babag
n. - argument or fight
babery
n. - bizarre architectural ornamentation
baccaceous
adj. - like a berry; bearing berries.
baccate
adj. - pulpy; like a berry; bearing berries.
bacchante
n. - a frenzied woman, as at a rousing orgy or let-it-all-hang-out cult ceremony
bacciferous
adj. - bearing berries. Bacciform(done), adj. berry-shaped.
baccivorous, adj. feeding on berries.
bacteriotropic
adj. - affecting bacteria.
bacteritic
adj. - caused or marked by bacteria. bacteroid, adj. like bacteria; n.
irregularly shaped form of bacterium, especially found in plant
root-nodules.
baculus
n. - stick; rod; symbol of power. baculiferous, adj. bearing canes,
reeds, etc. baculiform(done), adj. rod-shaped. baculine, adj.
pertaining to rod or punishment therewith.
badaud
n. - an idle, markedly stupid individual who believes just about
anything and is a half-witted gossip
badigeon
n. - mixture of plaster and ground stone, or glue and sawdust, for
repairing masonry and woodwork respectively; v.t. repair with
badigeon.
badinage
n. - banter.
baffona
n. - a woman with a slight moustache
bagasse
n. - dry residue, especially of sugar cane and beet after extraction
of juice, and plants after removal of fibre.
baimaiden
n. - female underground miner
balandra
n. - single-masted Spanish cargo ship.
balaniferous
adj. - bearing acorns.
balanism
n. - use of suppositories or pessaries.
balanoid
adj. - acorn-shaped; pertaining to acorn barnacles; n. acorn barnacle.
balata
n. - elastic gum obtained from milk-tree of Brazil.
balatron
n. - a joker; a clown
balbriggan
n. - knitted cotton fabric used in underwear.
balbuties
n. - Medicine, stammering.
baldachin(o), baldakin, baldaquin
n. - silk and gold fabric; fabric canopy over throne, altar, etc.;
stone canopy over altar.
baldric(k)
n. - shoulder belt for sword, etc.
balistarius
n. - (pl. -ii ) crossbow-man.
balistraria, ballistraria
n. - cross-shaped opening in fortress wall for discharge of arrows.
balize
n. - pole bearing beacon, etc., on sea-shore.
balladromic
adj. - (of missiles, etc.) maintaining course towards a target.
balletomane
n. - person fanatically devoted to ballet. balletomania, n.
ballistite
n. - kind of smokeless explosive power.
ballottement
n. - diagnosis of pregnancy by sharp pressure, causing movement of
foetus. renal ballottement, diagnosis of floating kidney by same
means.
balneal
adj. - pertaining to bathing. balneary, n. bathing-place; medicinal
spring. balneation, n. bathing. balneatory, adj.
balneography
n. - treatise on baths. balneographer, n. author of such.
balneology
n. - science of medical application of baths. balneological, adj.
balneologist, n.
balneotherapy
n. - treatment by natural waters. balneotherapeutic, adj. balneotherapeutics, n.
balsamical
adj. - unctuous, mitigating, soothing, balmy
banausic
adj. - common, ordinary, and undistinguished; dull and insipid
banderilla
n. - dart stuck into bull at bull-fight. banderillero, n. bull-fighter
wielding this.
banderol(e), bandrol
n. - small streamer, flag or banner.
bandobast
n. - practical, detailed organization; settlement.
bandog
n. - fierce dog on chain; mastiff.
bantling
n. - brat; illegitimate child.
baraesthesia
n. - ability to perceive pressure.
baragnosis
n. - loss of ability to perceive weight.
baragouin
n. - gibberish
barathea
n. - worsted fabric with twill hopsack weave; silk or silk-and-
worsted fabric with lightly ribbed or pebbled weave.
barbastelle
n. - long-eared species of bat.
barbate
adj. - bearded; tufted; barbed; having awns.
barbel
n. - fleshy appendage on head of certain fishes; carplike fish having
a barbel. barbellate, adj. bristly.
barbet
n. - brightly plumaged toucan-like tropical bird of Old World; kind of
long- haired poodle.
barbette
n. - gun platform behind parapet; armoured protection of gun platform on ship.
barbican
n. - tower on or beyond outer wall of city or castle.
barbigerous
adj. - having beard.
barbitone
n. - a sleep-inducing drug; veronal.
barbotine
n. - kaolin paste used to ornament pottery.
barbule
n. - hooked out-growth on barb of feather. barbullate, adj. barbellate.
barcarole, barcarolle
n. - gondolier's song.
barghest
n. - goblin, often dog-like, appearing as portent of death.
barkhan, barchan
n. - crescent-shaped sand dune.
barley-break
n. - Old English catching game.
barognosis
n. - ability to perceive weight.
barogram
n. - recording made by barograph.
barograph
n. - instrument continuously recording atmospheric pressure.
barology
n. - science of weight and gravitation.
baroscope
n. - weather-glass. baroscopic(al), adj.
barothermograph
n. - instrument recording simultaneously pressure and temperature,
especially atmospheric.
barouche
n. - four-wheeled four-seater carriage with folding hood and separate
driver's seat. barouchet, barouchette, n. light barouche.
baroxyton
n. - Music, large bass brass wind instrument.
barquentine, barkentine, barkantine
n. - three-masted vessel with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft
rigged main and mizzen masts.
barracoon
n. - enclosure in which slaves or convicts were confined.
barratrous
adj. - pertaining to the habitual causing of fights
barratry
n. - unlawful action by captain or seamen injuring owner or freighter
of ship; inciting to litigation or riot; simony. barrator, n. person
habitually entering into quarrels and law-suits. barratous,
barratrous, adj. quarrelsome; guilty of barratry.
bartizan
n. - small overhanging turret.
barycentre
n. - centre of gravity. barycentric, adj.
baryecoia
n. - Medicine, hardness of hearing.
baryphony, baryphonia
n. - difficulty of speech. baryphonic, adj.
barysphere
n. - area of earth underlying lithosphere.
baryta
n. - barium oxide. barytes, n. barium sulphate.
barythymia
n. - nervous depression.
bascule
n. - balanced lever. bascule-bridge, n. drawbridge raised by falling
counterpoises, as Tower Bridge, London.
basial
adj. - pertaining to kissing. basiate, v. kiss. basiation, n.
basifugal
adj. - Botany, growing away from base, or at apex only.
basilar
adj. - pertaining to or at the base.
basipetal
adj. - Botany, growing from top to base.
basophobia
n. - a fear of falling which makes one afraid to stand up
bastinado
n. - (pl. -oes) beating on soles of feet; v.t. administer such punishment to.
bathic
adj. - pertaining to depths, especially of sea.
bathmism
n. - energy or force of growth. bathmic, adj.
batholith, batholite
n. - Geology, mass of intruded igneous rock below surface and of great
depth. batholithic, batholitic, adj.
bathyal
adj. - pertaining to zone of sea from 180 metres/600 feet to abyssal zone.
bathybic
adj. - pertaining to or dwelling in deepest zone of sea.
bathycolpian
adj. - deep-bosomed
bathylimnetic
adj. - living at bottom of lake or marsh.
bathymeter
n. - instrument for deep-sea sounding. bathymetric, adj. pertaining to
vertical distribution of organisms in sea. bathymetry, n. process of
measuring depths of sea.
bathyorographical
adj. - pertaining to or showing depths below and heights above sea level.
bathypelagic
adj. - living in deep sea.
bathyseism
n. - earthquake taking place at great depth.
bathysmal
adj. - pertaining to deepest part or bottom of sea.
bathysophical
adj. - pertaining to knowledge of deep-sea life and conditions.
batiste
n. - fine linen; cambric; fine cotton or wool fabric, especially as
treated for use as antiseptic dressing.
batology
n. - scientific study of brambles. batological, adj. batologist, n.
batophobia
n. - fear of heights, or of being close to high buildings.
batrachian
adj. - pertaining to frogs or toads; n. a frog or toad. batrachoid,
adj. like a frog or toad. batrachophagous, adj. eating frogs or toads.
batrachophobia, n. fear of frogs or toads.
battels
n. - pl. accounts of Oxford college, especially for provisions.
batten
v. - to thrive and grow fat by feeding
batter
v. -i. Architecture, recede as it rises (of a wall); n. such
inclination. batter rule, plumb-line of such walls, falling within
base.
battological
adj. - pertaining to unnecessarily repetitive writing or speaking
battology
n. - an unnecessary repetition. battological, adj. battologize, v.i.
