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.
Bŭl'rush, n. p. 173(Bot.) A plant; a large kind of rush, growing in wet land or water. ☞ The name bulrush is applied, in England, to the Penicillaria spicata (Loudon), the Scirpus lacustris, and also to the Typha…Bülse, n. p. 173A certain quantity of diamonds. [India.] Wraxall.Bŭl'tel, n. p. 173A bolter or boiling-cloth; also, bran. [Obs.]Bull'tōw, n. p. 173A mode of fishing practiced on the banks of Newfoundland, by stringing a number of hooks on one line, and thus taking many fish at a haul. Simmonds.Būl'wark, n. p. 174(Fort.) A mound of earth round a place, capable of resisting cannon-shot, and formed with bastions, curtains, &c.; an outwork for defense; a bastion. 2. That which secures against an enemy or…Bŭl'wark, v. t. p. 174To fortify with a rampart; to secure by a fortification; to protect. Some proud city, bulwarked round and armed with rising towers. Glover.Būm, n. p. 174The buttocks. [Lou.]Būm, v. i. p. 174To make a murmuring or humming sound.Būm’/būll’iff, n. p. 174A subordinate civil officer, appointed to serve writs and to make arrests and executions, and bound with sureties for a faithful discharge of his trust; an under bailiff. [Eng. Law.] See…Bŭm’bĭrd, n. p. 174See BOMBARD.Būm'bärge, n. p. 174Same as BUMBOAT, q. v. Carlyle.Būm'bāst, n. p. 174See BOMBAST.Būm’be-lo or Bōm’bo-lo, n. p. 174A thin, spheroidal glass vessel, or flask, with a short neck, used in the sublimation of camphor. In a large chemical factory near Birmingham, the camphor-refining room contained about a dozen…Būm'ble, n. p. 174The bittern. [Local, Eng.] Ogilvie.Būm'ble, v. i. p. 174To make a hollow or humming noise, like that of a bumble-bee; to cry as a bittern. As when the bittern bumbleth in the mire. Chaucer.Būm'ble-bee, n. p. 174A large bee, a species of Bombus, sometimes called humble-bee; so named from its sound.Būm’bōat, n. p. 174(Naut.) A clumsy boat, used for conveying provisions, fruit, &c., for sale, to vessels lying in port or off shore.Būm'kīn, n. p. 174(Naut.) (a.) Pieces of timber projecting from each bow of a vessel, to haul the fore tack to, called a fork-bumkin; also, from each quarter, for the standing part of the main brace, and called…Būm'me-ry, n. p. 174The same as BOTTOMRY. [Obs.] See BOTTOMRY. There was a scrivener of Wapping brought to hearing for relief against a bumery bond. North.Bŭmp, n. p. 174A thump; a heavy blow. 2. A swelling or protuberance. It had upon its brow A bump as big as a young cockervil's stone. Shak. 3. One of the protuberances on the cranium which are associated by…Būmp, v. t. p. 174To strike, as with or against any thing large or solid; as, to bump the head against a wall; to thump.Bŭmp, v. i. p. 174To make a loud, heavy, or hollow noise, as the bittern. As a bittern bumps within a reed. Dryden.Bŭm'per, n. p. 174A cup or glass filled to the brim, or till the liquor runs over, particularly in drinking a health or toast. He frothed his bumpers to the brim. Tennyson. 2. A crowded house at a theater, &c., in…Būmp'kīn, n. p. 174An awkward, heavy rustic; a clown, or country lout. “Bashful country bumpkins.” Irving.Bŭmp'kin-ly, a. p. 174Clownish. [Obs.] Richardson.Bŭm'p'tiōüs, a. p. 174Self-conceited; forward; pushing. [Low.] Halliwell.Bŭmp’tiōus-ness, n. p. 174The quality of being bumptious; conceitedness.Būn or Būnn, n. p. 174A small sweet-cake.Bŭnch, n. p. 174A protuberance; a hunch; a knob or lump. They will carry . . . their treasures upon the bunches of camels. Isa. xxx. 6. 2. A collection, cluster, or tuft, properly of things of the same kind, growing…Bŭnch, v. i. p. 174To swell out, as into a bunch or protuberance; to be protuberant or round. Bunching out into a large round knob at one end. Woodward.Bŭnch, v. t. p. 174To form or tie in a bunch or bunches.Bŭnch'-băcked, a. p. 174Having a bunch on the back; crooked. “Bunch-backed toad.” Shak.Bŭnch'i-ness, n. p. 174The quality of being bunchy, or growing in bunches.Bŭnch'y, a. p. 174Swelling out in bunches or protuberances; massy. An unshapen, bunchy spear, with bark unpiled. Phaer. 