BURROCK, bur'ok, _n._ a small weir or dam in a river, to direct the current
toward fish-traps.
BURROW, bur'[=o], _n._ a hole in the ground dug by certain animals for
shelter or defence.--_v.i._ to make holes underground as rabbits: to dwell
in a concealed place.--_ns._ BURR'OW-DUCK, the sheldrake or bergander;
BURR'OWING-OWL, a small long-legged diurnal American owl nesting in
burrows; BURR'OWSTOWN (_Scot._), a town that is a burgh. [Ety. obscure;
prob. a variant of Borough--A.S. _beorgan_, to protect.]
BURSA, bur'sa, _n._ a pouch or sac, esp. a synovial cavity formed where
tendons pass over the harder parts of the body:--_pl._ BUR'SÆ
(-s[=e]).--_adj._ BUR'SAL.--_ns._ BURS[=A]'LIS, a muscle moving the
nictitating membrane, as in birds; BURSAL'OGY, knowledge about the bursæ.
[See BURSAR.]
BURSAR, burs'ar, _n._ one who keeps the purse, a treasurer: in Scotland, a
student maintained at a university by funds derived from endowment.--_adj._
BURSAR'IAL.--_ns._ BURS'ARSHIP, the office of a bursar; BURS'ARY, in
Scotland, the allowance paid to a bursar; BURSE, a purse, an obsolete form
of BOURSE.--_adjs._ BURSIC'ULATE, bursiform: resembling a small pouch, or
provided with such; BURS'IFORM, pouch-shaped. [Low L. _bursarius_--_bursa_,
a purse--Gr. _byrsa_, skin or leather.]
BURSCH, b[=oo]rsh, _n._ a German student:--_pl._ BURSCH'EN.--_n._
BURSCH'ENISM. [Ger. _bursch_, a companion, student.]
BURST, burst, _v.t._ to break into pieces: to break open suddenly or by
violence: to disturb, interrupt.--_v.i._ to fly open or break in pieces: to
break forth or away: to break into some sudden expression of feeling--e.g.
'to burst into song:'--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ burst.--_n._ a sudden outbreak:
a hard gallop: a spurt: a drunken bout.--BURST IN, to force one's way
violently into; BURST INTO BLOSSOM, to begin to blossom; BURST INTO TEARS,
to fall a-crying; BURST OUT, to force one's way out violently; BURST UP
(_coll._), to explode: to fail, become bankrupt.--A BURST UP, a collapse,
failure.--ON THE BURST, on the spree. [A.S. _berstan_; Ger. _bersten_;
Gael. _brisd_, to break.]
BURSTEN, bur'stn, _obs. pa.p._ of BURST.
BURTHEN, bur'thn, _n._ and _v.t._ For BURDEN.
BURTON, bur'ton, _n._ a tackle variously used.
BURY, ber'i, _v.t._ to hide in the ground: to cover: to place in the grave,
as a dead body: to hide or blot out of remembrance:--_pr.p._ bur'ying;
_pa.p._ bur'ied.--_ns._ BUR'YING-GROUND, BUR'YING-PLACE, ground set apart
for burying the dead: a graveyard.--BURY THE HATCHET, to cease strife.
[A.S. _byrgan_, to bury; Ger. _bergen_, to hide.]
BURY, ber'i, _n._ a delicate pear of several varieties.--Also BURR'EL,
BURR'EL-PEAR. [Cf. the Fr. _beurré_, as in '_Beurré_ d'Angoulême.']
BUS, BUSS, bus, _n._ Short for OMNIBUS.
BUSBY, bus'bi, _n._ a fur hat with short bag hanging down from the top on
its right side, of the same colour as the facings of the regiment, worn by
hussars, and, in the British army, by horse artillerymen also. [Prob.
Hung.]
BUSCON, bus'kon, _n._ (_U.S._) a miner paid by a percentage of the ore he
raises. [Sp.]
