Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Bău'ble, n. p. 115A trifling piece of finery; a gew-gaw; that which is gay and showy without real value. The ineffective bauble of an Indian pagod. Sheridan. A fool's bauble was a short stick with a head ornamented…Baud'kin or Bau'de-kin, n. p. 115The richest kind of stuff used for garments in the middle ages, the web being gold, and the woof silk, with embroidery;—made originally at Babylon. Nares.Baud'rie, n. p. 115See BALDRIC.Bau'ge, n. p. 115A drugget made in France with thread spun upon thick, coarse wool.Bauk or Baulk, n. & v. p. 115See BALK.Ba-vā'ri·an, n. p. 115(Geog.) An inhabitant of Bavaria.Bā'v'a-roy, n. p. 115A kind of cloak or surtout. Johnson. Let the looped bavaroy the fop embrace. Gay.Bā'vi-an, n. p. 115A baboon. [Obs.]Bāv'in, n. p. 115A fagot of brush-wood, or other light combustible matter, for kindling fires. “Mounted on a hazel bavin.” Hudibras. 2. Impure limestone. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.Baw'ble, n. p. 115A trinket; a gewgaw. See BAUBLE.Baw'bling, a. p. 115Trifling or contemptible. [Obs.] “A bawbling vessel.” Shak.Baw'cock, n. p. 115A fine fellow. [Obs.] “How now, my bawcock?” Shak.Bawd, n. p. 115A person who keeps a house of prostitution, and conducts criminal intrigues; a procurer or procuress; a lewd person;—usually applied to females.Bawd, v. i. p. 115To procure women for lewd purposes.Bawd'ily, adv. p. 115Obscenely; lewdly.Bawd'i-ness, n. p. 115Obscenity; lewdness.Bawd'rick, n. p. 115A belt. Chapman.Bawd'ry, n. p. 115The practice of procuring women for the gratification of lust. 2. Obscenity; filthy, unchaste language. “The pert style of the pit bawdry.” Steele. 3. Illicit intercourse; fornication. Shak.Bawd'y, a. p. 115Obscene; filthy; unchaste. Rowe.Bâwd’y-house, n. p. 115A house of lewdness and prostitution; a house of ill fame kept for the resort and unlawful commerce of lewd people of both sexes.