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.
Break'down, n. p. 161The act of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall; destruction. Howitt. 2. A riotous dance, terminating a ball. [Colloq.] Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to have a…Break'er, n. p. 161One who breaks, or that which breaks. I'll be no breaker of the law. Shak. 2. (Naut.) A small, flat water-cask, used in boats for ballast and for emergencies. Totten. 3. (pl.) Waves breaking into…Brĕak'fast, n. p. 161The first meal in the day; or the thing eaten at the first meal. “A sorry breakfast for my lord.” Shak. 2. A meal after fasting, or food in general. The wolves would get a breakfast by my death.…Brĕak'fast, v. i. p. 161To break one's fast in the morning; to eat the first meal in the day. First, sir, I read, and then I break'fast. Prior.Brĕak'fast, v. t. p. 161To furnish with the first meal in the morning. Milton.Brĕak'fast-ing, n. p. 161A party at breakfast. 2. Act of eating breakfast.Break'ing-īn, n. p. 161The act of subduing and training to labor.Break'man, n. p. 161See BRAKEMAN.Break'nĕck, n. p. 161A fall that breaks the neck. 2. A steep place endangering the neck.Break'-nĕck, a. p. 161Producing danger of a broken neck; as, break-neck speed.Break'-prōm'ise, n. p. 161One who makes a practice of breaking his promise. [Obs.] Shak.Break'-ŭp, a. p. 161Pertaining to, or causing, a breaking up, or termination. “One break-up party was held in the junior common room at the end of each term.” Justice Coleridge.Breāk'-vow, n. p. 161One who habitually breaks his vows. [Obs.] Shak.Break'wa-ter, n. p. 161Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, mound, wall, sunken hulk, to break the force of waves, and protect a harbor, or any thing which is exposed to the force of waves. Weale.Brēam, n. p. 161(Ichth.) A certain fish inhabiting lakes and deep water, extremely insipid, and little valued. There are several species, constituting the genus Brama. The name is also applied to species of…Brēam, v. t. p. 161(Naut.) To burn filth, such as grass, seaweed, ooze, &c., off from.Brēam'ing, n. p. 161(Naut.) The burning off of grass, filth, and the like, from a ship's bottom. Totten.Brĕast, n. p. 161The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly. “Whose heads stood in their breasts.” Shak. 2. The protuberant glands, situated on the front of the chest or thorax in the female of man and…Brēast, v. t. p. 162To meet with the breast; to oppose manfully. Goldsmith. The court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer. Wirt. To breast up a hedge, to cut the face of it on one side so as to lay…Brĕast'-bānd, n. p. 162(Naut.) A band of canvas, or a rope, passed round the body of a man who heaves the lead in sounding, and fastened to the rigging to prevent his falling into the sea. Totten.Brēast'-bēam, n. p. 162(Mach.) The front cross-beam.Bŭf'fer-bēam p. 162of a locomotive frame.Brĕast'-bōne, n. p. 162The bone of the breast to which most of the ribs are attached; the sternum.Brēast'-cāsk'et, n. p. 162One of the largest and longest of the caskets or strings on the middle of the yard of a ship. [Obs.] Johnson.Brĕast'-deep, a. p. 162Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him. Shak.Brĕast'ed, a. p. 162Having a breast;— used in composition with qualifying words, either in its literal or metaphorical senses. “The close minister is buttoned up, and the brave officer open-breasted, on these…Brēast'fāst, n. p. 162(Naut.) A large rope to confine a ship sidewise to a wharf or another vessel. Totten.Brēast'-height, n. p. 162(Fort.) The interior slope of a parapet. [See Illust. of Abattis.]Brēast'-high, a. p. 162High as the breast. Sidney.Brēast’hōok, n. p. 162(Naut.) A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side. Totten.Brēast'ing, n. p. 162(Mach.) The curved channel in which a breast-wheel turns. It is closely adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape of the water until it…Brĕast'knŏt, n. p. 162A knot of ribbons worn on the breast. Addison.Brēast'pĭn, n. p. 162A pin worn for a fastening, or for ornament, on the breast; a brooch.Brĕast'plāte, n. p. 162A plate worn upon the breast as a part of defensive armor. “Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked head-piece mended.” Swift. 