BUSH, boosh, _n._ a shrub thick with branches: anything of bushy tuft-like
shape: any wild uncultivated country, esp. at the Cape or in Australia: a
bunch of ivy hung up as a tavern sign, a tavern itself--'Good wine needs no
bush.'--_v.i._ to grow thick or bushy.--_v.t._ to set bushes about, support
with bushes: to cover seeds by means of the bush-harrow.--_n._ BUSH'-CAT,
the serval.--_adj._ BUSHED, lost in the bush.--_ns._ BUSH'-HARR'OW, a light
kind of harrow used for covering grass-seeds, formed of a barred frame
interwoven with bushes or branches; BUSH'INESS; BUSH'MAN, a settler in the
uncleared land of America or the Colonies, a woodsman: one of a native race
in South Africa (Dut. _boschjesman_); BUSH'-RANG'ER, in Australia, a
lawless fellow, often an escaped criminal, who takes to the bush and lives
by robbery; BUSH'-SHRIKE, a tropical American ant-thrush; BUSH'TIT, a small
long-tailed titmouse of West America, building a large
hanging-nest.--_v.i._ BUSH'-WHACK, to range through the bush: to fight in
guerilla warfare.--_ns_. BUSH'-WHACK'ER, a guerilla fighter: a country
lout: a short heavy scythe for cutting bushes; BUSH'-WHACK'ING, the habits
or practice of bush-whackers: the process of forcing a way for a boat by
pulling at the bushes overhanging a stream.--_adj._ BUSH'Y, full of bushes:
thick and spreading.--BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, to go round about anything, to
evade coming to the point. [M. E. _busk_, _busch_; from a Teut. root found
in Ger. _busch_, Low L. _boscus_, Fr. _bois_.]
BUSH, boosh, _n._ the metal box or lining of any cylinder in which an axle
works.--_v.t._ to furnish with a bush.--_n._ BUSH'-MET'AL, hard brass,
gun-metal, a composition of copper and tin, used for journals, bearings,
&c. [Dut. _bus_--L. _buxus_, the box-tree.]
BUSHEL, boosh'el, _n._ a dry measure of 8 gallons, for measuring grain,
fruit, &c. [O. Fr. _boissiel_, from the root of BOX.]
BUSHEL, boosh'el, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_U.S._) to mend or alter, as men's
clothes.--_ns._ BUSH'ELLER; BUSH'ELLING; BUSH'EL-WOM'AN.
BUSINESS, biz'nes, _n._ employment: engagment: trade, profession, or
occupation: one's concerns or affairs: a matter or affair: (_theat._)
action as distinguished from dialogue.--_adj._ BUS'INESS-LIKE, methodical,
systematic, practical.--DO THE BUSINESS FOR, to settle, make an end of: to
ruin.--GENTEEL BUSINESS (_theat._), such parts as require good
dressing.--MAKE IT ONE'S BUSINESS, to undertake to accomplish something or
see it done; MEAN BUSINESS, to be in earnest; MIND ONE'S OWN BUSINESS, to
confine one's self to one's own affairs.--SEND ABOUT ONE'S BUSINESS, to
dismiss promptly.
BUSK, busk, _v.t._ or _v.i._ to prepare: to dress one's self. [Ice. _búa_,
to prepare, and _-sk_, contr. of _sik_, the recip. pron.--_self_.]
BUSK, busk, _n._ the piece of bone, wood, or steel in the front of a
woman's stays: a corset.--_adj._ BUSKED. [Fr. _busc_, which Scheler thinks
a doublet of _bois_; Littré, the same as It. _busto_, a bust.]
BUSK, busk, _v.i._ (_naut._) to cruise along a shore, to beat about: to
seek. [Prob. Sp. _buscar_, to seek.]
BUSKET, busk'et, _n._ (_Spens._) a little bush.
[Illustration]
BUSKIN, busk'in, _n._ a kind of half-boot with high heels worn in ancient
times by actors of tragedy--hence, the tragic drama as distinguished from
comedy: a half-boot.--_adj._ BUSK'INED, dressed in buskins, noting tragedy:
tragic: dignified. [Ety. uncertain; cognates may be found in the O. Fr.
_brousequin_; Dut. _broos-ken_; Sp. _borceguí_.]
BUSKY, busk'i, _adj._ (_Shak._). Same as BOSKY.