battologist, n.
battue
n. - driving of game towards guns; shooting-party of that kind;
massacre of helpless persons.
batture
n. - raised bed of sea or river.
baudekyn
n. - baldachin.
bavardage
n. - small talk or chitchat; idle chatter
bayla
n. - a song and dance routine done by gypsies
bdelloid
adj. - pertaining to leech; leech-like in appearance; n. leech.
bdellometer, n. cupping-glass for surgical bleeding. bdellotomy, n.
surgical application of leeches.
bdelygmia
n. - a litany of abuse; string of execrations
beccafico
n. - European songbird, considered a table delicacy, especially in Italy.
bechic
adj. - curative of cough.
becket
n. - hook-like device of rope, wood or metal to secure ship's ropes, etc.
bedizen
v. - dress gaudily.
bee-bread
n. - mixture of honey and pollen stored by bees for food.
beele
n. - miner's pick with two sharp ends. beeleman, n. worker using a beele.
beestings
n. -pl. first milk of cow after birth of calf.
beeswing
n. - scum found at surface of aged wine
beguine
n. - member of religious order of lay sisters, especially of Belgium;
rumba-like dance of French W Indies. beguinage, n. convent of
beguines.
bel esprit
n. - (pl. beaux esprits, ) genius; witty person; wit.
beldam
n. - a repulsive older woman
belemnite
n. - bullet-shaped molluscan fossil. belemnitic, adj.
belemnoid
adj. - dart-shaped.
bel-étage
n. - main storey of building.
belleric
n. - kind of myrobalan.
bellicism
n. - war-mindedness.
belliferous
adj. - bringing war.
belling
n. - deer's cry at mating time.
bellipotent
adj. - powerful in war.
bellonion
n. - mechanical musical instrument consisting of drums and trumpets.
bellote, ballote
n. - holm-oak acorn.
belocolus
n. - magic stone held by a soldier which will make him invisible
beloid
adj. - arrow-shaped.
belomancy
n. - divination using arrows.
belonoid
adj. - needle-shaped.
belvedere
n. - turret, or open shelter on roof, giving fine view; summer-house.
ben trovato
phr. - 'well invented'; a. well expressed; n. such speech or thought.
bencher
n. - senior member of an Inn of Court.
bend sinister
n. - diagonal line on coat of arms indicating bastardy.
benedick
n. - newly married husband, especially one formerly a confirmed bachelor.
benefic
adj. - favourable, especially astrological.
benefice
n. - church living; v.t. endow with a benefice. beneficed, a., holding
a benefice.
beneficiate
v. prepare for smelting. beneficiation, n.
benison
n. - blessing.
benthos
n. - sea-bottom's flora and fauna. benthic, benthoic, benthonic a.
berceuse
n. - cradle-song; lullaby.
bergamot
n. - variety of pear; essence obtained from rind of variety of
pear-shaped orange; fruit and tree yielding such essence; snuff
scented with such essence; aromatic plant of mint family.
bergère
n. - 'shepherdess'; kind of 18th-century chair and sofa. bergèrette,
n. kind of country song or dance.
berkelium
n. - radioactive, metallic element made artificially.
bernicle
n. - barnacle-goose.
bersaglieri
n. -pl. (sing. -re ) Italian sharpshooter corps.
bestiarian
n. - animal-lover, especially opposed to vivisection. bestiarianism, n.
bête noire
n. - 'black beast'; pet abomination; bugbear.
bêtise
n. - foolishness; foolish or stupid act.
béton
n. - concrete made by mixing gravel with cement and sand.
betulin(ol)
n. - resinous extract of birch bark; birch camphor.
bevatron
n. - synchrotron-like apparatus for accelerating charged particles to
an immensely high level.
bezel
n. - sloping edge of cutting tool; edge and facet of cut gem; flanged
groove holding watch- or clock-glass; v.t. grind to edge; bevel.
bezoar
n. - stone-like mass found in stomach of ruminants, formerly used in
East as antidote to poison. bezoardic, adj.
bialate
adj. - with two wings.
bibacious
adj. - fond of drinking. bibacity, n.
bibble
v. - to drink often or much; or to drink or eat noisily
bibelot
n. - small object of art; trinket; curio.
bibitory
adj. - pertaining to drinking.
biblia abiblia
n. - books that are no books: books of no human interest or worthless
as literature
bibliobibuli
n. - those who read too much, and hence tend to be unaware of or
oblivious to the real world
biblioclasm
n. - destruction of books; destructive criticism of Bible.
biblioclast, n. person so destroying or criticizing.
bibliognost
n. - person having deep knowledge of books. bibliognostic, adj.
bibliomancy
n. - divination by reference taken at random in book, especially in the Bible.
bibliopegy
n. - art of book-binding. bibliopegic, adj. bibliopegist, n. book- binder.
bibliopoesy
n. - making of books.
bibliopole
n. - bookseller, especially of rare books. bibliopolery, bibliopolism,
bibliopoly, n. selling of books. bibliopolar, bibliopolic, adj.
bibliopolist, n. bibliopolistic, adj.
bibliosoph
n. - bibliognost.
bibliotaph
n. - person keeping his or her books secret or locked up. bibliotaphic, adj.
bicameral
adj. - having two Chambers or Houses. bicameralism, n. bicameralist,
bicamerist, n. person advocating such legislative system.
bicapitate
adj. - two-headed.
bice
n. - green or blue pigment.
bicephalous, bicephalic
adj. - having two heads.
bichord
adj. - Music, having two strings, especially two strings for each note.
bicipital
adj. - pertaining to biceps; bifurcating. bicipitous, adj. having two
heads or extremities.
bickern
n. - anvil pointed at both ends.
bicollateral
adj. - having two sides the same. bicollaterality, n.
biconic
adj. - having shape of two cones with bases together.
biconjugate
adj. - Botany, having a pair each member of which is divided into a pair.
bicorn
adj. - having two horns or points. bicornuate, bicornuous, adj.
bicrural
adj. - two-legged.
biddery, bidree
n. - alloy of several metals on which gold and silver are inlaid.
bident
n. - two-pronged instrument; sheep aged two years. bidental,
bidentate, adj. having two prongs or teeth. bidenticulate, adj. having
two small teeth.
biduous
adj. - lasting two days.
bien aimé
n. - (fem. -aimée pron. same) 'well beloved' (person).
bien aise
n. - 'well being'; comfort.
bienséance
n. - proper, correct or fitting thing; pl. the proprieties.
bifacial
adj. - having distinct upper and lower surfaces; having both sides the
same; having two faces.
bifarious
adj. - in two rows; twofold; pointing in two directions.
bifer
n. - plant flowering or fruiting twice a year. biferous, adj.
bifid(ate)
adj. - divided into two portions; forked. bifidity, n.
bifilar
adj. - having two threads, especially of measuring instrument.
bigeminate
adj. - biconjugate. bigeminal, adj. arranged in pairs.
bigener
n. - hybrid arising from two genera. bigeneric, adj. pertaining to two genera.
bigrid
adj. - applied to thermionic valve having two grids and combining
functions of two valves.
bijugate, bijugous
adj. - having two overlapping heads, said of coin struck to two
persons; Botany, with two pairs of leaflets.
bilboes
n. - pl. fetters, especially long iron bar with sliding shackles used
to imprison persons on ship.
biliary
adj. - pertaining to bile.
biliteral
adj. - consisting of or using two letters; n. such linguistic root.
billon
n. - alloy of precious metal with larger quantity of base metal.
biloquist
n. - person with power of speaking in two distinct voices.
biltong
n. - strips of dried meat.
bimanous, bimanal
adj. - having two hands; pertaining to human species. bimanual, adj.
requiring or using two hands.
bimarine
adj. - situated between seas.
bimaxillary
adj. - pertaining to both jaws.
bimensal
adj. - occurring every two months.
bimestrial
adj. - occurring every two months; lasting two months.
bimetallism
n. - currency system in which both gold and silver are standard money.
bimetallic, adj. bimetallist, n. advocate of bimetallism.
bimetallistic, adj.
bimillenary
n. - space of two thousand years. bimillennium, n. (pl. -ia) two thousand years.
binate
adj. - double; in couples. bination, n. celebration by a priest of
Mass twice on the same day.
bine
n. - flexible shoot of climbing plant, especially hop.
binnacle
n. - fixed case or stand for ship's compass. binnacle list, list of
sick men on man-of-war.
binocle
n. - binocular instr.
binotic
adj. - binaural.
binotonous
adj. - consisting of two notes.
