BREME, BREEM, br[=e]m, _adj._ (_Spens._) fiery, stern, boisterous, sharp.
[Prob. related to A.S. _bréman_, to rage.]
BREN, bren, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to burn.--_pa.p._ and _adj._ BRENT. [See
BURN.]
BRENT, brent, _adj._ (_Scot._) lofty: smooth, unwrinkled. [A.S. _brant_,
steep; cog. with Ice. _brattr_.]
BRENT-GOOSE, brent'-g[=oo]s, _n._ a small species of wild goose, having the
head, neck, long wing feathers, and tail black, the belly white, the rest
slaty-gray--it visits the British coasts in winter.--Also BRANT'-GOOSE, or
BRENT BARNACLE, and often confounded with the barnacle goose. [Prob.
_branded_ = brindled.]
BRESSUMMER. Same as BREASTSUMMER (q.v. under BREAST).
BRETHREN, bre_th_'ren, _pl._ of BROTHER (q.v.).
BRETON, bret'un, _adj._ belonging to Brittany or _Bretagne_, in France.
BRETTICE. Same as BRATTICE.
BRETWALDA, bret-wal'da, _n._ a title of supremacy applied by the
_Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_ to Egbert and seven earlier kings, whose
superiority was more or less acknowledged by other kings. [Lit. 'Lord of
the _Britons_,' or 'of Britain.']
BREVE, br[=e]v, _n._ a pope's letter: the longest note now used in music,
[Breve]. [It. _breve_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVET, brev'et, _n._ a military commission entitling an officer to take
rank above that for which he receives pay.--_n._ BREVET'CY, the condition
of one holding brevet rank. [Fr.--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVIARY, br[=e]v'i-ar-i, _n._ book containing the daily service of the
R.C. Church. [Fr. _bréviaire_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BREVIATE, br[=e]'vi-[=a]t, _n._ a short compendium: a lawyer's brief. [L.
_brevi[=a]tus_--_brevi[=a]re_, to shorten--_brevis_, short.]
BREVIER, brev-[=e]r', _n._ a small type between bourgeois and minion,
originally used in printing breviaries.
BREVITY, brev'it-i, _n._ shortness: conciseness. [L. _brevitas_--_brevis_,
short.]
BREW, br[=oo], _v.t._ to prepare a liquor, as from malt and other
materials: to contrive or plot.--_v.i._ to perform the operation of brewing
ale or beer: to be gathering or forming.--_ns._ BREW'AGE, something brewed:
mixed liquor; BREW'ER, one who brews; BREW'ERY, BREW'-HOUSE, a place for
brewing; BREW'ING, the act of making liquor from malt: the quantity brewed
at once; BREW'STER (now only _Scot._), a brewer. [A.S. _bréowan_; cf. Ger.
_brauen_.]
BRIAR. Same as BRIER (1).
BRIAREAN, br[=i]-[=a]'re-an, _adj._ relating to _Briareus_, a
hundred-handed giant: hence many-handed. [Gr.--_briaros_, strong.]
BRIAR-ROOT. See BRIER (2).
BRIBE, br[=i]b, _n._ something given to influence unduly the judgment or
corrupt the conduct: allurement.--_v.t._ to influence by a bribe: to gain
over.--_v.i._ to practise bribery.--_ns._ BRIB'ER, one who bribes;
BRIB'ERY, the act of giving or taking bribes; BRIB'ERY-OATH, an oath taken
by an elector that he has not been bribed. [O. Fr. _bribe_, a lump of
bread; origin dub.]
BRIC-À-BRAC, brik'a-brak, _n._ old curiosities, or other articles of value.
[Acc. to Littré, formed after the phrase _de bric et de broc_, 'by hook and
by crook.']
BRICK, brik, _n._ an oblong or square piece of burned clay: a loaf of bread
in the shape of a brick: (_slang_) a reliable friend, a good
fellow.--_v.t._ to lay or pave with brick.--_ns._ BRICK'BAT, a piece of
brick; BRICK'CLAY, a clay used in making bricks; BRICK'-DUST, dust made by
pounding bricks, a colour like that of brick-dust; BRICK'-EARTH, earth used
in making bricks; BRICK'-FIELD, a place where bricks are made; BRICK'-KILN,
a kiln in which bricks are burned; BRICK'LAYER, one who lays or builds with
bricks; BRICK'LAYING; BRICK'MAKER, one whose trade is to make bricks;
BRICK'-TEA, tea pressed into cakes; BRICK'-WORK, a structure formed of
bricks.--LIKE A BRICK, with good-will. [Fr. _brique_, from root of BREAK.]
BRICKLE, brik'l, _adj._ (_Spens._ and _Scot._) apt to break: weak:
troublesome. [Older form of BRITTLE.]
BRICOLE, brik'el, or brik-[=o]l', _n._ an ancient engine for throwing
stones: the rebound of a ball from the wall of a tennis-court, an indirect
stroke. [Fr.--Low L. _briccola_.]