BUSS, bus, _n._ a rude or playful kiss, a smack.--_v.t._ to kiss, esp. in a
rude or playful manner. [M. E. _bass_, prob. from Old Ger. _bussen_, to
kiss, but modified by Fr. _baiser_, to kiss, from L. _basium_, a kiss.]
BUSS, bus, _n._ a small two-masted Dutch vessel, used in the herring and
mackerel fisheries. [O. Fr. _busse_, Low L. _bussa_; cf. Ger. _büse_.]
BUSSU-PALM, bus'soo-päm, _n._ a palm growing along the Amazon, with leaves
as long as 30 feet and 5 feet broad, forming good thatch.
BUST, bust, _n._ a sculpture representing the head and breast of a person:
the upper part of the human body, a woman's bosom.--_adj._ BUST'ED,
breasted: adorned with busts. [Fr. _buste_; It. and Sp. _busto_.]
BUST, bust, _n._ and _v._ a vulgar form of Burst.--_n._ BUST'ER, something
large: a frolic: (_slang_) a roisterer.
BUSTARD, bus'tard, _n._ a genus of birds, sometimes made the type of a
large family, usually ranked in the order of marsh birds like the cranes.
[Fr. _bistard_, corr. from L. _avis tarda_, slow bird.]
BUSTLE, bus'l, _v.i._ to busy one's self noisily: to be active, often with
more noise than actual work.--_n._ hurried activity: stir: tumult.--_n._
BUST'LER. [There is a M. E. _bustelen_, of doubtful relations; perh. conn.
with _bluster_, or with Ice. _bustl_, a splash, or with A.S. _bysig_,
busy.]
BUSTLE, bus'l, _n._ a stuffed pad or cushion worn by ladies under the skirt
of their dress, the intention to improve the figure.
BUSY, biz'i, _adj._ fully employed: active: diligent: meddling.--_v.t._ to
make busy: to occupy:--_pr.p._ busying (biz'i-ing); _pa.p._ busied
(biz'id).--_adv._ BUS'ILY.--_n._ BUS'YBODY, one busy about others' affairs,
a meddling person.--_adj._ BUS'YLESS (_Shak._), without business.--_n._
BUS'YNESS, state of being busy. [A.S. _bysig_.]
BUT, but, _prep._ or _conj._ without: except: besides: only: yet:
still.--Used as a noun for a verbal objection; also as a verb, as in
Scott's '_but_ me no _buts_.'--_adj._ (_Scot._) outside, as in 'but
end.'--BUT AND BEN, a house having an outer and an inner room. [A.S.
_be-útan_, _bútan_, without--_be_, by, and _útan_, out--near and yet
outside.]
BUT, but, _n._ Same as BUTT.
BUTCHER, booch'[.e]r, _n._ one whose business is to slaughter animals for
food: one who delights in bloody deeds.--_v.t._ to slaughter animals for
food: to put to a bloody death, to kill cruelly: (_fig._) to spoil
anything, as a bad actor or the like.--_ns._ BUTCH'ER-BIRD, a shrike;
BUTCH'ERING, BUTCH'ING, the act of killing for food, or cruelly.--_adv._
BUTCH'ERLY, butcher-like, cruel, murderous.--_ns._ BUTCH'ER-MEAT,
BUTCH'ER'S-MEAT, the flesh of animals slaughtered by butchers, as
distinguished from fish, fowls, and game; BUTCH'ER'S-BROOM, a genus of
plants of the lily order, the common one being an evergreen shrub, a bunch
of which is used by butchers for sweeping their blocks; BUTCH'ERY, great or
cruel slaughter: a slaughter-house or shambles. [O. Fr. _bochier_,
_bouchier_, one who kills he-goats--_boc_, a he-goat; allied to Eng. BUCK.]
BUT-END. Same as BUTT-END.
BUTLER, but'l[.e]r, _n._ a servant who has charge of the liquors, plate,
&c.--_v.i._ to act as butler.--_ns._ BUT'LERSHIP, BUT'LERAGE; BUT'LERY, the
butler's pantry. [Norm. Fr. _butuiller_--Low L. _buticularius_. See
BOTTLE.]
BUTMENT. Same as ABUTMENT.
BUTT, but, _v.i._ and _v.t._ to strike with the head, as a goat, &c.--_n._
a push with the head of an animal.--_n._ BUTT'ER, an animal that butts. [O.