biocoenosis, biocenosis
n. - (pl. -ses ) association of living creatures in a certain area.
biocoenotic, adj.
biogen(e)
n. - ultimate component part of protoplasm.
biogenesis
n. - theory that life derives only from living matter. biogenetic, a.;
biogenetic law, recapitulation theory. biogenesist, n. adherent of
biogenesis.
biogenous
adj. - produced from living organism; giving life.
biogeny
n. - history of evolution of living organisms; biogenesis. biogenic, adj.
biogeography
n. - study of geographical distribution of plants and animals.
biogeographic(al), adj.
biognosy, biognosis
n. - sciences of life collectively.
biograph
n. - early form of cinematograph.
biokinetics
n. - study of changes during development of organism.
biolinguistics
n. - study of relations between physiology and speech.
biologism
n. - biological theory; use of biological terms. biologistic, adj.
biolysis
n. - destruction of life or organic substance. biolytic, adj.
biometrics, biometry
n. - calculation of length of human life; statistical biology.
biometric, adj. biometrician, n. student of biometrics.
bionergy
n. - vital force.
biont
n. - physiologically independent living organism.
biophagous
adj. - feeding on living organisms. biophagy, n.
biophilism
n. - belief that animals have rights which human beings should respect
biorgan
n. - physiological organ.
bioscope
n. - form of cinematograph. bioscopy, n. med. examination of body for
presence of life.
biosis
n. - life, as distinguishing living organisms.
biostatics
n. - study of physiological relations between structure and function.
biostratigraphy
n. - determination of age, etc., of sedimentary strata from fossils
which they contain.
biotaxy
n. - biological classification.
biotelemetry
n. - automatic transmission over a distance, for measurements of the
condition, functions, etc., of a living creature, e.g. of an astronaut
on space flight.
biotin
n. - growth-promoting vitamin of the vitamin B complex, found in liver
and yeast.
biotope
n. - area having uniform conditions and supporting a particular,
uniform association of animal life.
biotype
n. - all organisms having the same genetic constitution.
biparous
adj. - bringing forth two offspring at a birth.
bipennate
adj. - having two wings.
bipropellant
n. - rocket propellant consisting of fuel and oxidizer stored
separately until ignition.
biramose, biramous
adj. - divided into two branches.
bireme
n. - (galley) having two banks of oars.
biretta
n. - Roman Catholic, cleric's square cap.
bise
n. - cold, dry north wind of Switzerland, Italy and S France.
bisonant
adj. - having two sounds.
bisontine
adj. - pertaining to bison.
bisque
n. - point allowed to tennis player; stroke(s) allowed to golfer;
extra turn allowed to croquet player; kind of rich thick soup; pottery
fired but not glazed.
bissext
n. - intercalary day. bissextile, adj. containing the bissext;
intercalary; n. leap-year.
bistort
n. - a plant with twisted astringent root; snake-weed.
bistoury
n. - small, narrow surgical knife. bistournage, n. a method of castration.
bistre
n. - brown pigment derived from wood soot.
bisulcate
adj. - with two grooves; cloven.
biune, biunial
adj. - combining two in one. biunity, n.
biunial
adj. - combining two in one
bivariate
adj. - denoting a quantity that depends on two variables.
biventral
adj. - with two bellies.
biverbal
adj. - relating to two words; punning.
bivious
adj. - offering two paths or directions.
bivocal
n. - diphthong. bivocalize, v. place between two vowels.
blain
n. - sore; blister.
blanquette
n. - stew of white meat in white sauce.
blastogenesis
n. - reproduction by budding; theory of inheritance of characters
through germ-plasm. blastogenetic, blastogenic, adj. pertaining to
germ cells.
blende
n. - zinc sulphide; name of several lustrous metallic sulphides.
blendling
n. - hybrid. blendure, n. mixture.
blennoid
adj. - like mucus. blennogenic,blennogenous, adj. generating mucus.
blennorrhoea, n. mucus discharge. blennorrhoeal, adj.
blennophobia
n. - morbid fear of slime.
blenny
n. - long, slender, spiny-rayed marine fish.
blepharal
adj. - pertaining to eyelids. blepharism, blepharospasm, n. muscular
spasm of eyelid. blepharitis, n. inflammation of eyelids.
bletonism
n. - faculty of water divining.
blissom
adj. - with strong sexual desires; in rut.
blowtop
n. - a person who becomes angry very easily or quickly
blucher
n. - leather half-boot.
blunge
v. - v.i. mix clay and water for pottery; blend. blunger, n. apparatus
for such mixing.
boanthropy
n. - a type of insanity in which a man thinks he's an ox
boatel, botel
n. - waterside hotel for sailing enthusiasts.
bobstay
n. - rope attached to and steadying bowsprit.
bocage
n. - boscage; decorative representation of trees, leaves, etc.
bocking
n. - coarse baize; smoked herring.
bogie
n. - wheeled undercarriage of a rail vehicle; railway coach; truck for
coal, etc.
bolar
adj. - pertaining to clay.
bolection, bilection
n. - projecting part of moulding round panel.
bolide
n. - large meteor; 'fire-ball'.
bolometer
n. - instrument measuring small amounts of radiant heat electrically.
bolograph, n. photograph made with a bolometer. bolometric, adj.
bolthead
n. - long, straight-necked glass vessel for distilling; matrass.
bolus
n. - large pill; any round mass. bolus alba, china clay.
bombardon
n. - deep bass double-reeded wind instr.
bombasine, bombazine
n. - twilled, black, worsted, worsted-with-silk or worsted-with-
cotton dress material. bombazet(te), n. thin smooth-surfaced worsted
fabric.
bombé
adj. - bulging or curved outward, especially such furniture, embroidery, etc.
bombic
adj. - pertaining to silk-worm.
bombilate, bombinate
v. -i. buzz; boom. bombilation, bombination, n.
bombous
adj. - rounded; convex.
bombycine
adj. - bombic.
bon ton
phr. - 'good tone'; high society; good breeding.
bona vacantia
n. - Law, unclaimed property, especially of a person who has died intestate.
bonasus, bonassus
n. - aurochs.
bonbonnière
n. - dainty sweetmeat box.
bonce
n. - large playing marble; kind of marbles game.
bonification
n. - betterment; payment of bonus. boniform,(done) adj. like or
seeming good. bonify, v. improve; make good.
bonne
n. - female servant.
boracic
adj. - pertaining to or derived from borax. boracic acid, former name
for boric acid. boracous, adj.
borasco, borasca, borasque
n. - Mediterranean squall.
borborology
n. - the stomach-like rumbling of unclean talk
borborygm
n. - the noise made by gas in the bowels; a fart
borborygmite
n. - a dirty mouth, or practitioner of spurcitious--foul and obscene--language
borborygmus
n. - rumbling of gas in the stomach. borborygmic, adj.
bordereau
n. - (pl. -x) invoice; detailed bill; memorandum.
borracha
n. - crude rubber; rubber tree.
bort
n. - ground diamond fragments, used in polishing, etc. borty, adj.
bos in lingua
n. - an ox on the tongue: a weighty reason for silence
boscage, boskage
n. - thicket of trees or shrubs.
bosch
n. - wood; bush. bosch-bok, n. bush-buck; kind of antelope. bosch-man,
n. Bushman. bosch-vark, n. kind of wild pig. bosch-veldt, n. bush
country.
bosky
n. - covered with trees
bosselated
adj. - covered with or formed into knobs.
botargo
n. - relish made from tunny's or mullet's roe.
botryoid(al)
adj. - having shape of cluster of grapes. botryose, adj. with flowers
in clusters that develop upwards from base.
bottine
n. - small boot; surgical boot for correcting deformity.
bottomry
n. - raising loan on ship as security.
boucherize
v. preserve by impregnating with copper sulphate.
bougie
n. - wax candle; flexible medical instrument for insertion into body
passages; suppository.
boule
n. - advisory council or senate of ancient Greece. bouleuterion, n.
