BRAWN, brawn, _n._ muscle, esp. of the arm or calf of the leg: thick flesh:
muscular strength: a boar: a preparation of meat made from pig's head and
ox-feet, cut up, boiled, and pickled.--_adj._ BRAWNED.--_n._ BRAWN'INESS,
quality of being brawny: muscularity.--_adj._ BRAWN'Y, fleshy: muscular:
strong. [O. Fr. _braon_, from Old Ger. _brato_, flesh (for roasting), Old
Ger. _brâto_ (Ger. _braten_), to roast.]
BRAXY, brak'si, _n._ and _adj._ a Scotch name loosely used for several
totally different disorders of sheep.--BRAXY MUTTON, the flesh of a braxy
sheep; also, generally, of any sheep that has died of disease or accident.
[Prob. the original form is _bracks_, the sing. of which is a variant of
BREAK.]
BRAY, br[=a], _v.t._ to break, pound, or grind small, as in a mortar.--_n._
BRAY'ER, an instrument to grind or spread ink in printing. [O. Fr. _breier_
(Fr. _broyer_); It. _brigare_.]
BRAY, br[=a], _n._ the cry of the ass: any harsh grating sound.--_v.i._ to
cry like an ass: to give forth harsh sounds, esp. of the trumpet.--_ns._
BRAY'ER, one who brays like an ass; BRAY'ING, the noise of an ass: any
harsh noise.--_adj._ making a harsh noise. [O. Fr. _brai_, _brait_;
_braire_--Low L. _bragire_, prob. of Celt. origin.]
BRAZE, br[=a]z, _v.t._ to solder with an alloy of brass and zinc.--_adj._
BR[=A]'ZEN, of or belonging to brass: impudent.--_v.t._ to face or confront
with impudence--as in 'to brazen it out.'--_n._ BR[=A]'ZEN-FACE, one having
a brazen or impudent face: one remarkable for impudence.--_adj._
BR[=A]'ZEN-FACED, impudent.--_adv._ BR[=A]'ZENLY.--_ns._ BR[=A]'ZENNESS,
BR[=A]'ZENRY, effrontery; BR[=A]'ZIER, BR[=A]'SIER, a pan for holding
burning coals--also BRAS'ERO; BR[=A]Z'ING, soldering. [O. Fr. _braser_, to
burn; most prob. related to BRASS.]
BRAZIER, br[=a]'zi-[.e]r, _n._ one who works in BRASS (q.v.).
BRAZIL, bra-zil', _n._ usually BRAZIL'-WOOD, the hard reddish wood of an
East Indian tree, known as sappan, used in dyeing.--_n._ BRAZIL'IAN, a
native of Brazil, in South America.--_adj._ belonging to Brazil.--_n._
BRAZIL'-NUT, the edible seed of a large tree, native of Brazil. [O. Fr.
_bresil_ (Sp. _brasil_, It. _brasile_)--Low L. _brasilium_, a red dye-wood,
brought from the East, itself prob. a corr. of some Oriental word. When a
similar wood was discovered in South America the country became known as
_terra de brasil_, land of red dye-wood, whence _Brasil_, Brazil.]
BREACH, br[=e]ch, _n._ a break or opening, as in the walls of a fortress: a
breaking of law, &c., violation of contract, covenant, promise, &c.: a
quarrel: a broken condition or part of anything, a break: a gap in a
fortification--hence 'to stand in the breach,' often used figuratively: a
break in a coast-line, bay, harbour, creek (Judges, v. 17).--_v.t._ to make
a breach or opening in a wall, &c.--BREACH OF PROMISE, often used simply
for breach of promise of marriage; BREACH OF THE PEACE, a violation of the
public peace by riot or the like. [A.S. _bryce_, _brice_; related to
BREAK.]