Fr. _boter_, to push, strike.]
BUTT, but, _n._ a large cask: a wine-butt = 126 gallons, a beer and sherry
butt = 108 gallons. [Cf. Fr. _botte_, Sp. _bota_, Low L. _butta_.]
BUTT, but, _n._ a mark for archery practice: a mound behind musketry or
artillery targets: one who is made the object of ridicule.--_n._
BUTT'-SHAFT (_Shak._), a shaft or arrow for shooting at butts with. [Fr.
_but_, goal.]
BUTT, but, or in longer form, BUTT'-END, _n._ the thick and heavy end: the
stump. [Ety. dub.]
BUTT, but, _n._ an ox-hide minus the _offal_ or pieces round the margins.
BUTTE, b[=u]t, but, _n._ any conspicuous and isolated hill or peak, esp. in
the Rocky Mountain region. [Fr.]
BUTTER, but'[.e]r, _n._ an oily substance obtained from cream by
churning.--_v.t._ to spread over with butter.--_ns._ BUTT'ER-BIRD, the name
in Jamaica for the rice-bunting; BUTT'ER-BOAT, a table vessel for holding
melted butter; BUTT'ER-BUMP, a bittern; BUTT'ER-BUR, -DOCK, the sweet
coltsfoot; BUTT'ERCUP, a plant of the Crowfoot genus, with a cup-like
flower of a golden yellow; BUTT'ER-FING'ERS, one who lets a cricket-ball he
ought to catch slip through his fingers; BUTT'ER-FISH (see GUNNEL);
BUTT'ERFLY, the name of an extensive group of beautiful winged insects:
(_fig._) a light-headed person.--_adj._ light, flighty, like a
butterfly.--_ns._ BUTT'ERINE, an artificial fatty compound sold as a
substitute for butter--since 1887 only allowed to be sold under the names
_margarine_ or _oleo-margarine_; BUTT'ER-MILK, the milk that remains after
the butter has been separated from the cream by churning; BUTT'ER-NUT, the
oily nut of the North American white walnut, the tree itself or its
light-coloured close-grained wood: the nut of a lofty timber-tree of
Guiana--the _souari-nut_; BUTT'ER-SCOTCH, a kind of toffee containing a
large admixture of butter; BUTT'ER-TREE, a genus of plants found in the
East Indies and in Africa, remarkable for a sweet buttery substance yielded
by their seeds when boiled; BUTT'ER-WIFE, BUTT'ER-WOM'AN, a woman who makes
and sells butter; BUTT'ER-WORT, a genus of small plants found in marshy
places, so called either from the power of the leaves to coagulate milk, or
from their peculiar sliminess.--_adj._ BUTT'ERY, like butter. [A.S.
_butere_; Ger. _butter_; both from L. _butyrum_--Gr. _boutyron_--_bous_ ox,
_tyros_, cheese.]
BUTTERY, but'[.e]r-i, _n._ a storeroom in a house for provisions, esp.
liquors.--_ns._ BUTT'ERY-BAR, the ledge for holding tankards in the
buttery; BUTT'ERY-HATCH, a half-door over which provisions are handed from
the buttery. [Fr. _bouteillerie_, lit. 'place for bottles.' See BUTLER,
BOTTLE.]
BUTTOCK, but'ok, _n._ the rump or protuberant part of the body behind: a
term in wrestling.--_ns._ BUTT'OCK-MAIL (_Scot._), the fine formerly
exacted by the Church as part of the discipline for the offence of
fornication. [Dim. of BUTT, end.]
