Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Băt'ist, n. p. 114A fine linen cloth made in certain parts of France. Simmonds.Băt'let, n. p. 114A small bat, or square piece of wood with a handle, for beating linen when taken out of the buck. Shuk.Bāt'man, n. p. 114A weight used in the East, varying according to the locality; in Turkey, the greater batman is about 157 pounds, the lesser only a fourth of this; at Aleppo and Smyrna, the batman is 17 pounds; in…Bat′man, n. p. 114A person having charge of the bathorse and his load, &c. Macaulay.Bā-tōn' or Ba-toon', n. p. 114A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances; the baton of a policeman. He held the baton of command. Prescott.…Ba-tră'chi-ă, n. pl. p. 114(Zoöl.) The order of reptiles which includes the frogs and related animals. See AMPHIBIA. Dana.Ba-trā'chi-an, a. p. 114(Zoöl.) Pertaining to animals of the order Batrachia.Ba-trā'chi-an, n. p. 114(Zoöl.) An animal of the order Batrachia.Băt'ra-choid, a. p. 114Having the form of a frog.Băt'ra-chō'my-ōm'a-chy, n. p. 114The battle between the frogs and mice;—a parody on the Iliad, of uncertain authorship.Băt'ra-chōph'a-goŭs, a. p. 114Feeding on frogs. Quart. Rev.Băt's'măn, n. p. 114The one who wields the bat in cricket, &c.; a batster.Băt's'wing, n. p. 114A form of gas-burner with a slit at the top, so that the gas issuing from this burns in a flame shaped like a bat's wing. Francis.Bāt'ta, n. p. 114An allowance made to military officers in the service of the East India Company, in addition to their pay. P. Cyc.Băt'ta-ble, a. p. 114Capable of cultivation; fertile; productive; fattening. [Obs.] Burton.Băt'tail-ant, n. p. 114A combatant. [Obs.] Shelton.Băt'tail-ant, a. p. 114Equipped for battle; warlike; battailous. [Obs.] Spenser.Băt'tail-oŭs, a. p. 114Arrayed for battle, or appearing to be so; warlike. [Obs.] “In battailous aspect.” Milton. The French came foremost battailous and bold. Fairfax.Bat-tāl'ia, n. p. 114The order of battle; disposition or arrangement of troops, brigades, regiments, battalions, &c., as for action. A drawing up the armies in battalia. Bp. Taylor. 2. The main body of an army in array…Bat-tāl'ion or Bat-tāl'ioned, n. p. 114(Mil.) A body of troops, so called from being originally a body of men arrayed for battle; consisting, in the British army, of about eight hundred men, under the command of a lieutenant-colonel. In…Băt'tel, n. p. 114(Law.) A species of trial in which a person accused of felony was allowed to fight with his accuser, and make proof thereby of his guilt or innocence. This species of trial was introduced into…Băt'tel, v. i. p. 114To grow fat. [Obs.] The well batteling of the babe pleads aloud for her care. Fuller. 2. To stand indebted, at the buttery, at Oxford, England, for provisions and drink. 3. To reside or keep terms at…Băt'tel, n. p. 114Provisions taken by Oxford students from the buttery, and also the charges thereon.Băt'tel, a. p. 114Fertile; fruitful; productive; prolific. [Obs.] A battel soil for grain, for pasture good. Fairfax.Băt'tel-er, or Băt'tler,, n. p. 114A student at Oxford who stands indebted in the college books for provisions and drink at the buttery;—formerly, one who paid for nothing but what he called for, answering nearly to a sizar at…Bāt'te-ment, n. p. 114A beating; striking; impulse. [Obs.] Darwin.Băt'ten, v. t. p. 114To make fat by plenteous feeding; to fatten. “Battening our flocks.” Milton. 2. To fertilize or enrich, as land. Phillips.Băt'ten, v. i. p. 114To grow or become fat; to live in luxury, or to grow fat in ease and luxury. Dryden. The pampered monarch battening in ease. Garth.Băt'ten, n. p. 114A piece of board, or scantling, of a few inches in breadth, used for various purposes. 