BREAD, bred, _n._ food made of flour or meal baked: food:
livelihood.--_ns._ BREAD'-BAS'KET, a basket for holding bread: (_slang_)
the stomach; BREAD'-CHIP'PER (_Shak._), one who chips bread, an
under-butler; BREAD'-CORN, corn of which bread is made.--_n.pl._
BREAD'-CRUMBS, bread crumbled down for dressing dishes of fried fish,
&c.--_n._ BREAD'FRUIT-TREE, a tree of the South Sea Islands, producing a
fruit which, when roasted, forms a good substitute for bread; BREAD'-NUT,
the fruit of a tree, a native of Jamaica, closely allied to the
breadfruit-tree, which is used as bread when boiled or roasted;
BREAD'-ROOM, an apartment in a ship's hold where the bread is kept;
BREAD'-ROOT, a herbaceous perennial plant of North America, with a
carrot-like root which is used as food; BREAD'-STUD'Y, any branch of study
taken up as a means of gaining a living; BREAD'-STUFF, the various kinds of
grain or flour of which bread is made; BREAD'-TREE, a tree of South Africa
which has a great deal of starch in its stem, and is used as bread by the
natives; BREAD'-WIN'NER, one who earns a living for a family.--BREAD
BUTTERED ON BOTH SIDES, very fortunate circumstances.--TO TAKE THE BREAD
OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH, to deprive of the means of living. [A.S. _bréad_, prob.
from a Teut. root meaning a fragment, like the Scot. and Norse country use
of 'a _piece_,' for a bit of bread. The usual A.S. word was _hláf_.]
BREADED, bred'ed, _pa.p._ (_Spens._) = BRAIDED.
BREADTH, bredth, _n._ extent from side to side: width: a style in painting
in which details are strictly subordinated to the harmony of the whole
composition.--_adv._ BREADTH'WAYS, broadside on. [A.S. _br['æ]du_; Ger.
_briete_. See BROAD.]
BREAK, br[=a]k, _v.t._ to part by force: to shatter: to crush: to tame, or
wear out: to violate, or outrage, as a law, a bargain, &c.: to check by
intercepting, as a fall: to interrupt, as silence, or the monotony of
anything, or in 'to break one off a habit:' to make bankrupt: to degrade
from rank, as an officer.--_v.i._ to part in two: to burst forth: to open
or appear, as the morning: to become bankrupt: to crack or give way, as the
voice: to dissolve, as frost: to collapse in foam, as a wave: to fall out,
as with a friend:--_pa.t._ br[=o]ke; _pa.p._ br[=o]k'en.--_n._ the state of
being broken: an opening: a pause or interruption: (_billiards_) a
consecutive series of successful strokes, also the number of points
attained by such: the dawn.--_ns._ BREAK'AGE, the action of breaking, or
its consequences: an interruption; BREAK'-DOWN, a dance, vigorous rather
than graceful, in which much noise is made by the feet of the one
performer; BREAK'ER, a wave broken on rocks or the shore.--_adj._
BREAK'-NECK, likely to cause a broken neck.--_ns._ BREAK'-PROM'ISE,
BREAK'-VOW, one who makes a practice of breaking his promise or vow;
BREAK'WATER, a barrier to break the force of the waves.--BREAK A JEST, to
utter a jest unexpectedly; BREAK A LANCE WITH, to enter into a contest with
a rival; BREAK AWAY, to go away abruptly, as from prison, &c.: to be
scattered, as clouds after a storm; BREAK BULK, to open the hold and take
out a portion of the cargo; BREAK COVER, to burst forth from concealment,
as a fox; BREAK DOWN, to crush down or level: to collapse, to fail
completely; BREAK FORTH, to burst out, issue; BREAK GROUND, to commence
digging or excavation: to begin; BREAK IN, to train to labour, as a horse;
BREAK IN, IN UPON, or INTO, to enter violently or unexpectedly, to
interpose abruptly in a conversation, &c.; BREAK LOOSE, to extricate one's
self forcibly: to break through all restraint; BREAK NEWS, to make anything
known, esp. of bad news, with caution and delicacy; BREAK OFF, to separate
by breaking, put an end to; BREAK OUT, to appear suddenly: to break through
all restraint; BREAK SHEER (said of a ship riding at anchor), to be forced
by wind or tide out of a position clear of the anchor; BREAK THE HEART, to
destroy with grief; BREAK THE ICE (_fig._), to get through first
difficulties: BREAK UP, to break open; BREAK UPON THE WHEEL, to punish by
stretching a criminal on a wheel and breaking his bones; BREAK WIND, to
void wind from the stomach; BREAK WITH, to fail out, as friends may do.