BRIDAL, br[=i]d'al, _n._ a marriage feast: a wedding.--_adj._ belonging to
a bride or a wedding: nuptial. [BRIDE, and ALE, a feast.]
BRIDE, br[=i]d, _n._ a woman about to be married: a woman newly
married.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to act the bride.--_ns._ BRIDE'-ALE
(_obs._)--BRIDAL, the ale-drinking at a marriage feast; BRIDE'-BED, the
marriage bed; BRIDE'CAKE, the bride's cake, or cake distributed at a
wedding; BRIDE'-CHAM'BER, a nuptial apartment; BRIDE'GROOM, a man about to
be married: a man newly married; BRIDE'MAID, BRIDE'S'-MAID, BRIDE'MAN,
BRIDE'S'-MAN, young unmarried people who attend the bride and bridegroom at
a wedding. [A.S. _brýd_; Ice. _brúdr_, Ger. _braut_, a bride.]
BRIDEWELL, br[=i]d'wel, _n._ a house of correction: a gaol. [From a palace
near St _Bride's Well_ in London.]
BRIDGE, brij, _n._ a structure raised across a river, &c., or anything like
such: the narrow raised platform whence the captain of a steamer gives
directions: a thin upright piece of wood supporting the strings in a violin
or similar instrument.--_v.t._ to build a bridge over.--_n._ BRIDGE'-HEAD,
a fortification covering the end of a bridge nearest to the enemy's
position.--_adj._ BRIDGE'LESS, without a bridge.--_n._ BRIDGE'-OF-BOATS, a
bridge resting on boats moored abreast across a piece of water. [A.S.
_brycg_; Ger. _brucke_, Ice. _bryggja_.]
BRIDGE, brich, _n._ a modification of whist in which the dealer does not
turn up the last card, but has the option (which he may pass to his
partner) of declaring which suit shall be trumps.
BRIDLE, br[=i]'-dl, _n._ the apparatus on a horse's head, by which it is
controlled: any curb or restraint: a gesture expressing pride or
vanity.--_v.t._ to put on or manage by a bridle: to check or
restrain.--_v.i._ to hold up the head proudly or affectedly.--_ns._
BR[=I]'DLE-HAND, the hand which holds the bridle in riding--the left hand;
BR[=I]'DLE-PATH, a path or way for horsemen; BR[=I]'DLER, one who governs
or restrains as by a bridle; BRI'DLE-REIN, the strap of a bridle.--TO
BRIDLE UP (at something), to take something amiss. [A.S. _brídel_; Old High
Ger. _brittel_.]
BRIDOON, brid'[=oo]n, _n._ the light snaffle usual in a military bridle, in
addition to the ordinary bit, controlled by a separate rein. [Fr. _bridon_,
_bride_, a bridle.]
BRIEF, br[=e]f, _n._ a short account of a client's case for the instruction
of counsel: a writ: a short statement of any kind.--_adj._ short:
concise.--_adj._ BRIEF'LESS.--_adv._ BRIEF'LY.--_n._ BRIEF'NESS.--IN BRIEF,
in few words.--KING'S BRIEFS, royal mandates ordering collections to be
made in chapels for building churches, &c.; PAPAL BRIEF, such documents as
are issued without some of the solemnities proper to bulls.--THE BRIEF AND
THE LONG (_Shak._), the short and the long.--TO BE BRIEF, to speak in a few
words; TO HOLD A BRIEF, to be retained as counsel in a case; TO TAKE A
BRIEF, to undertake a case. [Fr. _bref_--L. _brevis_, short.]
BRIER, br[=i]'er, _n._ a prickly shrub: a common name for the wild rose:
(_Scot._) the thorn of the brier--also BR[=I]'AR.--_adjs._ BR[=I]'ERY,
BR[=I]'ERED, having briers. [A.S. _brér_.]
BRIER, BRIAR, br[=i]'[.e]r, _n._ the white heath, a shrub grown in France,
from the root of which tobacco-pipes are made: a pipe of this wood. [Fr.
_bruyère_, heath.]
[Illustration]
BRIG, brig, _n._ a two-masted, square-rigged vessel. [Shortened from
Brigantine.]
BRIGADE, brig-[=a]d', _n._ a body of troops consisting of two or more
regiments of infantry or cavalry, and commanded by a general officer, two
or more of which form a division: a band of people more or less
organised.--_v.t._ to form into brigades.--_ns._ BRIGADE'-M[=A]'JOR, a
staff-officer attached to a brigade; BRIGADIER', BRIGADIER'-GEN'ERAL, a
general officer of the lowest grade, who has command of a brigade. [Fr.
_brigade_--It. _brigata_--Low L. _briga_, strife.]
BRIGAND, brig'and, _n._ a robber or freebooter.--_ns._ BRIG'ANDAGE,
freebooting: plundering; BRIG'ANDINE, BRIG'ANTINE, a coat-of-mail, composed
of linen or leather, with steel rings or plates sewed upon it. [Fr.--It.