(pl. -ia) assembly-place.
boules
n. - form of bowls played in France.
bouleversement
n. - overturning, upset.
boult, bolt
v. - sift. boultel, n. sifting cloth. boulter, n. one who sifts;
sieve; fishing line with many hooks.
bouquetin
n. - ibex of the Alps.
bourasque
n. - borasco.
bourdon
n. - Music, bass drone, as of bagpipe.
bourse
n. - foreign money-market.
boustrophedon
n. - an ancient style of writing in which the direction of the lines alternated
bouts-rimés
n. -pl. pl. 'rhymed endings'; composition of verses to given rhymes;
verses so composed.
bovrilise
v. - to condense an ad to essentials; to epitomize
bow-chaser
n. - ship's gun for firing ahead.
bowyer
n. - maker of bows (the weapons).
boyau
n. - (pl. -aux ) winding trench; zigzag
bracciale
n. - wall socket or bracket.
brachial
adj. - pertaining to arm; arm-shaped. brachiate, v.i. swing by arms
from place to place; a. having arms. brachiation, n. brachiferous,
adj. having arms or branches. brachiotomy, n. amputation of arm.
brachistocephalic, brachistocephalous
adj. - having skull of which breadth is 85 per cent or more of length.
brachycatalectic
adj. - with two syllables lacking from end; n. such verse line
brachycephalic, brachycephalous
adj. - short-headed; having skull of which maximum breadth is 80 per
cent or more of maximum length. brachycephalism, n.
brachycerous
adj. - having short horns or antennae.
brachydactylous, brachydactylic
adj. - having short digits. brachydactylism, brachydactyly, n.
brachygraphy
n. - short-hand. brachygrapher, n. stenographer. brachygraphic(al), adj.
brachylogy
n. - condensed expression; laconic speech.
brachymetropy, brachymetropia
n. - shortsightedness. brachymetropic, adj.
brachypodous
adj. - having short legs or stalk.
brachypterous
adj. - having short wings.
brachyure
n. - short-tailed animal, bird, etc. brachyuran, n. a crab.
bract
n. - leaf from axil of which flower is produced. bracteal, adj.
bract-like. bracteate, adj. bearing bracts. bracteiform, adj.
bract-shaped. bracteole, n. small bract; bract at base of flower.
bracteolate, adj. having bracteoles. bracteose, adj. having many
bracts.
bradycardia
n. - (abnormally) slow heart rate. bradykinetic, adj. moving slowly.
bradykinin
n. - blood hormone causing dilation of blood vessels. bradytelic, adj.
evolving at a slower rate than normal.
brail
v. truss sail; haul up. brails, n.pl. cords on edge of sail for trussing.
branchial, branchiac
adj. - pertaining to gills. branchiate, adj. having gills.
branchicolous, adj. living in gills. branchiform,(done) adj.
gill-shaped.
brash
n. - slight sickness; broken pieces of rock or ice; collection of
fragments; a. rash; brittle; lifeless. water-brash, n. pyrosis.
brassage
n. - charge for minting coin, difference between value of metal, with
cost of minting, and face value.
brassard
n. - armlet; arm-badge.
brattice
n. - partition, especially in mine gallery to regulate ventilation or
support sides or roof; v.t. erect brattice. brattice cloth, canvas
sheet for regulating ventilation in mine.
braxy
n. - apoplectic disease of sheep; meat of sheep dead from disease,
especially from braxy; a. sick with or dead from this disease.
breccia
n. - Geology, aggregate of angular rock fragments. breccial, adj.
brecciation, n. making into brecciae.
breedbate
n. - someone looking for an argument
bressummer
n. - beam or girder over opening and supporting a wall.
breviate
n. - summary; precis.
brevicaudate
adj. - having short tail.
brevifoliate
adj. - having short leaves. brevilingual, adj. having short tongue.
breviloquence, n. laconic manner of speech. breviped, adj. having
short legs. brevipennate, adj. having short wings.
brewster
n. - brewer. Brewster Sessions, court hearing applications for liquor
trade licences.
Briarean
adj. - pertaining to Briareus, monster in Greek legend with hundred
hands; having many hands.
bricole
n. - indirect stroke, especially in real tennis, in which ball is hit
against wall or rebounds from it; and billiards, in which ball hits
cushion between the two contacts of a cannon.
bridewell
n. - prison; house of correction.
brigantine
n. - two-masted ship, square-rigged on foremast only.
brimborion
n. - something useless or nonsensical
britannia metal
n. - cheap white alloy of copper, zinc, antimony and bismuth, with lead.
brocatel(lo)
n. - kind of variegated marble; thick figured silk used in upholstery.
brock
n. - badger. brocket, n. stag in its second year; Brazilian pronged
deer. brock-faced, adj. having white mark on face.
broderie
n. - embroidery-like pattern. broderie anglaise, mixture of solid and
open-work embroidery.
brogan
n. - coarse, strong shoe; brogue.
bromatology
n. - treatise on or study of food.
bromidrosis
n. - the secretion of foul-smelling sweat; body odor
bromine
n. - non-metallic chlorine-like element found in seawater and mineral
springs. bromize, v. compound with bromine; prepare photographic plate
with bromide. bromism, n. condition due to excessive use of bromide.
brominated, adj. compounded with bromine.
brontephobia, brontophobia
n. - dread of thunder and lightning.
brontide
n. - sound like distant thunder, due to seismic causes.
brontograph
n. - instr. recording discharges of atmospheric electricity.
brontogram, n. record made by this.
brontology
n. - study of thunder. brontometer, n. brontograph.
brose
n. - kind of porridge; broth. Athole-brose, mixture of whisky and honey.
brotus
n. - any extra measure without charge, such as a baker's dozen
brouette
n. - small two-wheeled carriage; kind of four-seater motor car.
brucellosis
n. - an undulant fever of cattle.
brucin(e), brucina
n. - strychnine-like poison derived from nux vomica plant.
bruit
n. - sounds in chest symptomatic of disease; rumour; v.t. report; spread abroad.
brumal
adj. - pertaining to brume or winter.
brumby, brumbie, brumbee
n. - wild horse.
brume
n. - mist or fog. brumous, adj.
brummagem
n. - making an imposing display but inferior and of little worth;
showy but cheap
brunneous
adj. - dark brown.
brutum fulmen
n. - failed thunderbolt: empty noise or idle threat
bruxism
n. - grinding of teeth, especially in sleep.
bruxomania
n. - the habit of unconsciously grinding the teeth, especially in
sleep, or under stress
bryology
n. - study of mosses and liverworts; plant life of such kind of a
region. bryological, adj. bryologist, n. bryophyte, n. moss or
liverwort.
bubo
n. - (pl. -oes) swelling with inflammation of lymphatic gland,
especially of groin. bubonalgia, n. pain in groin. bubonic, adj.
bubulin
n. - compound obtained from cow dung, used in calico printing
buccal
adj. - pertaining to mouth or cheek.
buccan
n. - framework over which meat is roasted or dried; v.t. dry meat on such.
buccate
adj. - with protruding cheeks.
buccinal
adj. - having shape or sound of trumpet. buccinator, n. muscle forming
cheek- wall. buccinatory, adj.
buccula
n. - double chin
bufonite
n. - toadstone.
bullace
n. - small wild plum fruit and tree.
bullate
adj. - puckered; with blistered appearance. bullation, n.
bullion
n. - gold or silver in the mass, especially uncoined. bullionist, n.
upholder of metallic currency.
bullish
adj. - Commerce, anticipating or associated with a rise in price.
buphthalmia
n. - enlargement of eye. buphthalmic, adj.
burbot
n. - long, slender, freshwater fish of cod family; eel-pout.
burette
n. - graduated glass measuring tube; Ecclesiastical, sacramental cruet.
burgee
n. - small triangular pennant of yacht, etc.
burgensic
adj. - pertaining to citizen or freeman of borough.
burin
n. - engraver's tool; graver. burinist, n. engraver.
burletta
n. - light comic opera.
burnettize
v. saturate with zinc chloride solution to prevent decay.
burnettizing, n. such process, invented by Sir W Burnett.
burrstone
n. - flinty rock used for millstones; millstone made of this.
bursa
n. - (pl. -sae or - sas) sac, especially fluid-filled at point of
friction in joint, etc. bursal, adj. pertaining to bursa; pertaining
to states revenue. bursitis, n. inflammation of bursa.
buskin
n. - high boot; thick-soled boot (also called cothurnus) worn by
actors in ancient Greek tragedy; classic tragedy.
butte
n. - steep, isolated hill.
byssus
n. - filamentous tuft ('beard') by which molluscs attach themselves;
fine flax and fabric woven from it. byssaceous, adj. consisting of
fine threads; like a byssus. byssal, adj. byssiferous, adj. having a
byssus; tufted. byssine, adj. silky; the fabric byssus. byssogenous,
adj. producing a byssus. byssoid, adj. like a byssus; fibrous;
cottony.
bywoner
n. - sub-tenant of farm; agricultural labourer.
