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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Bōok'stōne, n. p. 151(Min.) See BIBLIOLITE.Book'stōre, n. p. 151In the U. S., a shop where books are kept for sale;—called in England a book-seller's shop.Book'-trāde, n. p. 151The buying and selling of books. For the book-trade is running into a smithery among us. Sir J. Stephens.Book'worm, n. p. 151A worm or mite that eats holes in books. 2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader without appreciation. I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a book-worm…Bōō’ley, n. p. 151One who has no settled habitation, but wanders from place to place with his flocks and herds, living on their milk, like the Tartars. [Irish.] Spenser.Bōōm, n. p. 151(Naut.) A long pole or spar, run out from various parts of a ship, or other vessel, for the purpose of extending the bottom of particular sails; as, the jib boom, studding-sail boom, main boom…Boom, v. i. p. 151To rush with violence, as a ship under a press of sail. “She comes booming down before it.” Totten. 2. [W. bwmp, a hollow sound; bwmp y gors, the hollow sound of the bog or fen, and aderyn y bwmp…Bōōm'er-ang, n. p. 151A very singular missile-weapon used by the natives of Australia. It is made of hard wood, usually from 20 to 30 inches in length, from 2 to 3 inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick.…Bōōm'ing, p. a. p. 151Rushing with violence; roaring like waves. O'er the sea-beat ships the booming waters roar. Falconer.Bōōm'ing, n. p. 151A violent rushing with heavy roar; as, the booming of the sea; a deep, hollow sound; as, the booming of bitterns. Howitt.Bōōm'-ī'ron, n. p. 151Flat iron rings on the yards through which the studding-sail booms traverse in being rigged out or in. Totten.Bōōn, n. p. 151That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift; a benefaction; a grant; a present. I begged them as a boon to lay His corse in dust, whereon the day Might shine. Byron. 2. [A-S. bên…Bōōn, a. p. 151Gay; merry; jovial; as, two boon companions. Irving. 2. Kind; bountiful. Which . . . nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain. Milton. With as boon a grace and as bold a front…Bōōn, n. p. 151The refuse or useless vegetable matter from dressed flax.Bōōr, n. p. 151A countryman; a peasant; a rustic; a plowman; a clown; hence, one who is rude in manners and illiterate. “The habits and the cunning of a boor.” Thackeray.Bōōr'ish, a. p. 151Like a boor; clownish; rustic; awkward; illiterate. Which is in truth a gross and boorish opinion, how common soever. Milton.Bōōr'ish-ly, adv. p. 151In a boorish or clownish manner; as a boor. Limbs . . . neither weak nor boorishly robust. Fenton.Bōōr'ish-ness, n. p. 151Clownishness; rusticity; coarseness of manners.Bōōse, n. p. 151A stall or inclosure for oxen, cows, or other cattle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Bōōse or Bōōze, v. i. p. 152To drink excessively. See BOUSE. [Vulgar.] Maunder. Yet did he truly in a boozing-bout say of the Duke James. Landor.Bōōs'er, n. p. 152One who drinks to excess; a tippler.Bōōst, v. t. p. 152To lift or push from behind one who is endeavoring to climb; to push up. [Low.] [New England.]Bōō'sy or Bōō'zy, a. p. 152A little Bōō'zy intoxicated; fuddled; merry with liquor. [Collog.] C. Kingsley.Bōōt, v. t. p. 152To profit; to advantage;—generally followed by it: as, what boots it? What subdued To change like this a mind so far imbued With scorn of man, it little boots to know. Byron. What boots to us your…Bōot, n. p. 152That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to supply the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged; profit; gain; advantage. I'll give you boot: I'll give you three for one. Shak.…Bōōt, n. p. 152A covering for the foot and leg, ordinarily made of leather. 