_brigante_--_briga_, strife.]
BRIGANTINE, brig'an-t[=i]n, _n._ a two-masted vessel, with the mainmast of
a schooner and the foremast of a brig. [Fr. _brigantin_--It. _brigantine_,
a pirate ship.]
BRIGHT, br[=i]t, _adj._ shining: full of light: clear: beautiful: cheerful:
clever: illustrious.--_adv._ (_Shak._) brightly: clearly.--_v.t._
BRIGHT'EN, to make bright or brighter.--_v.i._ to grow bright or brighter:
to clear up.--_adv._ BRIGHT'LY.--_n._ BRIGHT'NESS.--_adj._ BRIGHT'SOME,
bright: brilliant. [A.S. _beorht_; cog. with Goth. _bairhts_, clear, L.
_flagr_-_[=a]re_, to flame.]
BRIGHT'S-DISEASE, br[=i]ts'-diz-[=e]z', _n._ a generic name for a group of
diseases of the kidneys, which may be defined as comprising cases where
structural changes in the kidneys, usually inflammatory, but without
suppuration, lead to the presence of albumen in the urine. [From Dr Richard
_Bright_ (1789-1858).]
BRIGUE, brig, _v.i._ to intrigue.--_n._ strife, intrigue.--_n._ BRIGU'ING,
canvassing. [Fr. _brigue_; derivation uncertain.]
BRILL, bril, _n._ a fish of the same kind as the turbot, spotted with
white. [Ety. unknown.]
[Illustration]
BRILLIANT, bril'yant, _adj._ sparkling: glittering: splendid.--_n._ a
diamond of the finest cut (as opposed to _rose-cut_ or other
patterns).--_ns._ BRILL'IANCY, BRILL'IANCE.--_adv._ BRILL'IANTLY.--_n._
BRILL'IANTNESS.[Fr. _brillant_, pr.p. of _briller_, to shine, which, like
Ger. _brille_, an eyeglass, is from Low L. _beryllus_, a beryl.]
BRIM, brim, _n._ the margin or brink of a river or lake: the upper edge of
a vessel: the rim of a hat.--_v.t._ to fill to the brim.--_v.i._ to be full
to the brim:--_pr.p._ brim'ming; _pa.p._ brimmed.--_adj._ BRIM'FUL, full to
the brim.--_n._ BRIM'FULNESS (_Shak._), fullness to the top.--_adjs._
BRIM'LESS, without a brim; BRIMMED, brimful: having a brim--used in
composition.--_n._ BRIM'MER, a bowl full to the brim or top.--_adj._
BRIM'MING. [M. E. _brymme_--_bremman_, to roar.]
BRIMSTONE, brim'st[=o]n, _n._ sulphur: (_fig._) a virago.--FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE! an ejaculation. [Lit. burning stone; from A.S. _brýne_, a
burning--_byrnan_, to burn, and STONE; cf. Ger. _bernstein_.]
BRINDED, brin'ded, BRINDLED, brin'dld, _adj._ marked with spots or
streaks.--_n._ BRIN'DLE, state of being brindled. [See BRAND.]
BRINE, br[=i]n, _n._ salt water: the sea.--_ns._ BRINE'-PIT, a pit or pan
in which brine is evaporated, so as to form salt: a salt spring;
BRINE'-SHRIMP, a small crustacean.--_adjs._ BRIN'ISH, like brine: somewhat
salt; BRIN'Y, pertaining to brine or to the sea: salt.--THE BRINY
(_slang_), the sea. [A.S. _brýne_, a burning; applied to salt liquor, from
its burning, biting quality.]
BRING, bring, _v.t._ to fetch: to carry: to procure: to occasion: to draw
or lead:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ brought (brawt).--BRING ABOUT, to bring to
pass, effect; BRING DOWN, to humble; BRING FORTH, to give birth to,
produce; BRING HOME, to prove, to impress; BRING IN, to introduce; BRING
OFF, to bring away, as by a boat from a ship, to rescue; BRING ON, to cause
to advance; BRING OUT, to express: to produce before the public, as a book,
a play, a subscription: to introduce a young woman formally into so-called
society; BRING OVER, to convert; BRING ROUND, to restore from illness;
BRING TO, to check the course of, as a ship, by trimming the sails so as to
counteract each other; BRING UNDER, to subdue; BRING UP, to rear or
educate. [A.S. _bringan_, to carry, to bring; allied perh. to BEAR.]
BRINJARRY, brin-zhar'i, _n._ a travelling dealer in grain and salt in
Southern India. [Hind. _b[=a]nj[=a]ra_.]
BRINK, bringk, _n._ the edge or border of a steep place or of a river:
(_fig._) the very verge of time, at the very point of something--e.g. TO BE
ON THE BRINK OF DEATH. [Dan. _brink_, declivity; Ice. _bringa_, a hillock.]