BUTTON, but'n, _n._ a knob of metal, bone, &c., used to fasten the dress:
the knob at the end of a foil: the head of an unexpanded mushroom: the knob
of an electric bell, &c.: anything of small value, as in the phrase, 'I
don't care a button:' a person who acts as a decoy: (_pl._) young
mushrooms, sheep's dung.--_v.t._ to fasten by means of buttons: to close up
tightly.--_v.i._ to be fastened with buttons.--_ns._ BUTT'ON-BUSH, a North
American shrub of the madder family, having globular flower-heads;
BUTT'ON-HOLE, the hole or slit in the dress by which the button is
held.--_v.t._ to detain in talk, as if by taking hold of a man by the
button.--_ns._ BUTT'ON-HOOK, a hook for pulling the buttons of gloves and
shoes through the button-holes; BUTT'ON-WOOD, a small West Indian evergreen
tree of the myrobalan family: the plane-tree of the United States--also
BUTT'ON-BALL and incorrectly _Sycamore_.--_adj._ BUTT'ONY, decorated with
buttons.--BOY IN BUTTONS, a boy servant in livery, a page. [Fr. _bouton_,
any small projection, from _bouter_, to push.]
BUTTRESS, but'res, _n._ a projecting support built on to the outside of a
wall: any support or prop.--_v.t._ to prop or support, as by a buttress.
[Acc. to Dr Murray, perh. from O. Fr. _bouterez_, apparently from _bouter_,
to push, bear against.]
BUTTY, but'i, _n._ (_prov._) a chum, comrade, esp. one who takes a contract
for working out a certain area of coal, or a partner in such.--_ns._
BUTT'Y-COLL'IER; BUTT'Y-GANG.
BUTYRIC, b[=u]-tir'ik, _adj._ pertaining to or derived from butter.--_n._
B[=U]'TYL, an alcohol radical.--_adj._ BUTYR[=A]'CEOUS, buttery, containing
butter.--_n._ B[=U]'TYRATE, a salt of butyric acid.--BUTYRIC ACID, a
volatile fatty acid possessing the disagreeable odour of rancid butter. [L.
_butyrum_.]
BUXOM, buks'um, _adj._ yielding, elastic: gay, lively, jolly.--_n._
BUX'OMNESS, the quality of being buxom: liveliness: gaiety. [M. E.
_buhsum_, pliable, obedient--A.S. _búgan_, to bow, yield, and affix SOME.]
BUY, b[=i], _v.t._ to purchase for money: to bribe: to obtain in exchange
for something:--_pr.p._ buy'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bought (bawt).--_adj._
BUY'ABLE, capable of being bought.--_n._ BUY'ER, one who buys, a
purchaser.--BUY AND SELL (_Shak._), to barter; BUY IN, to purchase a stock:
to buy back for the owner at an auction; BUY OFF, or OUT, to gain release
from military service by payment of money; BUY OVER, to gain by bribery;
BUY UP, to purchase the whole stock. [A.S. _bycgan_; Goth. _bugjan_.]
BUZZ, buz, _v.i._ to make a humming noise like bees.--_v.t._ to whisper or
spread secretly.--_n._ the noise of bees and flies: a humming sound: a
whispered report.--_n._ BUZZ'ER, one who buzzes: (_Shak._) a whisperer or
tell-tale.--_adv._ BUZZ'INGLY.--_adj._ BUZZ'Y. [From the sound.]
BUZZ, buz, _v.t._ to drink to the bottom.
BUZZARD, buz'ard, _n._ a bird of prey of the falcon family: a blockhead: a
name for some night moths and cockchafers.--_n._ BUZZ'ARD-CLOCK, a
cockchafer, the dor. [Fr. _busard_; prob. from L. _buteo_, a kind of
falcon.]
BY, b[=i], _prep._ at the side of: near to: through, denoting the agent,
cause, means, &c.--_adv._ near: passing near: in presence of: aside,
away.--_adv._ BY'-AND-BY, soon, presently.--_ns._ BY'-BLOW, a side blow: an
illegitimate child; BY'-COR'NER, an out-of-the-way place; BY'-DRINK'ING
(_Shak._), drinking between meals; BY'-ELEC'TION, a parliamentary election
during the sitting of parliament: BY'-END, a subsidiary aim; BY'-FORM, a
form of a word slightly varying from it; BY'-G[=O]'ING, the action of
passing by, esp. IN THE BY-GOING.--_adj._ BY'GONE.--_ns._ BY'-LANE, a side
lane or passage out of the common road; BY'-M[=O]'TIVE, an unavowed motive;
BY'NAME, a nickname; BY'-PASS'AGE, a side passage.--_adj._ BY'-PAST
(_Shak._), past: gone by.--_ns._ BY'PATH, a side path; BY'-PLACE, a retired
place; BY'PLAY, a scene carried on, subordinate to and apart from the main
part of the play; BY'-PR[=O]'DUCT, an accessory product resulting from some
specific process or manufacture; BY'ROAD, a retired side road; BY'ROOM
(_Shak._), a side or private room; BY'-SPEECH, a casual speech; BY'STANDER,
one who stands by or near one--hence a looker-on; BY'-STREET, an obscure
street; BY'-THING, a thing of minor importance; BY'-TIME, leisure time;
BY'WAY, a private and obscure way; BY'WORD, a common saying: a proverb: an
object of common derision; BY'WORK, work for leisure hours.--BY-THE-BY, BY
THE WAY, in passing.--LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, let the past alone. [A.S.