[A.S. _brecan_; Ger. _brechen_.]
BREAK, BRAKE, br[=a]k, _n._ a large wagonette: a carriage frame, all wheels
and no body, used in breaking in horses. [BREAK, _v.t._]
BREAKER, br[=a]k'[.e]r, _n._ a small water-cask, used on shipboard. [Prob.
a corr. of Sp. _bareca_, a barrel.]
BREAKFAST, brek'fast, _n._ a break or breaking of a fast: the first meal of
the day.--_v.i._ to take breakfast.--_v.t._ to furnish with
breakfast.--_ns._ BREAK'FASTING, the act of taking breakfast: a party at
breakfast; BREAK'FAST-SET, the china or other ware used at breakfast.
BREAM, br[=e]m, _n._ a small fresh-water fish nearly allied to the bleak: a
family of sea-breams or Sparidæ. [O. Fr. _bresme_ (Fr. _brême_)--Old Ger.
_brahsema_ (mod. Ger. _brassen_).]
BREAM, br[=e]m, _v.t._ to clean, as a ship's bottom, by burning off
seaweed, shells, &c. [Prob. conn. with BROOM, Dut. _brem_.]
BREARE, BRERE, br[=e]r, _n._ (_Spens._). Same as BRIER.
BREAST, brest, _n._ the forepart of the human body between the neck and the
belly: one of the two mammary glands in women, forming soft protuberances
on the chest: the corresponding part of any animal: (_fig._) conscience,
disposition, affections.--_v.t._ to bear the breast against: to oppose
manfully: to mount.--_n._ BREAST'-BONE, the bone running down the middle of
the breast, to which the first seven ribs are attached.--_adv._
BREAST'-DEEP, deep, as up to the breast.--_adj._ BREAST'ED, having a
breast.--_adv._ BREAST'-HIGH, high as the breast--_ns._ BREAST'-KNOT, a
knot of ribbons worn on the breast; BREAST'PIN, an ornamental pin for the
breast; BREAST'PLATE, a plate or piece of armour for the breast: (_B._) an
embroidered square of linen worn on the breast of the Jewish high-priest,
bearing twelve precious stones, each inscribed with the name of one of the
tribes of Israel; BREAST'-PLOUGH, a kind of spade for cutting turf, with a
cross-bar against which the breast is pressed; BREAST'RAIL, the upper rail
of a breastwork; BREAST'SUMMER, BRES'SUMMER, a summer or beam supporting
the whole front of a building in the same way as a lintel supports the
portion over an opening; BREAST'-WALL, a retaining wall; BREAST'-WHEEL, a
water-wheel which is turned by water delivered upon it at about half its
height; BREAST'WORK, a hastily constructed earthwork.--TO MAKE A CLEAN
BREAST OF, to make a full confession. [A.S. _bréost_; Ger. _brust_, Dut.
_borst_.]
BREATH, breth, _n._ the air drawn into and then expelled from the lungs:
power of breathing: life: the time occupied by once breathing: a very
slight breeze.--_adjs._ BREATH'FUL (_Spens._), full of breath or air, also
full of scent or odour; BREATH'LESS, out of breath: dead: excessively
eager, as if holding one's breath from excitement.--_n._
BREATH'LESSNESS.--TO CATCH THE BREATH, to stop breathing for an instant; TO
SPEND ONE'S BREATH, as in profitless talk; TO TAKE BREATH, to recover
freedom of breathing; WITH BATED BREATH, with breath restrained from
reverence or fear. [A.S. _br[/æ]th_; Ger. _brodem_, steam, breath.]
BREATHE, br[=e]_th_, _v.i._ to draw in and expel breath or air from the
lungs: to take breath, to rest or pause: to live.--_v.t._ to draw in and
expel from the lungs, as air: to infuse: to give out as breath: to utter by
the breath or softly, to whisper: to express: to keep in breath, to
exercise: to tire by some brisk exercise.--_ns._ BREATH'ER, one who
breathes or lives: a spell of exercise; BREATH'ING, the act of breathing:
aspiration, secret prayer: respite.--_adj._ life-like.--_ns._
BREATH'ING-TIME, time to breathe or rest; BREATH'ING-WHILE, time sufficient
for drawing breath: any very short period.--TO BREATHE AGAIN, to be
relieved from an anxiety; TO BREATHE FREELY, to be at ease; TO BREATHE
UPON, to tarnish or soil. [See BREATH.]