2. A plate or piece which receives the end of…Brĕast'-plow or Brĕast'-plough, n. p. 162A kind of plow, driven by the breast, used to cut or pare turf.Brĕast'rāil, n. p. 162The upper rail of a balcony or of the breastwork on a quarter-deck. Weale.Brĕast'-rōpe, n. p. 162See BREAST-BAND.Brĕast'-wheel, n. p. 162A water-wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the over-shot wheel, nor so low as in the under shot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in…Brēast'work, n. p. 162(Fort.) A defensive work breast-high, hastily thrown up, of earth or other material. 2. (Naut.) A railing on the quarter-deck and forecastle.Breath, n. p. 162The air inhaled and exhaled in the respiration of animals. My breath came gaspingly and thick. Byron. 2. The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to breathe freely; as, I am…Brēath'a-ble, a. p. 162Capable of being breathed.Brēath'a-ble-ness, n. p. 162State of being breathable.Brēathe, v. i. p. 162To respire; to inhale and exhale air; hence, to live. “This day I breathed first.” Shak. 2. To take breath; to rest from action. “Breathe from your debauch.” Young. 3. To pass, as air; to exhale; to…Brēathe, v. t. p. 162To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to respire. They wish . . . To view the light of heaven, and breathe the vital air. Dryden. 2. To inject by breathing; to infuse. “Able to breathe…Brēath'er, n. p. 162One who breathes or lives; one that utters; an inspirer; one who animates or infuses by inspiration. Shak.Brĕath'ful, a. p. 162Full of breath; full of odor. [Obs.] Spenser.Brēath'ing, n. p. 162Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air. “Subject to a difficulty of breathing.” Melmoth. 2. Air in gentle motion. Like the tyrannous breathing of the north, Shakes all our buds from…Brēath'ing-plāçe, n. p. 162A pause. Sidney. 2. A vent.Brĕath'ing-time, n. p. 162Pause : relaxation. Bp. Hall.Brēath'ing-whi'le, n. p. 162Time sufficient for drawing breath; a short time. Shak.Breath'less, a. p. 162Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath. But breathless, as we grow when feeling most. Byron. 2. Dead; expired; as, a breathless body.Breath'less-ness, n. p. 162The state of being breathless, or exhausted with exercise. Hall.Brĕc'ciă, n. p. 162(Geol.) A rock composed of angular fragments either of the same mineral or of different minerals, united by a cement, and presenting a variety of colors. Dana.Brĕc'ci-ā-tĕd, a. p. 162Consisting of angular fragments cemented together.Brēde, n. p. 162A braid. [Rare.] Half-lapped in glowing gauze and golden brede. Tennyson.Breech, n. p. 162The lower part of the body behind. 2. Breeches. [Obs.] Shak. 3. The hinder part of any thing, especially the part of a cannon, or other fire-arm, behind the bottom of the bore. 4. (Nav. Arch.) The…Breech, v. t. p. 162To put into breeches. 2. To fit or furnish with a breech; as, to breech a gun. 3. To whip on the breech. [Obs.] Had not a courteous serving-man conveyed me away, whilst he went to fetch whips, I…Breech'es, n. pl. p. 162A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs;—sometimes, but less properly, used in the sense of trowsers or pantaloons. “His jacket was red, and his breeches were blue.” Coleridge. To wear…Breech'ing, n. p. 162A whipping on the breech. I view the prince with Aristarchus' eyes. Whose looks were as a breeching to a boy. Marlow. 2. That part of a harness which comes round the breech of a horse. 3. (Naut.) A…Breech'-lōad'er, n. p. 162(Mil.) A fire-arm that receives its load at the breech. For cavalry, the revolver and breech-loader will supersede the saber. Rep. Sec. War, 1860.