Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ball'-flow'er, n. p. 104(Arch.) An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the three petals of which form a cup round it;—usually inserted in a hollow molding. Oxf. Gloss.Băl'li-aġe, n. p. 104Same as BAILAGE.Băl'liards, n. pl. p. 104See BILLIARDS.Băl'li-mong, n. p. 104A dredge. [Obs.] Holland.Bal-lĭs'tȧ, n. p. 104A machine or engine, in the form of a cross-bow, used by the ancients in war for throwing stones, &c.Băl'lis-ter or Bal-lĭs'ter, n. p. 104A cross-bow.Bal-lĭs'tic, a. p. 104Pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of shooting darts, and other missive weapons, by means of an engine. Ballistic pendulum, an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material…Bal-lĭs'tics, n. p. 104The art of throwing missive weapons by the use of an engine. 2. The science of projectiles. Whewell.Băl'li-ŭm, n. p. 104(Old Fort.) The same as BAILEY, q. v.Bal-lo͞on', n. p. 104A bag or hollow vessel, made of silk or other light material, and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the atmosphere;—called, for distinction, an air-balloon. 2.…Bal-lo͞oned', a. p. 104Swelled out like a balloon.Bal-lo͞on'-fish, n. p. 104(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Diodon, having the power of inflating its body bladder-like, by swallowing air and making it pass into cavities beneath the skin. Cuvier.Bal-lo͞on'ist, n. p. 104One who makes or ascends in a balloon; an aëronaut.Bal-lo͞on'ry, n. p. 104The art or practice of ascending in a balloon; aëronautics. Quarterly Rev.Băl'lot, n. p. 104Originally, a ball used in voting; hence, a piece of paper, or other thing used for the same purpose; whole amount of votes cast. 2. The act of voting by balls or tickets. “The insufficiency of the…Băl'lot, v. i. p. 105To vote or decide by ballot.Bál'lo-tāde, n. p. 105(Man.) A leap of a horse, as between two pillars, or upon a straight line, so that when his four feet are in the air, he shows only the shoes of his hind feet, without jerking out.Băl'lo-tānt, n. p. 105One who votes by ballot; a balloter. [Obs.] Harrington.Băl'lo-tā'tion, n. p. 105A voting by ballot. [Obs.] Wotton.Băl'lot-bŏx, n. p. 105A box for receiving ballots.Băl'lot-er, n. p. 105One who votes by ballot.Băl'lot-in, n. p. 105One who collects ballots. [Rare.] Harrington.Băl'lōw, n. p. 105A club or cudgel. [Obs.] Shak.Báll'-proof, a. p. 105Incapable of being penetrated by balls from fire-arms.Ball'-room, n. p. 105A room for balls, assemblies, &c.Ball'-vălve, n. p. 105(Mach.) A contrivance by which a ball, placed in a circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve. Francis.Ball'-vein, n. p. 105(Mining.) A sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of a circular form, containing sparkling particles.Bălm, n. p. 105(Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Melissa. 2. The resinous and odoriferous or aromatic sap or juice of certain trees. Dryden. 3. Any fragrant or valuable ointment. Shak. 4. Any thing which heals…Bālm, v. t. p. 105To anoint with balm, or with any thing medicinal. Shak. 2. To soothe; to mitigate; to assuage. Shak.Bālm'i-fy, v. t. p. 105To render balmy. [Obs.] Cheyne.Bālm'ī-ly, adv. p. 105In a balmy manner. Coleridge.Bălm'y, a. p. 105Having the qualities or properties of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild. “The balmy breeze.” Tickell. “Balmy night.” Coleridge. Tired Nature’s sweet restorer, balmy…Bāl'ne-al, a. p. 105Pertaining to a bath. [Obs.] Howell.Bāl'ne-a-ry, n. p. 105A bathing room. [Obs.] Browne.Bāl'ne-ā'tion, n. p. 105The act of bathing. [Obs.]Bāl'ne-a-to-ry, a. p. 105Belonging to a bath or stove. [Obs.]Bāl'o-tāde, n. p. 105See BALLOTĀDE.Băl'să, n. p. 105(Naut.) A raft or fishing-float, used principally on the Pacific coast of South America. [Written also balza.] Simmonds.Bāl'sam, n. p. 105A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. ¶ The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing spontaneously or by incision from certain plants; and a great variety of…Bāl'sam, v. t. p. 105To impregnate with balsam; to render balsamic. [Obs.] Hacket.Bāl'sa-mā'tion, n. p. 105The act of rendering balsamic.Băl-săm'ic or Băl-săm'ic-al, a. p. 105Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling, balsam; soft; mitigatory. “Balsamic cups, to wheezing lungs Medicinal.” Philips.Bāl-sām'ic, n. p. 105That which has the properties of a balsam. Bp. Berkeley.Bāl-sām'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 105In a balsamic manner.Bāl'sa-mĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 105Producing balsam.Bāl'sa-mīne, n. p. 105(Bot.) The Balsamina hortensis (Impatiens balsamina, Linn.), or garden balsam.Bāl'sa-mo-dēn'dron, n. p. 105(Bot.) A genus of balsamiferous plants, natives of tropical Asia.Bal'sa-moŭs, a. p. 105Having the quality of balsam. “A balsamous substance.” Sterne.Bal'ter, v. t. p. 105To stick together. [Obs.] Holland.Bal'tic, a. p. 105Pertaining to the sea of the same name, which separates Norway and Sweden from Jutland, Holstein, and Germany; situated on the Baltic Sea. Each Baltic state to join the righteous cause. Barlow.Băl'us-ter, n. p. 105(Arch.) (a.) A small column or pilaster, used as a support to the rail of a staircase, &c. (b.) The lateral part of the volute of the Ionic capital. Gwilt.Băl'us-tered, a. p. 105Having balusters. [Rare.] “Balustered with gold.” Dryden.Bāl'us-trāde, n. p. 105[Fr. balustrade, Sp. balustrada, balustrado, It. balaustrata, from Fr. balustre, &c. See BALUSTER. (Arch.) A row of balusters, topped by a rail, serving as a fence or inclosure, for altars…Bāl'za-rīne', n. p. 105A light mixed material of worsted and cotton, for ladies’ dresses. Simmonds.Bān, n. p. 105An imposition; a cheat. [Vulgar.] Garrick. To relieve the tedium, he kept plying them with all manner of bams. Prof. Wilson.Băm, v. t. p. 105To cheat; to wheedle. [Vulgar.] This is some conspiracy, I suppose, to bam, to chouse me out of my money. Foote.Bam-bōō', n. p. 105(Bot.) A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in tropical countries. ☞ B. arundinacea has a woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem; it grows to the height of forty feet…Bam-bōō', v. t. p. 105To flog with the bamboo. Williams.Bam-bōō'zle, v. t. p. 105To deceive; to play low tricks upon. [Low.]Bam-bōō'zler, n. p. 105A cheat; one who plays low tricks. Arbuthnot.