2. An instrument made of iron, formerly used to torture criminals, particularly in Scotland. So he was put to the torture, which in…Bōot, v. t. p. 152To put boots on. “Coated and booted for it.” B. Jonson.Bōot, n. p. 152Booty. [Obs. and rare.] Chapman.Bōōt'-cātch'er, n. p. 152The person at an inn whose business it is to pull off boots and clean them. [Obs.] Swift.Bōot'-crĭmp, n. p. 152A frame or last used by boot-makers for drawing and shaping the body of a boot.Bōot-ee′, n. p. 152A half or short boot.Bo-ō'tēs, n. p. 152(Astron.) A northern constellation, consisting, according to Flamsteed's catalogue, of fifty-four stars.Bōoth, n. p. 152A house or shed built of boards, boughs of trees, or other slight materials, for temporary occupation. Camden.Bōōt'hale, v. t. p. 152To forage for booty; to plunder. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Bōot'hōse, n. p. 152Stocking-hose, or spatterdashes, in lieu of boots. Shak.Bōot'i-kīn, n. p. 152A little boot. 2. A covering for the leg or hand, used as a cure for the gout. "I desire no more of my bootikins than to curtail my fits [of the gout]." H. Walpole.Bōōt'ing, n. p. 152Advantage; gain; gain by plunder. [Obs.] Harrington. 2. A kind of torture. See BOOT, n., 2.Bōot'-jāck, n. p. 152An instrument for drawing off boots.Bōōt'less, a. p. 152Unavailing; unprofitable; useless; without advantage or success. I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. Shak.Bōōt'less-ly, adv. p. 152Without use or profit. Fanshawe.Bōōt'less-ness, n. p. 152State of being unavailing.Bōōt'-lick, n. p. 152One who cringes and flatters to obtain favors; a lickspittle; a toady. [U. S.] Bartlett.Bōōt'-tōp'ping, n. p. 152The operation of cleansing a ship's bottom near the surface of the water, by scraping off the grass, slime, shells, &c., and daubing it with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin. Totten.Boot'-a-tree, n. p. 152An instrument to stretch and widenBoot'-last p. 152the leg of a boot, consisting of two pieces, shaped like a leg, between which, when put into the boot, a wedge is driven. The pretty boots firmly stretched on boot-trees. Thackeray.Bōōt'y, n. p. 152That which is seized by violence and robbery, especially spoil taken in war; plunder; pillage. Milton. To play booty, to play dishonestly, with an intent to lose. [Obs.] L'Estrange.Bo-peep', n. p. 152A play to amuse children, by peeping from behind any object, as a screen, and crying out bo! I for sorrow sung. That such a king should play bo-peep, And go the fools among. Shak.Bōr'a-ble, a. p. 152Capable of being bored. [Rare.]Bo-răch'io, n. p. 152A bottle or cask for wine. [Obs.] Dryden. 2. A drunkard. [Obs.] Congreve.Bo-rā'çic, a. p. 152Pertaining to, or produced from, borax.Boracic acid p. 152a compound of the element boron with oxygen, generally obtained from borax by adding sulphuric acid. It is also found native, in certain mineral springs in Italy. Dana.Bō'ra-gite, n. p. 152(Min.) A mineral composed of boracic acid and magnesia; a native borate of magnesia. Dana.Bō'ra-cōus, a. p. 152(Chem.) Relating to, or obtained from, borax.Boracous acid p. 152a compound of boron and oxygen, containing a less proportion of the latter than boracic acid.Bōr'age, n. p. 152(Bot.) A plant of the genus Borago (B. officinalis), formerly esteemed as a cordial. London.Bōr'a-mez, n. p. 152See BAROMETZ.Bō'rāte, n. p. 152(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of boracic acid with a base.Bō'rax, n. p. 152(Chem.) Biborate of soda; a salt formed by a combination of boracic acid with soda. It was originally obtained from a lake in Thibet, and was sent to Europe under the name of tincal. It is of a white…Bŏr'bo-rȳgm, n. p. 152A rumbling noise of wind in the bowels. [Obs. and rare.]Bōrd, n. p. 152A feigned story; a jest. [Obs.] Spenser.