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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.

  1. 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…
  2. Bāl'za-rīne', n.p. 105A light mixed material of worsted and cotton, for ladies’ dresses. Simmonds.
  3. Bān, n.p. 105An imposition; a cheat. [Vulgar.] Garrick. To relieve the tedium, he kept plying them with all manner of bams. Prof. Wilson.
  4. 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.
  5. 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…
  6. Bam-bōō', v. t.p. 105To flog with the bamboo. Williams.
  7. Bam-bōō'zle, v. t.p. 105To deceive; to play low tricks upon. [Low.]
  8. Bam-bōō'zler, n.p. 105A cheat; one who plays low tricks. Arbuthnot.
  9. Bān, n.p. 105A kind of fine muslin, brought from the East Indies. Simmonds.
  10. Bān, n.p. 105A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory. 2. (pl.) Notice of a marriage proposed, or of a matrimonial contract, proclaimed in a church, or other place…
  11. Bān, n.p. 105An ancient title belonging to the wardens of the eastern marches of Hungary; now given to the viceroy of Croatia. He is appointed by the emperor of Austria. The Pitter-Ban of Hungary Came back…
  12. Băn, v. t.p. 105To curse; to execrate. Banning his boisterous and unruly beast. Shak.
  13. Băn, v. i.p. 105To curse. [Obs.] Spenser.
  14. Ba-nä'na, n.p. 105(Bot.) A species of the genus Musa, and its fruit. ☞ The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of great length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a sheath of a green or…
  15. Ban'co, n.p. 105A bank, especially that of Venice. ☞ This term is used in some parts of Europe to distinguish between the value of money at a bank, and its current value; as, at Hamburg banco is worth about 23½ per…
  16. Bänd, n.p. 105Any narrow ligament with which a thing is encircled, or fastened, or by which a number of things are confined together; a fillet; a cord. “Bound with leaden bands.” Bacon. 2. (Arch.) (a.) Any flat…
  17. Bānd, v. t.p. 105To bind, tie, or mark with a band. 2. To unite in a troop, company, or confederacy. “Banded against his throne.” Milton. “Banded nations.” Byron. 3. To ban or banish. [Obs. and very rare.] Spenser.
  18. Bănd, v. i.p. 105To confederate for some common purpose; to unite; to conspire together. “Certain of the Jews banded together.” Acts xxiii. 12.
  19. Bänd, imp.p. 105of bind. [Obs.] And with a belt his gown about him band. Spenser.
  20. Bänd'age, n.p. 105A fillet, roller, or swath, used in dressing and binding up wounds, &c. 2. Something resembling a bandage; that which is bound over another.
  21. Bănd'age, v. t.p. 105To bind with a bandage; as, to bandage the eyes.
  22. Ban'da-gīst, n.p. 105One who makes bandages, especially for hernia. Dunglison.
  23. Ban-dū'la, n.p. 105The fiber from which Manilla white rope is made. It is an outer layer of the abaca (Musa textilis), a variety of the plantain. Simmonds.
  24. Ban-dăn'ă or Ban-dăn'nā, n.p. 105A species of silk or cotton handkerchief, having a uniformly dyed ground, usually of red or blue, with white figures of a circular or lozenge form, made by discharging the color. 2. A style of calico…
  25. Bănd'bŏx, n.p. 105A slight paper box for bands, caps, bonnets, muffs, or other light articles. Gay.
  26. Băn'deau, n.p. 105A narrow band or fillet; a head-dress. Around the edge of this cap was a stiff bandeau of leather. W. Scott.
  27. Bän'de-liēr', n.p. 105See BANDOLIER.
  28. Bänd'er, n.p. 105One banded with others.
  29. Bän'de-rōle, n.p. 105A small banner or flag, carried on the masts of vessels, or on military weapons. From the extremity of which fluttered a small banderole or streamer bearing a cross. W. Scott.