n. - argument or fight
babery
n. - bizarre architectural ornamentation
baccaceous
adj. - like a berry; bearing berries.
baccate
adj. - pulpy; like a berry; bearing berries.
bacchante
n. - a frenzied woman, as at a rousing orgy or let-it-all-hang-out cult ceremony
bacciferous
adj. - bearing berries. Bacciform(done), adj. berry-shaped.
baccivorous, adj. feeding on berries.
bacteriotropic
adj. - affecting bacteria.
bacteritic
adj. - caused or marked by bacteria. bacteroid, adj. like bacteria; n.
irregularly shaped form of bacterium, especially found in plant
root-nodules.
baculus
n. - stick; rod; symbol of power. baculiferous, adj. bearing canes,
reeds, etc. baculiform(done), adj. rod-shaped. baculine, adj.
pertaining to rod or punishment therewith.
badaud
n. - an idle, markedly stupid individual who believes just about
anything and is a half-witted gossip
badigeon
n. - mixture of plaster and ground stone, or glue and sawdust, for
repairing masonry and woodwork respectively; v.t. repair with
badigeon.
badinage
n. - banter.
baffona
n. - a woman with a slight moustache
bagasse
n. - dry residue, especially of sugar cane and beet after extraction
of juice, and plants after removal of fibre.
baimaiden
n. - female underground miner
balandra
n. - single-masted Spanish cargo ship.
balaniferous
adj. - bearing acorns.
balanism
n. - use of suppositories or pessaries.
balanoid
adj. - acorn-shaped; pertaining to acorn barnacles; n. acorn barnacle.
balata
n. - elastic gum obtained from milk-tree of Brazil.
balatron
n. - a joker; a clown
balbriggan
n. - knitted cotton fabric used in underwear.
balbuties
n. - Medicine, stammering.
baldachin(o), baldakin, baldaquin
n. - silk and gold fabric; fabric canopy over throne, altar, etc.;
stone canopy over altar.
baldric(k)
n. - shoulder belt for sword, etc.
balistarius
n. - (pl. -ii ) crossbow-man.
balistraria, ballistraria
n. - cross-shaped opening in fortress wall for discharge of arrows.
balize
n. - pole bearing beacon, etc., on sea-shore.
balladromic
adj. - (of missiles, etc.) maintaining course towards a target.
balletomane
n. - person fanatically devoted to ballet. balletomania, n.
ballistite
n. - kind of smokeless explosive power.
ballottement
n. - diagnosis of pregnancy by sharp pressure, causing movement of
foetus. renal ballottement, diagnosis of floating kidney by same
means.
balneal
adj. - pertaining to bathing. balneary, n. bathing-place; medicinal
spring. balneation, n. bathing. balneatory, adj.
balneography
n. - treatise on baths. balneographer, n. author of such.
balneology
n. - science of medical application of baths. balneological, adj.
balneologist, n.
balneotherapy
n. - treatment by natural waters. balneotherapeutic, adj. balneotherapeutics, n.
balsamical
adj. - unctuous, mitigating, soothing, balmy
banausic
adj. - common, ordinary, and undistinguished; dull and insipid
banderilla
n. - dart stuck into bull at bull-fight. banderillero, n. bull-fighter
wielding this.
banderol(e), bandrol
n. - small streamer, flag or banner.
bandobast
n. - practical, detailed organization; settlement.
bandog
n. - fierce dog on chain; mastiff.
bantling
n. - brat; illegitimate child.
baraesthesia
n. - ability to perceive pressure.
baragnosis
n. - loss of ability to perceive weight.
baragouin
n. - gibberish
barathea
n. - worsted fabric with twill hopsack weave; silk or silk-and-
worsted fabric with lightly ribbed or pebbled weave.
barbastelle
n. - long-eared species of bat.
barbate
adj. - bearded; tufted; barbed; having awns.
barbel
n. - fleshy appendage on head of certain fishes; carplike fish having
a barbel. barbellate, adj. bristly.
barbet
n. - brightly plumaged toucan-like tropical bird of Old World; kind of
long- haired poodle.
barbette
n. - gun platform behind parapet; armoured protection of gun platform on ship.
barbican
n. - tower on or beyond outer wall of city or castle.
barbigerous
adj. - having beard.
barbitone
n. - a sleep-inducing drug; veronal.
barbotine
n. - kaolin paste used to ornament pottery.
barbule
n. - hooked out-growth on barb of feather. barbullate, adj. barbellate.
barcarole, barcarolle
n. - gondolier's song.
barghest
n. - goblin, often dog-like, appearing as portent of death.
barkhan, barchan
n. - crescent-shaped sand dune.
barley-break
n. - Old English catching game.
barognosis
n. - ability to perceive weight.
barogram
n. - recording made by barograph.
barograph
n. - instrument continuously recording atmospheric pressure.
barology
n. - science of weight and gravitation.
baroscope
n. - weather-glass. baroscopic(al), adj.
barothermograph
n. - instrument recording simultaneously pressure and temperature,
especially atmospheric.
barouche
n. - four-wheeled four-seater carriage with folding hood and separate
driver's seat. barouchet, barouchette, n. light barouche.
baroxyton
n. - Music, large bass brass wind instrument.
barquentine, barkentine, barkantine
n. - three-masted vessel with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft
rigged main and mizzen masts.
barracoon
n. - enclosure in which slaves or convicts were confined.
barratrous
adj. - pertaining to the habitual causing of fights
barratry
n. - unlawful action by captain or seamen injuring owner or freighter
of ship; inciting to litigation or riot; simony. barrator, n. person
habitually entering into quarrels and law-suits. barratous,
barratrous, adj. quarrelsome; guilty of barratry.
bartizan
n. - small overhanging turret.
barycentre
n. - centre of gravity. barycentric, adj.
baryecoia
n. - Medicine, hardness of hearing.
baryphony, baryphonia
n. - difficulty of speech. baryphonic, adj.
barysphere
n. - area of earth underlying lithosphere.
baryta
n. - barium oxide. barytes, n. barium sulphate.
barythymia
n. - nervous depression.
bascule
n. - balanced lever. bascule-bridge, n. drawbridge raised by falling
counterpoises, as Tower Bridge, London.
basial
adj. - pertaining to kissing. basiate, v. kiss. basiation, n.
basifugal
adj. - Botany, growing away from base, or at apex only.
basilar
adj. - pertaining to or at the base.
basipetal
adj. - Botany, growing from top to base.
basophobia
n. - a fear of falling which makes one afraid to stand up
bastinado
n. - (pl. -oes) beating on soles of feet; v.t. administer such punishment to.
bathic
adj. - pertaining to depths, especially of sea.
bathmism
n. - energy or force of growth. bathmic, adj.
batholith, batholite
n. - Geology, mass of intruded igneous rock below surface and of great
depth. batholithic, batholitic, adj.
bathyal
adj. - pertaining to zone of sea from 180 metres/600 feet to abyssal zone.
bathybic
adj. - pertaining to or dwelling in deepest zone of sea.
bathycolpian
adj. - deep-bosomed
bathylimnetic
adj. - living at bottom of lake or marsh.
bathymeter
n. - instrument for deep-sea sounding. bathymetric, adj. pertaining to
vertical distribution of organisms in sea. bathymetry, n. process of
measuring depths of sea.
bathyorographical
adj. - pertaining to or showing depths below and heights above sea level.
bathypelagic
adj. - living in deep sea.
bathyseism
n. - earthquake taking place at great depth.
bathysmal
adj. - pertaining to deepest part or bottom of sea.
bathysophical
adj. - pertaining to knowledge of deep-sea life and conditions.
batiste
n. - fine linen; cambric; fine cotton or wool fabric, especially as
treated for use as antiseptic dressing.
batology
n. - scientific study of brambles. batological, adj. batologist, n.
batophobia
n. - fear of heights, or of being close to high buildings.
batrachian
adj. - pertaining to frogs or toads; n. a frog or toad. batrachoid,
adj. like a frog or toad. batrachophagous, adj. eating frogs or toads.
batrachophobia, n. fear of frogs or toads.
battels
n. - pl. accounts of Oxford college, especially for provisions.
batten
v. - to thrive and grow fat by feeding
batter
v. -i. Architecture, recede as it rises (of a wall); n. such
inclination. batter rule, plumb-line of such walls, falling within
base.
battological
adj. - pertaining to unnecessarily repetitive writing or speaking
battology
n. - an unnecessary repetition. battological, adj. battologize, v.i.