2. Growing in bunches, or resembling a bunch; having tufts. Distinguished from other birds by his…Bŭn’combe or Bŭn’kum, n. p. 174A body of constituents. 2. Speech-making for mere show, or for the gratification of constituents; mere talk. [U. S.] All that flourish about right of search was bunkum — all that brag about hanging…Bŭn'dle, n. p. 174A number of things bound together, especially things bound together, as by a cord or envelope, into a mass or package convenient for handling or conveyance; a loose package; a roll; as, a bundle of…Bŭn'dle, v. t. p. 174To tie or bind in a bundle or roll. To bundle off, to send off in a hurry, or per. — To bundle up, to tie together; to wrap up.Bŭn'dle, v. i. p. 174To prepare for departure; to set off in a hurry. Halliwell. 2. To sleep on the same bed without undressing; —applied to the custom of a man and woman, especially lovers, thus sleeping. Van Corlear…Bŭn'dle-pĭl'lar, n. p. 174A column or pier, with others of small dimensions attached to it. Weale.Bŭng, n. p. 174The stopper of the orifice in the bilge of a cask. 2. The orifice in the bilge of a cask through which it is filled. 3. A sharper or pickpocket. [Obs. and low.] “You filthy bung, away.” Shak.Bŭng, v. t. p. 174To stop, as the orifice in the bilge of a cask, with a bung; to close up.Bŭn'ga-lōw, n. p. 174A house or cottage, of a single floor, which is either thatched or tiled. [India.] Simmonds.Bŭng'-hōle, n. p. 174The hole or orifice in the bilge of a cask through which it is filled. See BUNG.Bŭn'gle, v. i. p. 174To act or work in a clumsy, awkward manner.Bŭn'gle, v. t. p. 174To make or mend clumsily; to manage awkwardly; to botch;—sometimes with up. Other devils, that suggest by treasons, Do botch and bungle up damnation With patches, colors, and with forms, being…Bŭn'gle, n. p. 174A clumsy performance; a botch; inaccuracy; gross blunder. This opinion is further confuted by ... those errors and bungles which are committed, when the matter is inept and contumacious. Cudworth.Bŭng'ler, n. p. 174A clumsy, awkward workman; one who performs without skill. If to be a dunce or a bungler in any profession be shameful, how much more ignominious and infamous to a scholar to be such! Barrow.Bŭng'ling, a. p. 174Unskillful; awkward; clumsy; as, a bungling workman. Swift. 2. Clumsily or unskillfully done. When men want light They make but bungling work. Dryden.Bŭng'gling-ly, adv. p. 174Clumsily; awkwardly.Bŭn'go, n. p. 174(Naut.) A kind of canoe used in Central and South America; also, a kind of boat used in the Southern States. Bartlett.Bŭn'ion, n. p. 174(Med.) An enlargement and inflammation of the joint of the great toe. See BUNYON.Bŭnk, n. p. 174A wooden case or box, which serves for a seat in the day-time and for a bed at night; one of a series of berths or bed-places arranged in vertical tiers. [U. S.] 2. A piece of wood placed on a…Bŭnk, v. i. p. 174To retire to bed in a bunk;—sometimes with in. [U. S.] Bartlett.Bŭnk'er, n. p. 174A large bin or receptacle for various things, as coals, &c. 2. A sort of chest or box, as in a window, the lid of which serves for a seat. [Scot.] Jamieson.Bŭnn'ian, n. p. 174See BUNYON.Būn'ny, n. p. 174(Mining.) A great collection of ore without any vein coming into or going out from it. Weale.Bŭn'yon or Bŭn'ion, n. p. 174(Med.) An enlargement and inflammation of the small membranous sac, called bursa mucosa, at the inside of the ball of the great toe. Dunglison.Bŭnt, n. p. 174(Naut.) The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail. Totten.Bŭnt, v. i. p. 174(Naut.) To swell out; as, the sail bunts. 2. To push with the horns; to butt. See POINT.Bŭnt'er, n. p. 174A woman who picks up rags in the streets; hence, a low, vulgar woman. [Cant.] Her two marriageable daughters, like bunters in stuff gowns, are now taking sixpenny worth of tea at the White…