  30. Bănd'-fish, n.p. 105(Ichth.) An acanthopterygious fish, of the genus Cepola; ribbon-fish.
  31. Băn'di-cōot, n.p. 105(Zoöl.) A species of the rat family (Mus bandicota or giganteus), in appearance like a large brown rat, found in India and Australia, and very mischievous in its habits. Its chief food is grain and…
  32. Bānd'ing-plāne, n.p. 106A plane used for cutting out grooves and inlaying strings and bands in straight and circular work.
  33. Bān'dīt, n.p. 106or BAN-DĪT'TĪ. [It. bandito, outlaw, p. p. of bandire, to proclaim, to banish, proscribe, Pr. & Sp. bandir; Fr. bannir. See BAN and ABANDON.] A lawless or desperate fellow; a robber; a brigand.…
  34. Ban-dĭt'to, n.p. 106A bandit. [Obs.] Webster, 1854.
  35. Bān'dle, n.p. 106An Irish measure of two feet in length.
  36. Bānd'let or Bānd'e-let, n.p. 106(Arch.) Any little band or flat molding, compassing a column, like a ring. Gwilt.
  37. Bān'dŏg, n.p. 106A large, fierce kind of dog, kept chained. The keeper entered leading his bandog, a large bloodhound, tied in a leash, or band, from which he takes his name. W. Scott.
  38. Băn'do-leer', n.p. 106A large leathern belt, thrown over the right shoulder, and hanging under the left arm, worn by ancient musketeers for sustaining their fire-arms. 2. A small leather case, of which every musketeer…
  39. Bān’do-līne, n.p. 106A gummy preparation for the hair, made usually of Iceland moss or linseed, with water, and perfumed.
  40. Băn'don, n.p. 106Disposal; license. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  41. Băn'dōre or Ban-dōre', n.p. 106A musical stringed instrument, very similar in form to a guitar; a pandore.
  42. Bānd'rōl or Bān'ner-ōl, n.p. 106See BANDEROLE.
  43. Băn'dy, n.p. 106A club bent at the lower part for striking a ball at play. Johnson. 2. The play with such a club. Toone.
  44. Băn'dy, v. t.p. 106To beat to and fro, as a ball in playing at bandy. “Like tennis balls bandied and struck upon us . . . by rackets from without.” Cadworth. 2. To give and receive reciprocally; to exchange. “To bandy…
  45. Băn'dy, v. i.p. 106To contend, as at some game, in which each strives to drive the ball his own way. “To bandy with thy lawless sons.” Shak.
  46. Băn'dy, a.p. 106Limp; flexible;—said of bad cloth. [Obs.]
  47. Băn'dy-lĕg, n.p. 106A crooked leg; a leg bending inward or outward.
  48. Băn'dy-lĕgged, a.p. 106Having crooked legs.
  49. Bāne, n.p. 106Poison of a deadly quality; hence, any fatal cause of mischief, injury, or destruction. Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe. Herbert. 2. Ruin; destruction. The cup of deception spiced and…
  50. Bāne, v. t.p. 106To be the bane of; to poison; to ruin; to destroy. [Obs.] For minors have not only baned families, but ruined realms. Fuller.
  51. Bāne'-bēr-ry, n.p. 106(Bot.) A plant (Actæa spicata), whose berries are poisonous. London.
  52. Bāne'ful, a.p. 106Having poisonous qualities; injurious; noxious; pernicious; destructive. “Baneful hemlock.” Garth. “Baneful wrath.” Chapman.
  53. Bāne'ful-ly, adv.p. 106In a baneful manner.
  54. Bāne'ful-ness, n.p. 106Quality of being baneful.
  55. Bāne'wort, n.p. 106A plant, called also deadly nightshade.
  56. Băng, v. t.p. 106To beat, as with a club or cudgel; to treat with violence; to handle roughly; to thump. This desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks. Shak. 2. To surpass or excel. [Low.]
  57. Băng, n.p. 106A blow with a club; a heavy blow. Swift.
  58. Băng'ing, a.p. 106Huge; great;—as if beating, or surpassing in size. [Vulgar.] Forby.
  59. Bāng'gle, v. t.p. 106To waste by little and little. [Obs.] Whole Duty of Man.
  60. Bāng'gle, n.p. 106An ornamental ring worn upon the arms and ankles in India and Africa. Malcolm.