_bi_, _big_; Ger. _bei_, L. _ambi_.]
BY, BYE, b[=i], _n._ anything of minor importance, a side issue, a thing
not directly aimed at: the condition of being odd, as opposed to _even_,
the state of being left without a competitor, as in tennis, &c.: in
cricket, a run stolen by the batsman on the ball passing the wicket-keeper
and long-stop, the batsman not having struck the ball.--BY-THE-BYE, or -BY,
incidentally, by the way.
BYCOCKET, b[=i]'kok-et, _n._ a turned-up peaked cap worn by noble persons
in the 15th century--sometimes erroneously _abacot_. [O. Fr. _bicoquet_,
prob. _bi-_ (L. _bis_), double, _coque_, a shell.]
BYDE, b[=i]d, _v.i._ Same as BIDE.
BYLANDER, obsolete form of BILANDER.
BYLAW, BYE-LAW, b[=i]'-law, _n._ the law of a city, town, or private
corporation: a supplementary law or regulation. [The same as BYRLAW, from
Ice. _byarlög_, Dan. _by-lov_, town-law; Scot. _bir-law_; from Ice. _bua_,
to dwell. See BOWER. _By_, town, is the suffix in many place-names. The
_by_ in bylaw is generally confused with the preposition.]
BYNEMPT, b[=i]-nempt', _pa.t._ of obsolete verb _Bename_ (_Spens._), named.
[A.S. pfx. _by-_, _be-_, and _nemnen_, to name. See NAME.]
BYOUS, b[=i]'us, _adj._ (_Scot._) extraordinary.--_adv._ BY'OUSLY.
BYRE, b[=i]r, _n._ (_Scot._) a cow-house. [A.S. _býre_ _pl._
dwellings--_búr_, a bower. See BOWER.]
BYRLADY, bir-l[=a]'di, contraction for _By our Lady_.
BYRLAW, bir'law, _n._ a sort of popular jurisprudence formerly in use in
Scotland, in villages and among husbandmen, concerning neighbourhood to be
kept among themselves.--_n._ BYR'LAW-MAN, still in parts of Scotland, an
arbiter, oddsman, or umpire. [A.S. _burh_, a borough.]
BYRONIC, b[=i]-ron'ik, _adj._ possessing the characteristics of Lord
_Byron_ (1788-1824), or of his poetry, overstrained in sentiment or
passion, cynical and libertine.--_adv._ BYRON'ICALLY.--_n._ BY'RONISM.
BYSSOLITE, bis'o-l[=i]t, _n._ an olive-green variety of actinolite, in long
crystals.--Also AMIAN'TUS. [Gr. _byssos_, byssus, _lithos_, stone.]
BYSSUS, bis'us, _n._ a fine yellowish flax, and the linen made from it: the
bundle of fine silky filaments by which many shellfish attach themselves to
rocks, &c.: a genus of cryptogamic plants of a silky fibrous texture found
on decaying wood, in mines, &c., and other dark places.--_adjs._
BYSSIF'EROUS, bearing or having a byssus; BYSS'INE, made of fine linen.
[L.--Gr. _byssos_, a fine flaxen or silky substance.]
BYZANT, biz'ant. Same as BEZANT.
