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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.

  1. Bŭd'ge-bŭr'rel, n.p. 171(Mil.) A small barrel with only one head; on the other end a piece of leather is nailed, which is drawn together with strings like a purse. It is used for carrying powder from the magazine to the…
  2. Bŭdge'ness, n.p. 171Sternness; severity. [Obs.] A Sara for goodness, a great Bellona for budgeness. Stanyhurst.
  3. Bŭdg'er, n.p. 171One who budges; one who moves or stirs from his place. Shak.
  4. Bīd'ge-ro, n.p. 171A large Bengal pleasure-boat. Malcolm.
  5. Bŭd'g'et, n.p. 171A bag or sack, with its contents; hence, a stock or store; as, a budget of inventions. 2. The annual financial statement which the British chancellor of the exchequer, or sometimes the first lord of…
  6. Bŭdġ'y, a.p. 171Consisting of fur. [Obs.]
  7. Bŭd'let, n.p. 171A little bud springing from a parent bud. We have a criterion to distinguish one bud from another, or the parent bud from the numerous budlets which are its offspring. Darwin.
  8. Buff, n.p. 171[Fr. bœuf, beef, O. Eng. buff, buffe, buffalo. “The third regiment, distinguished by flesh-colored facings, from which it derived the name of the Buffs, had . . . fought not less bravely.” Macaulay.…
  9. Bŭff, a.p. 171Made of buff leather. “A buff waist-coat.” Goldsmith. 2. Of the color of buff leather; intermediate between light pink and light yellow; as, buff color; a buff vest. 3. Firm; sturdy. And for the good…
  10. Bŭff, v. t.p. 171To strike. [Obs.] B. Jon.
  11. Bŭf'fa-lō, n.p. 171pl.
  12. BŬF'FA-LŌESp. 171(Zoöl.) A species of the genus Bos (Bos bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and…
  13. Bŭf'fa-lo-bēr'ry, n.p. 171(Bot.) A plant (Shepherdia argentea) of the Upper Missouri. (Gray.)
  14. Bŭf'fa-lo-chips, n.p. 171The dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel on the prairies. [U. S.]
  15. Bŭf'fa-lo-e-lō'ver, n.p. 171(Bot.) A species of Trifolium, or short clover, common to the prairies where buffaloes or bisons feed. [U. S.] Gray.
  16. Bŭf'fa-lo-fish, n.p. 171(Ichth.) A fish of remarkable form, of the genus Taurichthys. Baird.
  17. Bŭf'fa-lo-gräss, n.p. 171A species of short grass (Sesteria dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [U. S.] Bartlett.
  18. Bŭf'fa-lo-nŭt, n.p. 171(Bot.) A nut, also called oil-nut (Pyrularia oleifera). [U. S.] Gray.
  19. Bŭf'fa-lo-rōbe, n.p. 171The skin of the bison of North America, incorrectly called buffalo, prepared with the hair on. Not having time to robe myself exactly for a daylight street walk, I donned a buffalo-robe, slipped on…
  20. Bŭff'-cōat, n.p. 171A close, military outer-garment, with short sleeves, and laced tightly over the chest, made of buffalo skin, or other thick and elastic material, worn by soldiers in the 17th century as a defensive…
  21. Bŭf'fel-dŭck, n.p. 171(Ornith.) A bird (Anas bicephala, Linn.) with a short, blue bill, and a head whose apparent size is greatly increased by the fullness of its feathers, found, in winter, in the rivers of North and…
  22. Bŭf'fer, n.p. 171(Mech.) A cushion, or apparatus with strong springs, to deaden the concussion between a moving body and one on which it strikes, as at the ends of a railway carriage;—sometimes called buffing…
  23. Bŭf'fer-hĕad, n.p. 171The head, or part of the buffing-apparatus, which receives the concussion, in railroad carriages.
  24. Bŭf'fet, n.p. 171A cupboard, sideboard, or closet, either movable or erected at one side of a room, for the display of plate, china, and other like articles, formerly quite common, but now generally gone out of use.
  25. Bŭf'fet, n.p. 171A blow with the hand; a box on the ear or face; a cuff. And on his cheek a buffet fell. W. Scott. 2. Violent force or resistance, as of winds and waves. Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used…
  26. Bŭf'fet, v. t.p. 171To strike with the hand or fist; to box; to beat; to cuff; to slap. Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him. Matt. xxvi. 67. 2. To beat in contention; to contend against; as, to buffet the…
  27. Bŭf'fet, v. i.p. 171To exercise or play at boxing. If I might buffet for my love, I could lay on like a butcher. Shak. 2. To make one's way by buffeting. “Strove to buffet to land in vain.” Tennyson.
