-THROAT, or
BLUE'-BREAST, a beautiful and melodious bird, nearly allied to the
nightingale; BLUE'-WING, a kind of duck, either a sub-genus of Anas, or a
special genus Cyanopterus--the best-known species, the Common or Lunate
Blue-wing, the Blue-winged Teal of the United States.--_adj._ BL[=U]'ISH,
slightly blue.--BLUE BLOOD, aristocratic blood--the _sangre azul_ of the
Spanish hidalgoes; BLUE BONNET, a round flat cap of blue woollen, much worn
in Scotland: a blue-bonneted Scotch peasant or soldier; BLUE-BOTTLE FLY,
the meat-fly or blow-fly; BLUE-COAT BOY, a scholar of Christ's
Hospital--also (from the blue coat having formerly been the usual dress of
servants) a servant, beadle, soldier; BLUE DEVIL, an evil demon: (_pl._)
deep despondency, the apparitions seen in delirium tremens; BLUE FUNK
(_slang_), great terror; BLUE RIBBON, a term applied to any great prize, as
the Derby stakes--from the blue ribbon worn by Knights of the Garter: the
badge assumed by the so-called Blue Ribbon Army introduced from America in
1878; BLUE WATER, the deep sea, as opposed to port or a narrow
channel.--LIGHT BLUE, and DARK BLUE, the distinctive colours in their
athletic contests of Eton and Cambridge, and of Harrow and Oxford
respectively; THE BLUES, the Royal Horse Guards; THE BLUES (for blue
devils), a colloquial expression for depression of spirits.--TO BE A BLUE,
to be chosen to represent Oxford or Cambridge at an inter-university
contest in cricket, football, rowing, or athletics; AN OLD BLUE, one once
so chosen.--TO DRINK TILL ALL'S BLUE, until everything around one looks
blue; TO LOOK BLUE, to be down-spirited.--TRUE BLUE, faithful to the
principles of the political party wearing blue as its colour, in many
places identified with Conservative. [M. E. _blew_--O. Fr. _bleu_, of Teut.
origin; as also Scand. _blá_, which gave M. E. _bla_, _blo_, and modern
_blae_.]
BLUFF, bluf, _adj._ blustering: rough and hearty in manners: outspoken:
steep.--_n._ a high steep bank overlooking the sea or a river: the act of
bluffing at cards, as in poker--hence any kind of boastful swagger intended
to impose upon another: (_slang_) an excuse.--_adjs._ BLUFF'-BOWED, having
broad and flat bows, as a ship; BLUFF'-HEAD'ED, applied to a ship having
her stem too straight up.--_adv._ BLUFF'LY.--_n._ BLUFF'NESS. [Prob. Dut.]
BLUNDER, blun'der, _v.i._ to make a gross mistake, to flounder about: to
utter thoughtlessly.--_n._ a gross mistake.--_p.adj._ BLUN'DERING, apt to
make gross mistakes: apt to stumble.--TO BLUNDER AWAY, to throw away some
opportunity or advantage. [M. E. _blondren_; prob. conn. with BLAND; perh.
from Ice. _blunda_, to doze.]
BLUNDERBUSS, blun'd[.e]r-bus, _n._ a short hand-gun with a wide bore.
[Corr. of Dut. _donderbus_--_donder_, thunder, _bus_, a box, barrel of a
gun, a gun; Ger. _donnerbüchse_.]
BLUNT, blunt, _adj._ having a dull edge or point; rough, outspoken,
dull.--_v.t._ to dull the edge or point: to weaken.--_n._ (_slang_)
money.--_adj._ BLUNT'ISH.--_adv._ BLUNTLY.--_n._ BLUNT'NESS.--_adj._
BLUNT'-WIT'TED (_Shak._) dull, stupid. [Orig. sleepy, dull; prob. conn.
with Ice. _blunda_, to doze; perh. akin to BLIND.]
BLUR, blur, _n._ a blot, stain, or spot.--_v.t._ to blot, stain, obscure,
or blemish (with _out_, _over_):--_pr.p._ blur'ring; _pa.p._ blurred. [A
variety of BLEAR.]
BLURT, blurt, _v.t._ to utter suddenly or unadvisedly (with _out_).--_n._
an abrupt outburst.--_p.adj._ BLURT'ING, impulsively frank. [From sound.
Cf. BLIRT.]
BLUSH, blush, _n._ a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, &c.:
any reddish colour: sudden appearance.--_v.i._ to show shame or confusion
by growing red in the face: to grow red.--_n._ BLUSH'ET (_Ben Jonson_), a
young, modest girl.--_adj._ BLUSH'FUL, full of blushes: modest--_n._
BLUSH'ING, the act of turning red: the appearance of colour upon the
cheek.--_p.adj._ showing blushes: modest.--_adv._ BLUSH'INGLY.--AT THE
FIRST BLUSH, at the first glance.--TO PUT TO THE BLUSH, to cause to blush.
[Prob. Scand.; cog. with A.S. _blysa_, a blaze. See BLAZE, BLOWZE.]