battologist, n.
battue
n. - driving of game towards guns; shooting-party of that kind;
massacre of helpless persons.
batture
n. - raised bed of sea or river.
baudekyn
n. - baldachin.
bavardage
n. - small talk or chitchat; idle chatter
bayla
n. - a song and dance routine done by gypsies
bdelloid
adj. - pertaining to leech; leech-like in appearance; n. leech.
bdellometer, n. cupping-glass for surgical bleeding. bdellotomy, n.
surgical application of leeches.
bdelygmia
n. - a litany of abuse; string of execrations
beccafico
n. - European songbird, considered a table delicacy, especially in Italy.
bechic
adj. - curative of cough.
becket
n. - hook-like device of rope, wood or metal to secure ship's ropes, etc.
bedizen
v. - dress gaudily.
bee-bread
n. - mixture of honey and pollen stored by bees for food.
beele
n. - miner's pick with two sharp ends. beeleman, n. worker using a beele.
beestings
n. -pl. first milk of cow after birth of calf.
beeswing
n. - scum found at surface of aged wine
beguine
n. - member of religious order of lay sisters, especially of Belgium;
rumba-like dance of French W Indies. beguinage, n. convent of
beguines.
bel esprit
n. - (pl. beaux esprits, ) genius; witty person; wit.
beldam
n. - a repulsive older woman
belemnite
n. - bullet-shaped molluscan fossil. belemnitic, adj.
belemnoid
adj. - dart-shaped.
bel-étage
n. - main storey of building.
belleric
n. - kind of myrobalan.
bellicism
n. - war-mindedness.
belliferous
adj. - bringing war.
belling
n. - deer's cry at mating time.
bellipotent
adj. - powerful in war.
bellonion
n. - mechanical musical instrument consisting of drums and trumpets.
bellote, ballote
n. - holm-oak acorn.
belocolus
n. - magic stone held by a soldier which will make him invisible
beloid
adj. - arrow-shaped.
belomancy
n. - divination using arrows.
belonoid
adj. - needle-shaped.
belvedere
n. - turret, or open shelter on roof, giving fine view; summer-house.
ben trovato
phr. - 'well invented'; a. well expressed; n. such speech or thought.
bencher
n. - senior member of an Inn of Court.
bend sinister
n. - diagonal line on coat of arms indicating bastardy.
benedick
n. - newly married husband, especially one formerly a confirmed bachelor.
benefic
adj. - favourable, especially astrological.
benefice
n. - church living; v.t. endow with a benefice. beneficed, a., holding
a benefice.
beneficiate
v. prepare for smelting. beneficiation, n.
benison
n. - blessing.
benthos
n. - sea-bottom's flora and fauna. benthic, benthoic, benthonic a.
berceuse
n. - cradle-song; lullaby.
bergamot
n. - variety of pear; essence obtained from rind of variety of
pear-shaped orange; fruit and tree yielding such essence; snuff
scented with such essence; aromatic plant of mint family.
bergère
n. - 'shepherdess'; kind of 18th-century chair and sofa. bergèrette,
n. kind of country song or dance.
berkelium
n. - radioactive, metallic element made artificially.
bernicle
n. - barnacle-goose.
bersaglieri
n. -pl. (sing. -re ) Italian sharpshooter corps.
bestiarian
n. - animal-lover, especially opposed to vivisection. bestiarianism, n.
bête noire
n. - 'black beast'; pet abomination; bugbear.
bêtise
n. - foolishness; foolish or stupid act.
béton
n. - concrete made by mixing gravel with cement and sand.
betulin(ol)
n. - resinous extract of birch bark; birch camphor.
bevatron
n. - synchrotron-like apparatus for accelerating charged particles to
an immensely high level.
bezel
n. - sloping edge of cutting tool; edge and facet of cut gem; flanged
groove holding watch- or clock-glass; v.t. grind to edge; bevel.
bezoar
n. - stone-like mass found in stomach of ruminants, formerly used in
East as antidote to poison. bezoardic, adj.
bialate
adj. - with two wings.
bibacious
adj. - fond of drinking. bibacity, n.
bibble
v. - to drink often or much; or to drink or eat noisily
bibelot
n. - small object of art; trinket; curio.
bibitory
adj. - pertaining to drinking.
biblia abiblia
n. - books that are no books: books of no human interest or worthless
as literature
bibliobibuli
n. - those who read too much, and hence tend to be unaware of or
oblivious to the real world
biblioclasm
n. - destruction of books; destructive criticism of Bible.
biblioclast, n. person so destroying or criticizing.
bibliognost
n. - person having deep knowledge of books. bibliognostic, adj.
bibliomancy
n. - divination by reference taken at random in book, especially in the Bible.
bibliopegy
n. - art of book-binding. bibliopegic, adj. bibliopegist, n. book- binder.
bibliopoesy
n. - making of books.
bibliopole
n. - bookseller, especially of rare books. bibliopolery, bibliopolism,
bibliopoly, n. selling of books. bibliopolar, bibliopolic, adj.
bibliopolist, n. bibliopolistic, adj.
bibliosoph
n. - bibliognost.
bibliotaph
n. - person keeping his or her books secret or locked up. bibliotaphic, adj.
bicameral
adj. - having two Chambers or Houses. bicameralism, n. bicameralist,
bicamerist, n. person advocating such legislative system.
bicapitate
adj. - two-headed.
bice
n. - green or blue pigment.
bicephalous, bicephalic
adj. - having two heads.
bichord
adj. - Music, having two strings, especially two strings for each note.
bicipital
adj. - pertaining to biceps; bifurcating. bicipitous, adj. having two
heads or extremities.
bickern
n. - anvil pointed at both ends.
bicollateral
adj. - having two sides the same. bicollaterality, n.
biconic
adj. - having shape of two cones with bases together.
biconjugate
adj. - Botany, having a pair each member of which is divided into a pair.
bicorn
adj. - having two horns or points. bicornuate, bicornuous, adj.
bicrural
adj. - two-legged.
biddery, bidree
n. - alloy of several metals on which gold and silver are inlaid.
bident
n. - two-pronged instrument; sheep aged two years. bidental,
bidentate, adj. having two prongs or teeth. bidenticulate, adj. having
two small teeth.
biduous
adj. - lasting two days.
bien aimé
n. - (fem. -aimée pron. same) 'well beloved' (person).
bien aise
n. - 'well being'; comfort.
bienséance
n. - proper, correct or fitting thing; pl. the proprieties.
bifacial
adj. - having distinct upper and lower surfaces; having both sides the
same; having two faces.
bifarious
adj. - in two rows; twofold; pointing in two directions.
bifer
n. - plant flowering or fruiting twice a year. biferous, adj.
bifid(ate)
adj. - divided into two portions; forked. bifidity, n.
bifilar
adj. - having two threads, especially of measuring instrument.
bigeminate
adj. - biconjugate. bigeminal, adj. arranged in pairs.
bigener
n. - hybrid arising from two genera. bigeneric, adj. pertaining to two genera.
bigrid
adj. - applied to thermionic valve having two grids and combining
functions of two valves.
bijugate, bijugous
adj. - having two overlapping heads, said of coin struck to two
persons; Botany, with two pairs of leaflets.
bilboes
n. - pl. fetters, especially long iron bar with sliding shackles used
to imprison persons on ship.
biliary
adj. - pertaining to bile.
biliteral
adj. - consisting of or using two letters; n. such linguistic root.
billon
n. - alloy of precious metal with larger quantity of base metal.
biloquist
n. - person with power of speaking in two distinct voices.
biltong
n. - strips of dried meat.
bimanous, bimanal
adj. - having two hands; pertaining to human species. bimanual, adj.
requiring or using two hands.
bimarine
adj. - situated between seas.
bimaxillary
adj. - pertaining to both jaws.
bimensal
adj. - occurring every two months.
bimestrial
adj. - occurring every two months; lasting two months.
bimetallism
n. - currency system in which both gold and silver are standard money.
bimetallic, adj. bimetallist, n. advocate of bimetallism.
bimetallistic, adj.
bimillenary
n. - space of two thousand years. bimillennium, n. (pl. -ia) two thousand years.
binate
adj. - double; in couples. bination, n. celebration by a priest of
Mass twice on the same day.
bine
n. - flexible shoot of climbing plant, especially hop.
binnacle
n. - fixed case or stand for ship's compass. binnacle list, list of
sick men on man-of-war.
binocle
n. - binocular instr.
binotic
adj. - binaural.
binotonous
adj. - consisting of two notes.