  28. Bŭf'fet-er, n.p. 171One who buffets; a boxer. Johnson.
  29. Bŭf'fet-ing, n.p. 171A striking with the hand. 2. A succession of blows; contention; attack; opposition. He seems to have been a plant of slow growth, but formed for duration, and fitted to endure the buffetings of the…
  30. Bŭf'fin, n.p. 171A sort of coarse stuff; as, buffin gowns. [Obs.] Massingner.
  31. Bŭf'fing-ap-pa-rā'tus, n.p. 171An apparatus provided with strong springs, attached to railway carriages, to deaden the buff or concussion between them when they come in collision, and also to allow the engine, in starting a train…
  32. Bŭff'-jĕr'kin, n.p. 172Originally a leathern waistcoat; afterward, one of a buff color, worn as an article of dress by serjeants and catchpoles; used also as a military dress. [Obs.] Nares.
  33. Bŭf'fle, n.p. 172The buffalo. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
  34. Bŭf'fle, v. i.p. 172To puzzle; to be at a loss. [Obs.] Swift.
  35. Bŭf'fle-hĕad, n.p. 172One who has a large head; a heavy, stupid fellow. [Obs.] What makes you stare so, buffle-head? Placates, Trans. 1694.
  36. Bŭf'fle-hĕăd'ed, a.p. 172Having a large head like a buffalo; dull; stupid; foolish. So fell this buffle-headed giant by the hand of Don Quixote. Gayton.
  37. Bŭf'fo, n.p. 172The comic actor in an opera.
  38. Buf-fo͞on', n.p. 172A man who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks, antic gestures and postures, jokes, and other vulgar pleasantries; a droll; a mimic; a harlequin; a mountebank; a clown. No prince would…
  39. Buf-fo͞on', v. i.p. 172To act the part of a buffoon. [Rare.]
  40. Buf-fo͞on', v. t.p. 172To make ridiculous. Glanville.
  41. Buf-fo͞on', a.p. 172Characteristic of a buffoon. To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances. Melmoth.
  42. Buf-fōon'er-y, n.p. 172The arts and practices of a buffoon; low jests; ridiculous pranks; vulgar tricks and postures. Nor that it will ever constitute a wit to conclude a tart piece of buffoonery with a “What makes you…
  43. Buf-fōon'ing, n.p. 172Buffoonery. Dryden.
  44. Buf-fōon'ish, a.p. 172Like a buffoon; consisting in low jests or gestures. Blair.
  45. Buf-foon'ism, n.p. 172The practices of a buffoon. [Obs.]
  46. Buf-fōon'ly, a.p. 172Low; vulgar. [Obs.] “Apish tricks and Buffoonly discourse.” Goodh.
  47. Bŭff'-stĭck, n.p. 172(Mech.) A strip of wood covered with buff leather, used in polishing. Francis.
  48. Bŭff'y, a.p. 172Resembling buff; having the appearance or condition of the blood in color and texture known as the buff or buffy-coat. When the blood presents the above appearance, it is said to be buffy. Dunglison.
  49. Bŭff'y-cōat, n.p. 172See BUFF.
  50. Bū'fo, n.p. 172(Zoöl.) A genus of reptiles called batrachians, including the various species of toads. Cuvier.
  51. Bŭ'fon-ite, n.p. 172(Paleon.) A fossil consisting of the petrified teeth and palatal bones of fishes belonging to the family of Pycnodonts (thick-teeth), whose remains occur in the oölite and chalk formations; — so…
  52. Bŭg, n.p. 172An insect of many species. 2. (Entom.) An insect of the genus, or family, Cimex, of which several hundred species are described. They belong to the order Hemiptera, and have a beaked or sucking mouth.
  53. Bŭg or Bŭg'bear or Bŭg'a-bōō, n.p. 172Something frightful, as a specter; any thing imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear. Sir, spare your threats; The bug which you would fright me with I seek.…
  54. Bŭg'bêar, a.p. 172Causing needless fright. “Such bugbear thoughts.” Locke.
  55. Bŭg'bēar, v. t.p. 172To alarm or frighten with idle phantoms. Abp. King.
  56. Bŭg'gēr, n.p. 172One guilty of the unnatural crime of buggery; a sodomite. 2. A vile wretch. [Low.]
  57. Bŭg'ger-y, n.p. 172The crime of carnal intercourse of man or woman with a beast; or of men unnaturally with each other; sodomy.
  58. Bŭg'-gi-ness, n.p. 172The state of being infected with bugs.
  59. Bŭg'gy, a.p. 172Abounding with bugs.
  60. Bŭg'gy, n.p. 172A light one-horse chaise. [Eng.] 2. A light, one horse, four-wheel vehicle, usually with one seat, and with or without a calash top. [U. S.]