BYZANTINE, biz-an't[=i]n, biz'-, _adj._ relating to _Byzantium_ or
Constantinople.--_n._ an inhabitant thereof.--_n._ BYZAN'TINISM, the
manifestation of Byzantine characteristics.--BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE, the
style prevalent in the Eastern Empire down to 1453, marked by the round
arch springing from columns or piers, the dome supported upon pendentives,
capitals elaborately sculptured, mosaic or other incrustations, &c.;
BYZANTINE CHURCH, the Eastern or Greek Church; BYZANTINE EMPIRE, the
Eastern or Greek Empire from 395 A.D. to 1453; BYZANTINE HISTORIANS, the
series of Greek chroniclers of the affairs of the Byzantine Empire down to
its fall in 1453.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
the third letter of our alphabet, originally having the sound of _g_, then
of _k_, and finally, in some languages, equivalent to _s_: (_mus._) name of
one of the notes of the gamut, also the sound on which the system is
founded--the scale C major has neither flats nor sharps, and therefore is
called the _natural scale_.
CAABA, kä'a-ba, _n._ the Moslem Holy of Holies, a square building at Mecca,
containing the famous Black Stone built into the south-east corner at a
height convenient for being kissed. [Ar.]
CAAING-WHALE, kä'ing-hw[=a]l, _n._ one of the Cetacea, in the dolphin
family, very gregarious, and oftener stranded than any other 'whale'--16 to
24 feet long, and 10 feet in girth. Other names are _Pilot-whale_,
_Black-fish_, _Social Whale_, _Grindhval_. [Scot. _ca_, to drive.]
CAB, kab, _n._ a public carriage of various sizes and shapes, with two or
four wheels, drawn by one horse.--_ns._ CAB'BY, a shortened form of
CAB'MAN, one who drives a cab for hire; CAB'-STAND, a place where cabs
stand for hire; CAB'-TOUT, one whose business it is to call cabs.--CABMEN'S
SHELTER, a place of shelter for cabmen while waiting for hire. [Shortened
from CABRIOLET.]
CAB, kab, _n._ a Hebrew dry measure = nearly three pints. [Heb.
_kab_--_kabab_, to hollow.]
CABAL, ka-bal', _n._ a small party united for some secret design: the plot
itself: a name in English history esp. given to five unpopular ministers of
Charles II. (1672), whose initials happened to make up the word.--_v.i._ to
form a party for a secret purpose: to plot:--_pr.p._ cabal'ling.--_n._
CABAL'LER, a plotter or intriguer. [Fr. _cabale_; from CABALA.]
CABALLERO, kä-bä-ly[=a]'r[=o], _n._ a Spanish gentleman: a Spanish dance.
CABALLINE, kab'a-lin, _adj._ pertaining to, or suited to, a horse. [L.
_caballinus_--_caballus_, a horse.]
CABARET, kab'a-ret, _n._ a small tavern. [Fr., prob. for
_cabanaret_--_cabane_, a hut.]
CABAS, CABA, kab'a, _n._ a woman's work-basket or reticule: a rush basket
or pannier. [Fr.]
CABBAGE, kab'[=a]j, _n._ a well-known kitchen vegetable.--_ns._
CABB'AGE-BUTT'ERFLY, a large butterfly whose larvæ injure the leaves of
cabbage and other cruciferous plants; CABB'AGE-MOTH, a moth whose larva
feeds on the cabbage; CABB'AGE-PALM, CABB'AGE-TREE, a name given in
different countries to different species of palm, the great terminal bud of
which is eaten cooked like cabbage, or sometimes also raw in salads;
CABB'AGE-ROSE, a species of rose which has a thick form like a
cabbage-head; CABB'AGE-WORM, the larva of the cabbage-butterfly or of the
cabbage-moth. [Fr. _caboche_, head (_choux cabus_, a cabbage); from L.
_caput_, the head.]
CABBAGE, kab'[=a]j, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to purloin, esp. a tailor of portions
of a customer's cloth.--_n._ cloth so appropriated.
CABBALA, CABALA, kab'a-la, _n._ a secret science of the Jewish rabbis for
the interpretation of the hidden sense of Scripture, claimed to be handed
down by oral tradition.--_ns._ CABB'ALISM, the science of the cabbala;
CABB'ALIST, one versed in the cabbala.--_adjs._ CABBALIST'IC, -AL, relating
to the cabbala: having a hidden meaning. [Heb. _qabb[=a]l[=a]h_, tradition,
_qibb[=e]l_, to receive.]