BLUSTER, blus't[.e]r, _v.i._ to make a noise like a blast of wind: to bully
or swagger.--_n._ a blast or roaring as of the wind: bullying or boasting
language: a storm of anger.--_n._ BLUS'TERING, a noisy blowing as of a
blast: swaggering: noisy pretension.--_adj._ stormy: tumultuous:
boastful.--_adv._ BLUS'TERINGLY.--_adjs._ BLUS'TEROUS (_Shak._) noisy:
boastful; BLUS'TERY, stormy: (_Carlyle_) swaggering. [An augmentative of
BLAST.]
BO, b[=o], _interj._ a word used to frighten children.--TO SAY BO TO A
GOOSE, to open the mouth, to say even a word.
BOA, b[=o]'a, _n._ a genus of serpents which includes the largest species
of serpents (the BOA-CONSTRIC'TOR), which kill their prey by constriction
or pressure: a long serpent-like coil of fur, feathers, or the like, worn
round the neck by ladies. [Perh. conn. with L. _bos_, an ox.]
BOAD. Same as ABODE, _pa.p._ of ABIDE: also the same as BODE.
BOANERGES, bo-an-erj'es, _n._ a noisy preacher or shouting orator. ['Sons
of thunder'--Mark, iii. 17.]
BOAR, b[=o]r, _n._ the male of swine, or its flesh.--_adj._ BOAR'ISH,
swinish: brutal.--_n._ BOAR'-SPEAR, a spear used in boar-hunting. [A.S.
_bár_; Dut. _beer_; Ger. _bär_.]
BOARD, b[=o]rd, _n._ a broad and thin strip of timber: a table to put food
on: food: a table round which persons meet for some kind of business: any
council or authorised body of men, as a 'school-board:' the deck of a ship:
(_pl._) the stage: a kind of thick stiff paper, as in pasteboard,
Bristol-board, esp. that used in the binding of books.--_v.t._ to cover
with boards: to supply with food at fixed terms: to enter a ship: to
attack.--_v.i._ to receive food or take meals.--_ns._ BOARD'ER, one who
receives board (food): one who boards a ship; BOARD'ING, the act of
covering with boards: the covering itself: act of boarding a ship;
BOARD'ING-HOUSE, a house where boarders are kept; BOARD'ING-PIKE, a pike
used in boarding a ship, or in defending it when attacked;
BOARD'ING-SCHOOL, a school in which board is given as well as instruction;
BOARD'-SCHOOL, a school under control of a school-board, as elected by the
Elementary Education Act of 1870.--_n.pl._ BOARD'-W[=A]'GES, wages allowed
to servants to keep themselves in food.--ABOVE BOARD, openly.--BY THE
BOARD, over the board or side of a ship--hence, TO GO BY THE BOARD, to be
lost or destroyed.--TO SWEEP THE BOARD, to take all the cards. [A.S.
_bord_, a board, the side of a ship; Ice. _borð_, the side of a ship: conn.
either with BEAR or with BROAD.]
BOAST, b[=o]st, _v.i._ to talk vaingloriously: to brag (with _of_),--_v.t._
to brag of: speak proudly or confidently of, esp. justifiably: to magnify
or exalt one's self.--_n._ an expression of pride: a brag: the cause of
boasting.--_adj._ BOAST'FUL, given to brag.--_adv._ BOAST'FULLY.--_ns._
BOAST'FULNESS, BOAST'ING, ostentatious display: vaunting.--_adj._
BOAST'LESS, without boasting; simple, unostentatious. [M. E. _bost_, of
doubtful origin; apparently W. _bostio_, Gael. _bòsd_, a bragging, are
borrowed.]
BOAT, b[=o]t, _n._ a small open vessel usually moved by oars: a small ship:
a vessel like a boat in shape, as a 'sauce-boat.'--_v.i._ to sail about in
a boat.--_ns._ BOAT'-HOOK, an iron hook fixed to a pole used for pulling or
pushing off a boat; BOAT'-HOUSE, a house or shed for a boat: BOAT'ING, the
art or practice of sailing in boats; BOAT'MAN, a man who has charge of a
boat: a rower.--IN THE SAME BOAT, in the same circumstances.--TO HAVE AN
OAR IN ANOTHER'S BOAT, to meddle with the affairs of others. [A.S. _bát;_
Dut. _boot_; Fr. _bateau_.]
BOATSWAIN, b[=o]t'sw[=a]n (_colloq._ b[=o]'sn), _n._ a petty officer on
board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to
duty with a whistle. [BOAT, and _swain_, Scand. _sveinn_, a boy.]
BOB, bob, _v.i._ to move quickly up and down, to dangle: to fish with a
bob.--_v.t._ to move in a short, jerking manner:--_pr.p._ bob'bing; _pa.p._
bobbed.--_n._ a short jerking motion: a slight blow: anything that moves
with a bob or swing: a pendant: a knot of hair, as in BOB'-WIG, one with
the ends turned up into short curls: a bunch of lobworms, used in catching
eels: any small roundish body: the refrain or burden of a song: a term in
bell-ringing--a BOB MINOR is rung upon six bells; a BOB MAJOR on eight; a
BOB ROYAL on ten; a BOB MAXIMUS on twelve.--_adj._ BOB'BISH, in good
spirits.--_n._ BOB'BLE, the movement of water in commotion. [Perh. Celt.,
Gael. _baban_, _babag_.]