BRECCIA, brech'ya, _n._ a conglomerate rock composed of angular and unworn
fragments, cemented together by lime or other mineral substance.--_adj._
BRECCIATED (brech'y[=a]t-ed), noting rocks composed of breccia, [It.; cf.
Fr. _brèche_, breach, flint pebble.]
BRED, bred, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BREED.
BREDE, br[=e]d, _n._ an obsolete form of BRAID.
BREE, br[=e], _n._ the eyebrow. [Still in Scot.; A.S. _br['æ]w_, _bréaw_;
cf. Ger. (_augen_)_braue_.]
BREE, br[=e], _n._ the liquor in which anything has been
boiled--_barley-bree_. [A.S. _briw_; cf. Ger. _brei_.]
BREECH, br[=e]ch, _n._ the lower part of the body behind: the hinder part
of anything, esp. of a gun.--_v.t._ to put into breeches: to flog.--_adj._
BREECHED.--_n.pl._ BREECHES (brich'ez), a garment worn by men on the lower
limbs of the body, strictly, as distinguished from trousers, coming just
below the knee, but often used generally for trousers--(KNEE-BREECHES, see
under KNEE).--_n._ BREECH'ING, a part of a horse's harness attached to the
saddle, which comes round the breech and is hooked to the shafts: a strong
rope attached to the breech of a gun to secure it to a ship's side.--_adj._
(_Shak._) subject to whipping.--_n._ BREECH'-LOAD'ER, a firearm loaded by
introducing the charge at the breech instead of the muzzle.--BREECHES
BIBLE, a name often given to the Geneva Bible produced by the English
Protestant exiles in 1560, so named from the rendering 'breeches' in Gen.
iii. 7; BREECHES PART (_theat._), a part in which a girl wears men's
clothes.--TO WEAR THE BREECHES, (said of a wife), to usurp the authority of
the husband: to be master. [A.S. _bréc_; found in all Teut. languages; cf.
Ger. _bruch_, Dut. _brock_.]
BREED, br[=e]d, _v.t._ to generate or bring forth: to train or bring up: to
cause or occasion.--_v.i._ to be with young: to produce offspring: to be
produced or brought forth:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bred.--_n._ that which is
bred, progeny or offspring: kind or race.--_ns._ BREED'-BATE (_Shak._), one
who is constantly breeding or producing debate or strife; BREED'ER, one who
breeds or brings up; BREED'ING, act of producing: education or
manners.--BREEDING IN-AND-IN, pairing of similar forms: marrying always
among near relations. [A.S. _brédan_, to cherish, keep warm; Ger. _brüten_,
to hatch.]
BREEKS, br[=e]ks, _n.pl._ (_Scot._) breeches, trousers.
BREER, BRERE, br[=e]r, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to sprout.
BREEZE, br[=e]z, _n._ a gentle gale: a wind: a disturbance or quarrel: a
whispered rumour.--_adjs._ BREEZE'LESS, without a breeze: motionless;
BREEZ'Y, fanned with or subject to breezes.--TO BREEZE UP, to freshen into
a breeze. [Old Sp. _briza_, It. _brezza_ (Fr. _brise_, a cold wind).]
BREEZE, br[=e]z, _n._ (_Shak._) the gadfly.--Also written BREESE, BRIZE.
[A.S. _briosa_.]
BREGMA, breg'ma, _n._ the part of the skull where the frontal and the two
parietal bones join--sometimes divided into the right and left
bregmata.--_adj._ BREGMAT'IC. [Gr.]
BREHON, br[=e]'hon, _n._ an ancient Irish judge.--BREHON LAWS, the name
given by the English to the system of jurisprudence which prevailed among
the native Irish from an early period till towards the middle of the 17th
century. [Ir. _breitheamh_, pl. _breitheamhuin_.]