2. The movable bar of a loom, which strikes in or closes the threads of a woof. Francis.Băt'ten, v. t. p. 114To form or fasten with battens. To batten down, to fasten down with battens, as the hatches of a ship during a storm.Băt'ten-ing, n. p. 114Battens fixed to walls for nailing laths to.Băt'ter, v. t. p. 114To beat with successive blows; to beat repeatedly and with violence, so as to bruise, shake, or demolish; specifically, to attack with artillery; as, to batter a wall or rampart. 2. To wear or impair…Băt'ter, v. i. p. 114(Arch.) To slope gently backward, as a wall from a person standing before it. Gwilt.Bāt'ter, n. p. 114(Arch.) A backward slope in the face of a wall, so as to make the plumb-line fall within the base. Weale.Băt'ter, n. p. 114A mixture of several ingredients, as, flour, eggs, salt, &c., beaten together with some liquid, used in cookery. King. 2. Dirt; loam. [Obs.] Holland.Băt'ter or Băts'ter, n. p. 114One who holds the bat in cricket.Băt'ter-er, n. p. 114One who batters or beats.Băt'ter-ing-răm, n. p. 114(Mil.) An engine used to beat down the walls of besieged places. It was a large beam, with a head of iron which was sometimes made to resemble the head of a ram. It was suspended by ropes to a beam…Băt'ter-rūle, n. p. 114(Arch.) A plumb-line so contrived that while the plummet hangs perpendicularly, the building may batter or slope, the edge of the instrument being made to differ from a vertical line in proportion as…Băt'ter-y, n. p. 114The act of battering or beating. Strong wars they make, and cruel battery bend. Spenser. 2. (Mil.) (a.) Any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, for battering a fortification or attacking an…Băt'ting, n. p. 114The management of a bat in playing games of ball. Mason. 2. Cotton in sheets, prepared for quilts or bed-covers; bat.Băt'tish, a. p. 114Resembling a bat. [Rare.] Vernon.Băt'tle, a. p. 114See BATTEL. [Obs.]Bāt'tle, n. p. 114A fight or encounter between enemies or opposing forces; an engagement; a combat. 2. A body of forces, or division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.] The king divided his army into three battles. Bacon.…Băt'tle, v. i. p. 114To join in battle; to contend in fight. To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. Prior.Bāt'tle, v. t. p. 114To cover with armed force. Fairfax. 2. To strengthen with battlements. Fletcher.Băt'tle-ar-rāy', n. p. 114Array or order of battle; the disposition of forces preparatory to a battle. Campbell.Băt'tle-ăx or Băt'tle-ăxe, n. p. 114(Mil.) A kind of ax formerly used as an offensive weapon. W. Scott.Băt'tle-dōor, n. p. 115An instrument of play, with a handle and a flat board, or palm, used to strike a ball or shuttlecock; a racket. 2. [O. Eng. battledore.] A child's horn-book. [Obs.] Halliwell.Bāt'tle-ment, n. p. 115(Arch.) A notched or indented parapet, originally used only on fortifications, but afterward employed on ecclesiastical and other edifices. Oxf. Gloss. Up to the highest battlement, from whence The…Băt'tle-ment-ed, a. p. 115Having battlements. A battlemented portal of Gothic appearance defended the entrance. W. Scott.Bat-tŏl'o-gist, n. p. 115One who without reason repeats the same thing in speaking or writing. [Obs.] Whitlock.Bat-tōl'o-gīze, v. t. p. 115To keep repeating needlessly; to iterate. [Obs.] Herbert.Bat-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 115A needless repetition of words in speaking or writing. [Obs.] “Heathenish battology.” Milton.Bāt'ton, n. p. 115See BATTEN and BATON.Bāt'tue, n. p. 115(Hunting.) (a.) The act of beating the woods, bushes, &c., for game. (b.) The game itself. Hewitt.Bat-tŭ'ta, n. p. 115The measuring of time by beating.Băt'ty, a. p. 115Belonging to, or resembling, a bat. [Obs.] “Batty wings.” Shak.Bătz, n. p. 115A small copper coin, with a mixture of silver, formerly current in some parts of Germany and Switzerland, worth about four cents.Baw-bee' or Baw bee', n. p. 115A halfpenny. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Knox.