CABER, k[=a]b'[.e]r, _n._ a pole, generally the stem of a young tree, which
is poised and tossed or hurled by Highland athletes. [Gael.]
CABIN, kab'in, _n._ a hut or cottage: a small room, esp. in a ship, for
officers or passengers--hence CAB'IN-PASS'ENGER, one paying for superior
accommodation.--_v.t._ to shut up in a cabin.--_v.i._ to dwell in a
cabin.--_n._ CAB'IN-BOY, a boy who waits on the officers or those who live
in the cabin of a ship. [Fr. _cabane_--Low L. _capanna_.]
CABINET, kab'in-et, _n._ (_obs._) a little cabin or hut: (_Shak._) the bed
or nest of a beast or bird: a small room, closet, or private apartment: a
case of drawers for articles of value: a private room for consultation,
esp. a king's--hence THE CABINET, a limited number of the chief ministers
who govern England, being the leaders of the majority in parliament.--_ns._
CAB'INET-COUN'CIL, a council or consultation of the members of the Cabinet;
CAB'INET-EDI'TION (of a book), one less in size and price than a library
edition, but still elegant in format; CAB'INET-MAK'ER, a maker of cabinets
and other fine furniture; CAB'INET-PH[=O]'TOGRAPH, one of the size larger
than a carte-de-visite. [Dim. of CABIN; cf. mod. Fr. _cabinet_.]
CABIRI, ka-b[=i]'r[=i], _n.pl._ ancient divinities of Semitic origin,
associated with fire and creative energy, worshipped in mysteries in
Lemnos, Samothrace, and Indros--also CABEI'RI.--_adjs._ CABIR'IAN,
CABIR'IC.
CABLE, k[=a]'bl, _n._ a strong rope or chain which ties anything, esp. a
ship to her anchor: a nautical measure of 100 fathoms; a cable for
submarine telegraphs composed of wires embedded in gutta-percha and encased
in coiled strands of iron wire; a bundle of insulated wires laid
underground in a street: a cable-message.--_v.t._ to provide with a cable,
to tie up: to transmit a message, or to communicate with any one by
submarine telegram.--_ns._ C[=A]'BLEGRAM, a message sent by submarine
telegraph cable; C[=A]'BLE-MOULD'ING, a bead or moulding carved in
imitation of a thick rope; C[=A]'BLING, a bead or moulding like a thick
rope, often worked in flutes: the filling of flutes with a moulding like a
cable.--SLIP THE CABLE, to let it run out. [Fr.--Low L. _caplum_, a
halter--_cap-[)e]re_, to hold.]
CABOB, ka-bob', _n._ an Oriental dish of pieces of meat roasted with herbs:
roast meat generally in India. [Ar. _kab[=a]b_.]
CABOCHED, CABOSHED, ka-bosht', _adj._ (_her._) bearing the head of an
animal, with only the face seen. [Fr. _caboché_--L. _caput_, head.]
CABOCHON, ka-b[=o]-shong, _n._ a precious stone polished but uncut.--EN
CABOCHON, rounded on top and flat on back, without facets--garnets,
moonstone, &c. [Fr.]
CABOODLE, ka-b[=oo]'dl, _n._ (_slang_) crowd, company.
CABOOSE, ka-b[=oo]s', _n._ the kitchen or cooking-stove of a ship. [Dut.
_kombuis_; cf. Ger. _kabuse_.]
CABRIOLE. See CAPRIOLE.
CABRIOLET, kab-ri-[=o]-l[=a]', _n._ a covered carriage with two or four
wheels drawn by one horse. [Fr. See CAPRIOLE. By 1830 shortened into CAB.]
CACAO, ka-k[=a]'o, ka-kä'o, _n._ the chocolate-tree, from the seeds of
which chocolate is made. [Mex. _cacauatl_.]
CACHÆMIA, CACHEMIA, ka-k[=e]'mi-a, _n._ a morbid state of the
blood.--_adj._ CACH[=E]'MIC. [Gr. _kakos_, bad, _haima_, blood.]