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.
Bird'-cāge, n. p. 134A box or case of wire, small sticks, or wicker, forming open work, for keeping birds confined.Bird'-call, n. p. 134A little stick cleft at one end, in which is put a leaf of some plant, for imitating the cry of birds. 2. A very short metal cylinder, having a circular plate with a small aperture in the center…Bird'-cătch'er, n. p. 134One whose employment is to catch birds; a fowler.Bird'-cātch/ing, n. p. 134The art of taking birds or wild fowls, either for food, for pleasure, or for their destruction, when pernicious to the husbandman.Bird'-chĕr'ry, n. p. 134(Bot.) A species of cherry of the genus Prunus, and subgenus Padus, having the flowers in racemes.Bĭrd'er, n. p. 134A bird-catcher.Bird'-eyed, a. p. 134Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes.Bird'-făn'çi-er, n. p. 134One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting birds, especially such as are rare or curious. 2. One who keeps for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages.Bird'ing-piēce, n. p. 134A fowling-piece. Shak.Bird'-like, a. p. 134Resembling a bird.Bird'-lime, n. p. 134A viscous substance, usually made of the juice of holly bark, extracted by boiling, mixed with a third part of nut oil or thin grease, used to catch birds. For this purpose the twigs of a bush are…Bird'-limed, a. p. 134Smeared with bird lime; spread to insnare; prepared to become attached. When the heart is thus bird-limed, then it cleaves to every thing it meets with. Goodwin.Bird'man, n. p. 134A fowler or bird-catcher.Bird-of-pār'a-dīse, n. p. 134One of a genus of birds (Paradisea), of the order Passeres, or Perchers, found in New Guinea. The largest species is two feet four inches in length. The head and back part of the neck of this species…Bird'-ôr'gan, n. p. 134A small barrel organ, used in teaching birds to sing.Bird'-pĕp'per, n. p. 134A species of capsicum or Cayenne pepper; the Capsicum minimum; a shrubby plant, bearing a small, oval fruit, more biting than the other sorts.Bird's'-eye, a. p. 134Seen from above, as if by a flying bird; embraced at a glance: hence, general; not minute, or entering into details; as, a bird's-eye view of a subject. Burke.Bird's'-eye, n. p. 134(Bot.) A genus of plants, called also Pheasant's-eye, known in botany by the generic term Adonis. There are several species, some of which produce beautiful flowers.Bird's'-eye Mā'ple p. 134Wood of the sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), that is full of little knotty spots somewhat resembling birds' eyes, and used in cabinet-work.Bird's'-foot, n. p. 134(Bot.) A papilionaceous plant, the Ornithopus, the pod of which is articulated, cylindrical, and bent in the form of a bow.Bird's'-foot Trē/foil p. 134A genus of plants, the Lotus, of several species.Bird's'-mouth, n. p. 134(Arch.) An interior angle or notch cut across a piece of timber, for its reception on the edge of another, as that on a rafter to be laid on a plate.Bĭrd’s’nĕst, n. p. 134The nest in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her young. 2. (Cookery.) The nest of a small swallow, of China and the neighboring countries, delicately tasted, and mixed with soups. This nest is…Bird's'-târes, n. p. 135A plant.Bird's'-tŏngue, n. p. 135A species of Ornithoglossum.Bird'-wit/ted, a. p. 135Flighty; passing rapidly from one subject to another; not having the faculty of attention. Bacon.Bi'rec-tan'/gu-lar, a. p. 135Containing two right-angles; as, a birectangular spherical triangle.Bī'rēme, n. p. 135A vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.Bĭr'gan-der, n. p. 135A wild goose.Bī'rhom-boid'al, a. p. 135Having a surface composed of twelve rhombic faces, which, being taken six and six, and prolonged in idea till they intercept each other, would form two rhombohedrons.Bîrk'en, v. t. p. 135To beat with a birch or rod. [Obs.]Bîrk'en, a. p. 135Birchen; as, birken groves. Burns.Bîrl, v. t. p. 135To pour out; to give to drink. [Obs.] Dame Elynour entreat To byrle them of the best. Skelton.Bîr'law, n. p. 135(Law.) A law made by husbandmen respecting rural affairs. Burrill.Bī-rŏs'trate or Bī-rŏs'tra-ted, a. p. 135Having a double beak, or process resembling a beak. The capsule is bilocular and birostrated. Ed. Encyc.Birr, v. i. p. 135To make a whirring noise, as of wheels in motion. Ogilvie.Bir'rus, n. p. 135A coarse kind of thick, woolen cloth, worn by the poor in the middle ages; also, a woolen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or over the head as a cowl. Ogilvie.Birt, n. p. 135A fish, called also turbot.Birth, n. p. 135The act of coming into life, or of being born. Except in poetry, it is generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son. 2. Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes high birth; noble…Bĭrth, n. p. 135A station in which a ship rides. See BERTH.Birth'day, n. p. 135The day in which any person is born; day of origin or commencement. Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next The birthday of invention. Cooper. 2. The same day of the month, in which a person was…Birth'day, a. p. 135Pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as, birthday ode; birthday festivities.Birth'dòm, n. p. 135Privilege of birth. [Obs.] Shak.Birth'ing, n. p. 135(Naut.) Any thing added to raise the sides of a ship. Bailey.Birth'-märk, n. p. 135Some peculiar mark or blemish on the body at birth. Most part of this noble lineage carried upon their body for a natural birth-mark, from their mother's womb, a snake. North.Birth'night, n. p. 135The night in which a person is born; and the anniversary of that night in succeeding years. The angelic song in Bethlehem field, On thy birthnight that sung thee Savior-born. Milton.Birth'place, n. p. 135The town, city, or country, where a person is born; place of origin or birth, in its more general sense. “The birth-place of valor.” Burns.Birth’right (-rīt), n. p. 135Any right or privilege to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution. “Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his…Birth'root, n. p. 135(Bot.) The Trillium erectum.Birth'sin, n. p. 135Original sin.Birth’sōng, n. p. 135A song sung at a person’s birth.Birth'-străn'gled, a. p. 135Strangled or suffocated in being born. Shak.Birth'wort, n. p. 135A genus of plants, Aristolochia, of many species. Loudon.Bĭs, adv. p. 135Twice. See Bi.Bĭ'sa or Bĭ'za, n. p. 135A coin of Pegu, of the value of half a ducat; also, a weight.Bi-săc'eate, a. p. 135(Bot.) Having two little bags, sacs, or pouches. Loudon.Bis-cāy'an, n. p. 135(Geog.) A native or an inhabitant of Biscay.Bis-cāy'an, a. p. 135(Geog.) Pertaining to Biscay or its people.Bis'co-tin, n. p. 135A confection made of flour, sugar, marmalade, and eggs.Bis'cuit, n. p. 135A kind of unfermented bread, formed into flat cakes, and baked hard. According to military practice, the bread or biscuit of the Romans was twice prepared in the oven. Gibbon. 2. A kind of small…