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.
Brick'le, a. p. 164Brittle; easily broken. [Obs.] “Brickle earthen pots.” T. More.Brick'le-ness, n. p. 164Brittleness. [Obs.]Brick'-māk'er, n. p. 164One who makes bricks, or whose occupation is to make bricks.Brick'-nŏg'ging, n. p. 164Brick work carried up and filled in between timber framing. Tomlinson.Brick'-tēa, n. p. 164A preparation of tea-leaves made by saturating the fresh leaves with fat, or with an alkaline solution, and pressing them into large cakes like tiles. It is used throughout Thibet and Mongolia. S. W.…Brĭck'-trĭm'mer, n. p. 164(Arch.) A brick arch abutting against a wooden trimmer in front of a fireplace to guard against accidents by fire.Brick'-trow'el, n. p. 164A mason's tool, with a thin, pointed blade of tempered steel, for taking up and spreading mortar, and also for cutting bricks by a blow with the edge to any required size.Brick'-work, n. p. 164A structure of bricks. Niches in brick-work form the most difficult part of the bricklayer’s art. Tomlinson.Brick'y, a. p. 164Full of bricks, or formed of bricks. [Obs. or rare.] Spenser.Brick'-yārd, n. p. 164A place where bricks are made.Brī-cōle’, n. p. 164(Mil.) Men’s harness for dragging guns where horses can not be used. Scott.Brīd'al, a. p. 164Belonging to a bride, or to a wedding; nuptial; connubial.Brīd'al, n. p. 164The nuptial festival; marriage. Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky. Herbert.Brīd'al-ty, n. p. 164Celebration of the nuptial feast. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Bride, n. p. 164A woman recently married. 2. A woman espoused, or contracted to be married. Has by his own experience tried How much the wife is dearer than the bride. Lyttleton.Bride, v. t. p. 164To make a bride of. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. To bride it, to assume the character of a bride; to play the bride.Bride'-āle, n. p. 164A rustic wedding feast. See ALE. The man that's bid to bride-ale, if he ha' cake, And drink enough, he need not fear his stake. B. Jonson.Bride'-bĕd, n. p. 164The marriage bed.Brīde'-cāke, n. p. 164The cake which is made for the guests at a wedding.Bride'-chām'ber, n. p. 164The nuptial apartment.Bride'grōom, n. p. 164A man newly married, or about to be married. As are those dulcet sounds in break of day, That creep into the dreaming bridegroom’s ear, And summon him to marriage. Shak.Bride'-knŏt, n. p. 164A knot of ribbons worn by the friends at a wedding. [Obs.]Bride'-maid or Brides'-maid, n. p. 164A woman who attends on a bride at her wedding.Bride'-man or Brides'-man, n. p. 164Bride'-stākĕ, n. p. 164A stake or post set in the ground to dance round. Divide the broad bride-cake. Round about the bride-stake. B. Jonson.Bride'well, n. p. 164A house of correction for the con- finement of disorderly persons;—so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St. Bride's or Bridget's well, in London, which was subsequently turned into a…Brĭdġe, n. p. 164A structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over a river or other watercourse, or over a ravine, railroad, &c., to make a continuous roadway from one bank to the other. 2. (Mus.)…Brĭdġe, v. t. p. 164To build a bridge or bridges over; as, to bridge a river. Their simple engineering bridged with felled trees the streams which could not be forded. Palfrey. 2. To erect bridges on; to make a passage…Bridge'-bōard, n. p. 164(Arch.) A board on which the ends of the steps of wooden stairs are fastened.Bridge'-head, n. p. 164A fortification covering the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy. [Fr. tête du pont.]Brĭdge'less, a. p. 164Having no bridge.Bridg'ing-joist, n. p. 164(Arch.) (a.) A joist sustained by transverse beams below;—called also a binding-joist. (b.) A joist nailed or fixed to the flooring boards. Weale.Bridg'y, a. p. 164Full of bridges. [Obs.] Sherwood.Brī'dle, n. p. 164An instrument with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a head-stall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages, according to its particular form and uses. 2. A restraint; a curb; a…Brī'dle, v. t. p. 164To put a bridle upon; as, to bridle a horse. He bridled her mouth with a silk-weed twist. Drake. 2. To restrain, guide, or govern; to check, curb, or control; as, to bridle the passions. “To bridle a…Bri'dle, v. i. p. 164To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of pride, scorn, or resentment; — often with up. By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter not as smug Distaff…Brī'dle-hānd, n. p. 164The hand which holds the bridle in riding on horseback.Brī'dle-pāth or Brī'dle-wāy, n. p. 164A path for travelers on horseback. Bancroft.Brī'dle-pōrt, n. p. 164(Naut.) A port-hole or opening in the foremost part of a ship for getting out hawsers, &c.Brī'dler, n. p. 164One who bridles; one who restrains and governs. Milton.Brĭ-dōon', n. p. 164(Mil.) The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. Campbell.Brief, a. p. 164Short in duration; lasting but little time. “How brief the life of man!” Shak. “Brief respite from the miseries and desolations of war.” Porteus. 2. Short in expression; using few words; concise.…Brĭef, n. p. 164An epitome; a short or concise writing; a statement in few words. Bear this sealed brief. With winged haste, to the lord mareschal. Shak. And she told me In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak. 2. (Law.)…Briëf, v. t. p. 164To make an abstract or abridgment of; as, to brief pleadings. Richardson.Briëf'less, a. p. 164Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister.Briëf'ly, adv. p. 164Concisely; in few words.Brief'man, n. p. 164One who makes a brief. 2. A copy of a manuscript.Briëf'ness, n. p. 164Shortness; conciseness in discourse or writing.Brī'er, n. p. 164A prickly plant or shrub. Save when aloft the subtle sunbeams shine On withered briers that o'er the crag recline. Wordsworth. 2. (Bot.) The sweet-brier and the wild-brier, species of the rose.Brī'ered, a. p. 164Set with briers.Brī'er-y, a. p. 164Full of briers; rough; thorny. Flies through the thorny brake and briery wood. Fawkes.Brī'er-y, n. p. 165A place where briers grow. [Obs.]Brĭg, n. p. 165A bridge; as, Bothwell brig. [Scot.] Scott.Brĭg, n. p. 165(Naut.) A vessel with two masts, square-rigged, or rigged nearly like a ship’s mainmast and foremast. The term, however, is variously applied by the mariners of different nations. Hermaphrodite brig…Brī-gāde', n. p. 165(Mil.) A division of troops, whether cavalry or infantry, regular or militia, commanded by a general officer, or brigadier. It consists of an indeterminate number of regiments, squadrons, or…Brī-gāde', v. t. p. 165(Mil.) To form into a brigade, or into brigades.Brīg/a-diēr'-gĕn'er-al, n. p. 165(Mil.) The general officer who commands a brigade, whether of horse or foot, and in rank next below a major-general; — sometimes called simply brigadier.Brīg'and, n. p. 165A lawless fellow who lives by plunder, or who belongs to a band of robbers; a robber; a freebooter. Giving them not a little the air of brigands or banditti. Jeffrey.Brīg'and-age, n. p. 165Theft; robbery; plunder. Warburton.Brīg'an-dīne or Brīg'an-tine, n. p. 165A coat of mail, consisting of thin, jointed scales of plate, pliant and easy to the body. [Obs.] Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet, And brigandine of brass. Milton. Furbish the spears and…