biocoenosis, biocenosis
n. - (pl. -ses ) association of living creatures in a certain area.
biocoenotic, adj.
biogen(e)
n. - ultimate component part of protoplasm.
biogenesis
n. - theory that life derives only from living matter. biogenetic, a.;
biogenetic law, recapitulation theory. biogenesist, n. adherent of
biogenesis.
biogenous
adj. - produced from living organism; giving life.
biogeny
n. - history of evolution of living organisms; biogenesis. biogenic, adj.
biogeography
n. - study of geographical distribution of plants and animals.
biogeographic(al), adj.
biognosy, biognosis
n. - sciences of life collectively.
biograph
n. - early form of cinematograph.
biokinetics
n. - study of changes during development of organism.
biolinguistics
n. - study of relations between physiology and speech.
biologism
n. - biological theory; use of biological terms. biologistic, adj.
biolysis
n. - destruction of life or organic substance. biolytic, adj.
biometrics, biometry
n. - calculation of length of human life; statistical biology.
biometric, adj. biometrician, n. student of biometrics.
bionergy
n. - vital force.
biont
n. - physiologically independent living organism.
biophagous
adj. - feeding on living organisms. biophagy, n.
biophilism
n. - belief that animals have rights which human beings should respect
biorgan
n. - physiological organ.
bioscope
n. - form of cinematograph. bioscopy, n. med. examination of body for
presence of life.
biosis
n. - life, as distinguishing living organisms.
biostatics
n. - study of physiological relations between structure and function.
biostratigraphy
n. - determination of age, etc., of sedimentary strata from fossils
which they contain.
biotaxy
n. - biological classification.
biotelemetry
n. - automatic transmission over a distance, for measurements of the
condition, functions, etc., of a living creature, e.g. of an astronaut
on space flight.
biotin
n. - growth-promoting vitamin of the vitamin B complex, found in liver
and yeast.
biotope
n. - area having uniform conditions and supporting a particular,
uniform association of animal life.
biotype
n. - all organisms having the same genetic constitution.
biparous
adj. - bringing forth two offspring at a birth.
bipennate
adj. - having two wings.
bipropellant
n. - rocket propellant consisting of fuel and oxidizer stored
separately until ignition.
biramose, biramous
adj. - divided into two branches.
bireme
n. - (galley) having two banks of oars.
biretta
n. - Roman Catholic, cleric's square cap.
bise
n. - cold, dry north wind of Switzerland, Italy and S France.
bisonant
adj. - having two sounds.
bisontine
adj. - pertaining to bison.
bisque
n. - point allowed to tennis player; stroke(s) allowed to golfer;
extra turn allowed to croquet player; kind of rich thick soup; pottery
fired but not glazed.
bissext
n. - intercalary day. bissextile, adj. containing the bissext;
intercalary; n. leap-year.
bistort
n. - a plant with twisted astringent root; snake-weed.
bistoury
n. - small, narrow surgical knife. bistournage, n. a method of castration.
bistre
n. - brown pigment derived from wood soot.
bisulcate
adj. - with two grooves; cloven.
biune, biunial
adj. - combining two in one. biunity, n.
biunial
adj. - combining two in one
bivariate
adj. - denoting a quantity that depends on two variables.
biventral
adj. - with two bellies.
biverbal
adj. - relating to two words; punning.
bivious
adj. - offering two paths or directions.
bivocal
n. - diphthong. bivocalize, v. place between two vowels.
blain
n. - sore; blister.
blanquette
n. - stew of white meat in white sauce.
blastogenesis
n. - reproduction by budding; theory of inheritance of characters
through germ-plasm. blastogenetic, blastogenic, adj. pertaining to
germ cells.
blende
n. - zinc sulphide; name of several lustrous metallic sulphides.
blendling
n. - hybrid. blendure, n. mixture.
blennoid
adj. - like mucus. blennogenic,blennogenous, adj. generating mucus.
blennorrhoea, n. mucus discharge. blennorrhoeal, adj.
blennophobia
n. - morbid fear of slime.
blenny
n. - long, slender, spiny-rayed marine fish.
blepharal
adj. - pertaining to eyelids. blepharism, blepharospasm, n. muscular
spasm of eyelid. blepharitis, n. inflammation of eyelids.
bletonism
n. - faculty of water divining.
blissom
adj. - with strong sexual desires; in rut.
blowtop
n. - a person who becomes angry very easily or quickly
blucher
n. - leather half-boot.
blunge
v. - v.i. mix clay and water for pottery; blend. blunger, n. apparatus
for such mixing.
boanthropy
n. - a type of insanity in which a man thinks he's an ox
boatel, botel
n. - waterside hotel for sailing enthusiasts.
bobstay
n. - rope attached to and steadying bowsprit.
bocage
n. - boscage; decorative representation of trees, leaves, etc.
bocking
n. - coarse baize; smoked herring.
bogie
n. - wheeled undercarriage of a rail vehicle; railway coach; truck for
coal, etc.
bolar
adj. - pertaining to clay.
bolection, bilection
n. - projecting part of moulding round panel.
bolide
n. - large meteor; 'fire-ball'.
bolometer
n. - instrument measuring small amounts of radiant heat electrically.
bolograph, n. photograph made with a bolometer. bolometric, adj.
bolthead
n. - long, straight-necked glass vessel for distilling; matrass.
bolus
n. - large pill; any round mass. bolus alba, china clay.
bombardon
n. - deep bass double-reeded wind instr.
bombasine, bombazine
n. - twilled, black, worsted, worsted-with-silk or worsted-with-
cotton dress material. bombazet(te), n. thin smooth-surfaced worsted
fabric.
bombé
adj. - bulging or curved outward, especially such furniture, embroidery, etc.
bombic
adj. - pertaining to silk-worm.
bombilate, bombinate
v. -i. buzz; boom. bombilation, bombination, n.
bombous
adj. - rounded; convex.
bombycine
adj. - bombic.
bon ton
phr. - 'good tone'; high society; good breeding.
bona vacantia
n. - Law, unclaimed property, especially of a person who has died intestate.
bonasus, bonassus
n. - aurochs.
bonbonnière
n. - dainty sweetmeat box.
bonce
n. - large playing marble; kind of marbles game.
bonification
n. - betterment; payment of bonus. boniform,(done) adj. like or
seeming good. bonify, v. improve; make good.
bonne
n. - female servant.
boracic
adj. - pertaining to or derived from borax. boracic acid, former name
for boric acid. boracous, adj.
borasco, borasca, borasque
n. - Mediterranean squall.
borborology
n. - the stomach-like rumbling of unclean talk
borborygm
n. - the noise made by gas in the bowels; a fart
borborygmite
n. - a dirty mouth, or practitioner of spurcitious--foul and obscene--language
borborygmus
n. - rumbling of gas in the stomach. borborygmic, adj.
bordereau
n. - (pl. -x) invoice; detailed bill; memorandum.
borracha
n. - crude rubber; rubber tree.
bort
n. - ground diamond fragments, used in polishing, etc. borty, adj.
bos in lingua
n. - an ox on the tongue: a weighty reason for silence
boscage, boskage
n. - thicket of trees or shrubs.
bosch
n. - wood; bush. bosch-bok, n. bush-buck; kind of antelope. bosch-man,
n. Bushman. bosch-vark, n. kind of wild pig. bosch-veldt, n. bush
country.
bosky
n. - covered with trees
bosselated
adj. - covered with or formed into knobs.
botargo
n. - relish made from tunny's or mullet's roe.
botryoid(al)
adj. - having shape of cluster of grapes. botryose, adj. with flowers
in clusters that develop upwards from base.
bottine
n. - small boot; surgical boot for correcting deformity.
bottomry
n. - raising loan on ship as security.
boucherize
v. preserve by impregnating with copper sulphate.
bougie
n. - wax candle; flexible medical instrument for insertion into body
passages; suppository.
boule
n. - advisory council or senate of ancient Greece. bouleuterion, n.
(pl. -ia) assembly-place.
boules
n. - form of bowls played in France.
bouleversement
n. - overturning, upset.
boult, bolt
v. - sift. boultel, n. sifting cloth. boulter, n. one who sifts;
sieve; fishing line with many hooks.
bouquetin
n. - ibex of the Alps.
bourasque
n. - borasco.
bourdon
n. - Music, bass drone, as of bagpipe.
bourse
n. - foreign money-market.
boustrophedon
n. - an ancient style of writing in which the direction of the lines alternated
bouts-rimés
n. -pl. pl. 'rhymed endings'; composition of verses to given rhymes;
verses so composed.
bovrilise
v. - to condense an ad to essentials; to epitomize
bow-chaser
n. - ship's gun for firing ahead.
bowyer
n. - maker of bows (the weapons).
boyau
n. - (pl. -aux ) winding trench; zigzag
bracciale
n. - wall socket or bracket.
brachial
adj. - pertaining to arm; arm-shaped. brachiate, v.i. swing by arms
from place to place; a. having arms. brachiation, n. brachiferous,
adj. having arms or branches. brachiotomy, n. amputation of arm.
brachistocephalic, brachistocephalous
adj. - having skull of which breadth is 85 per cent or more of length.
brachycatalectic
adj. - with two syllables lacking from end; n. such verse line
brachycephalic, brachycephalous
adj. - short-headed; having skull of which maximum breadth is 80 per
cent or more of maximum length. brachycephalism, n.
brachycerous
adj. - having short horns or antennae.
brachydactylous, brachydactylic
adj. - having short digits. brachydactylism, brachydactyly, n.
brachygraphy
n. - short-hand. brachygrapher, n. stenographer. brachygraphic(al), adj.
brachylogy
n. - condensed expression; laconic speech.
brachymetropy, brachymetropia
n. - shortsightedness. brachymetropic, adj.
brachypodous
adj. - having short legs or stalk.
brachypterous
adj. - having short wings.
brachyure
n. - short-tailed animal, bird, etc. brachyuran, n. a crab.
bract
n. - leaf from axil of which flower is produced. bracteal, adj.
bract-like. bracteate, adj. bearing bracts. bracteiform, adj.
bract-shaped. bracteole, n. small bract; bract at base of flower.
bracteolate, adj. having bracteoles. bracteose, adj. having many
bracts.
bradycardia
n. - (abnormally) slow heart rate. bradykinetic, adj. moving slowly.
bradykinin
n. - blood hormone causing dilation of blood vessels. bradytelic, adj.
evolving at a slower rate than normal.
brail
v. truss sail; haul up. brails, n.pl. cords on edge of sail for trussing.
branchial, branchiac
adj. - pertaining to gills. branchiate, adj. having gills.
branchicolous, adj. living in gills. branchiform,(done) adj.
gill-shaped.
brash
n. - slight sickness; broken pieces of rock or ice; collection of
fragments; a. rash; brittle; lifeless. water-brash, n. pyrosis.
brassage
n. - charge for minting coin, difference between value of metal, with
cost of minting, and face value.
brassard
n. - armlet; arm-badge.
brattice
n. - partition, especially in mine gallery to regulate ventilation or
support sides or roof; v.t. erect brattice. brattice cloth, canvas
sheet for regulating ventilation in mine.
braxy
n. - apoplectic disease of sheep; meat of sheep dead from disease,
especially from braxy; a. sick with or dead from this disease.
breccia
n. - Geology, aggregate of angular rock fragments. breccial, adj.
brecciation, n. making into brecciae.
breedbate
n. - someone looking for an argument
bressummer
n. - beam or girder over opening and supporting a wall.
breviate
n. - summary; precis.
brevicaudate
adj. - having short tail.
brevifoliate
adj. - having short leaves. brevilingual, adj. having short tongue.
breviloquence, n. laconic manner of speech. breviped, adj. having
short legs. brevipennate, adj. having short wings.
brewster
n. - brewer. Brewster Sessions, court hearing applications for liquor
trade licences.
Briarean
adj. - pertaining to Briareus, monster in Greek legend with hundred
hands; having many hands.
bricole
n. - indirect stroke, especially in real tennis, in which ball is hit
against wall or rebounds from it; and billiards, in which ball hits
cushion between the two contacts of a cannon.
bridewell
n. - prison; house of correction.
brigantine
n. - two-masted ship, square-rigged on foremast only.
brimborion
n. - something useless or nonsensical
britannia metal
n. - cheap white alloy of copper, zinc, antimony and bismuth, with lead.
brocatel(lo)
n. - kind of variegated marble; thick figured silk used in upholstery.
brock
n. - badger. brocket, n. stag in its second year; Brazilian pronged
deer. brock-faced, adj. having white mark on face.
broderie
n. - embroidery-like pattern. broderie anglaise, mixture of solid and
open-work embroidery.
brogan
n. - coarse, strong shoe; brogue.
bromatology
n. - treatise on or study of food.
bromidrosis
n. - the secretion of foul-smelling sweat; body odor
bromine
n. - non-metallic chlorine-like element found in seawater and mineral
springs. bromize, v. compound with bromine; prepare photographic plate
with bromide. bromism, n. condition due to excessive use of bromide.
brominated, adj. compounded with bromine.
brontephobia, brontophobia
n. - dread of thunder and lightning.
brontide
n. - sound like distant thunder, due to seismic causes.
brontograph
n. - instr. recording discharges of atmospheric electricity.
brontogram, n. record made by this.
brontology
n. - study of thunder. brontometer, n. brontograph.
brose
n. - kind of porridge; broth. Athole-brose, mixture of whisky and honey.
brotus
n. - any extra measure without charge, such as a baker's dozen
brouette
n. - small two-wheeled carriage; kind of four-seater motor car.
brucellosis
n. - an undulant fever of cattle.
brucin(e), brucina
n. - strychnine-like poison derived from nux vomica plant.
bruit
n. - sounds in chest symptomatic of disease; rumour; v.t. report; spread abroad.
brumal
adj. - pertaining to brume or winter.
brumby, brumbie, brumbee
n. - wild horse.
brume
n. - mist or fog. brumous, adj.
brummagem
n. - making an imposing display but inferior and of little worth;
showy but cheap
brunneous
adj. - dark brown.
brutum fulmen
n. - failed thunderbolt: empty noise or idle threat
bruxism
n. - grinding of teeth, especially in sleep.
bruxomania
n. - the habit of unconsciously grinding the teeth, especially in
sleep, or under stress
bryology
n. - study of mosses and liverworts; plant life of such kind of a
region. bryological, adj. bryologist, n. bryophyte, n. moss or
liverwort.
bubo
n. - (pl. -oes) swelling with inflammation of lymphatic gland,
especially of groin. bubonalgia, n. pain in groin. bubonic, adj.
bubulin
n. - compound obtained from cow dung, used in calico printing
buccal
adj. - pertaining to mouth or cheek.
buccan
n. - framework over which meat is roasted or dried; v.t. dry meat on such.
buccate
adj. - with protruding cheeks.
buccinal
adj. - having shape or sound of trumpet. buccinator, n. muscle forming
cheek- wall. buccinatory, adj.
buccula
n. - double chin
bufonite
n. - toadstone.
bullace
n. - small wild plum fruit and tree.
bullate
adj. - puckered; with blistered appearance. bullation, n.
bullion
n. - gold or silver in the mass, especially uncoined. bullionist, n.
upholder of metallic currency.
bullish
adj. - Commerce, anticipating or associated with a rise in price.
buphthalmia
n. - enlargement of eye. buphthalmic, adj.
burbot
n. - long, slender, freshwater fish of cod family; eel-pout.
burette
n. - graduated glass measuring tube; Ecclesiastical, sacramental cruet.
burgee
n. - small triangular pennant of yacht, etc.
burgensic
adj. - pertaining to citizen or freeman of borough.
burin
n. - engraver's tool; graver. burinist, n. engraver.
burletta
n. - light comic opera.
burnettize
v. saturate with zinc chloride solution to prevent decay.
burnettizing, n. such process, invented by Sir W Burnett.
burrstone
n. - flinty rock used for millstones; millstone made of this.
bursa
n. - (pl. -sae or - sas) sac, especially fluid-filled at point of
friction in joint, etc. bursal, adj. pertaining to bursa; pertaining
to states revenue. bursitis, n. inflammation of bursa.
buskin
n. - high boot; thick-soled boot (also called cothurnus) worn by
actors in ancient Greek tragedy; classic tragedy.
butte
n. - steep, isolated hill.
byssus
n. - filamentous tuft ('beard') by which molluscs attach themselves;
fine flax and fabric woven from it. byssaceous, adj. consisting of
fine threads; like a byssus. byssal, adj. byssiferous, adj. having a
byssus; tufted. byssine, adj. silky; the fabric byssus. byssogenous,
adj. producing a byssus. byssoid, adj. like a byssus; fibrous;
cottony.
bywoner
n. - sub-tenant of farm; agricultural labourer.
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