Chapter 134

13. (Mil.) The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.]

14. (Zo\'94l.) That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.

15. (Crystallog.) The basal plane of a crystal.

16. (Geol.) The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.

17. (Her.) The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon .

18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.]

19. pl. A kind of skirt ( often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower. [Obs.]

20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.]

21. An apron. [Obs.] "Bakers in their linen bases ."

Marston.

22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games.

To their appointed base they went. Dryden.

23. (Surv.) A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.

Lyman.

24. A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base , prison base , or bars . "To run the country base ."

Shak.

25. (Baseball) Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.

Altern base . See under Altern . -- Attic base . (Arch.) See under Attic . -- Base course . (Arch.) (a) The first or lower course of a foundation wall, made of large stones of a mass of concrete; -- called also foundation course . (b) The architectural member forming the transition between the basement and the wall above. -- Base hit (Baseball) , a hit, by which the batsman, without any error on the part of his opponents, is able to reach the first base without being put out. -- Base line . (a) A main line taken as a base, as in surveying or in military operations. (b) A line traced round a cannon at the rear of the vent. -- Base plate , the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the steam engine; the bed plate. -- Base ring (Ordnance) , a projecting band of metal around the breech, connected with the body of the gun by a concave molding. H. L. Scott.

Base <Xpage=122>

Base (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Based (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Basing .] [From Base , n. ] To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon .

Bacon.

Base <Xpage=122>

Base , v. t. [See Base , a. , and cf. Abase .] 1. To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [Obs.]

If any . . . based his pike. Sir T. North.

2. To reduce the value of; to debase. [Obs.]

Metals which we can not base . Bacon.

Baseball <Xpage=122>

Base"ball" (?) , n. 1. A game of ball, so called from the bases or bounds ( four in number) which designate the circuit which each player must endeavor to make after striking the ball.

2. The ball used in this game.

Baseboard <Xpage=122>

Base"board (?) , n. (Arch.) A board, or other woodwork, carried round the walls of a room and touching the floor, to form a base and protect the plastering; -- also called washboard (in England), mopboard , and scrubboard .

Baseborn <Xpage=122>

Base"born` (?) , a. 1. Born out of wedlock.

Gay.

2. Born of low parentage.

3. Vile; mean. "Thy baseborn heart."

Shak.

Base-burner <Xpage=122>

Base"-burn`er (?) , n. A furnace or stove in which the fuel is contained in a hopper or chamber, and is fed to the fire as the lower stratum is consumed.

Base-court <Xpage=122>

Base"-court` (?) , n. [F. basse-cour . See Base , a. , and Court , n. ] 1. The secondary, inferior, or rear courtyard of a large house; the outer court of a castle.

2. (Law) An inferior court of law, not of record.

Based <Xpage=122>

Based (?) , p. p. & a. 1. Having a base, or having as a base; supported; as, broad- based .

2. [See Base , n. , 18-21.] Wearing, or protected by, bases. [Obs.] " Based in lawny velvet."

E. Hall.

Basedow's disease <Xpage=122>

Ba"se*dow's dis*ease" (?) . [Named for Dr. Basedow , a German physician.] (Med.) A disease characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland, prominence of the eyeballs, and inordinate action of the heart; -- called also exophthalmic goiter .

Flint.

Baselard <Xpage=122>

Bas"e*lard (?) , n. [OF. baselarde , LL. basillardus .] A short sword or dagger, worn in the fifteenth century. [Written also baslard .]

Fairholt.

Baseless <Xpage=122>

Base"less , a. Without a base; having no foundation or support. "The baseless fabric of this vision."

Shak.

Basely <Xpage=122>

Base"ly , adv. 1. In a base manner; with despicable meanness; dishonorably; shamefully.

2. Illegitimately; in bastardy. [Archaic]

Knolles.

Basement <Xpage=122>

Base"ment (?) , n. [F. soubassement . Of uncertain origin. Cf. Base , a. , Bastion .] (Arch.) The outer wall of the ground story of a building, or of a part of that story, when treated as a distinct substructure. ( See Base , n. , 3 (a) .) Hence: The rooms of a ground floor, collectively.

Basement membrane (Anat.) , a delicate membrane composed of a single layer of flat cells, forming the substratum upon which, in many organs, the epithelioid cells are disposed.

Baseness <Xpage=122>

Base"ness (?) , n. The quality or condition of being base; degradation; vileness.

I once did hold it a baseness to write fair. Shak.

Basenet <Xpage=122>

Bas"e*net (?) , n. See Bascinet . [Obs.]

Base viol <Xpage=122>

Base" vi`ol (?) . See Bass viol .

Bash <Xpage=122>

Bash (?) , v. t. & i. [OE. baschen , baissen . See Abash .] To abash; to disconcert or be disconcerted or put out of countenance. [Obs.]

His countenance was bold and bashed not. Spenser.

Bashaw <Xpage=122>

Ba*shaw" (?) , n. [See Pasha .] 1. A Turkish title of honor, now written pasha . See Pasha .

2. Fig.: A magnate or grandee.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A very large siluroid fish ( Leptops olivaris ) of the Mississippi valley; -- also called goujon , mud cat , and yellow cat .

Bashful <Xpage=122>

Bash"ful (?) , a. [See Bash .] 1. Abashed; daunted; dismayed. [Obs.]

2. Very modest, or modest excess; constitutionally disposed to shrink from public notice; indicating extreme or excessive modesty; shy; as, a bashful person, action, expression .

Syn. -- Diffident; retiring; reserved; shamefaced; sheepish.

Bashfully <Xpage=122>

Bash"ful*ly , adv. In a bashful manner.

Bashfulness <Xpage=122>

Bash"ful*ness , n. The quality of being bashful.

Syn. -- Bashfulness , Modesty , Diffidence , Shyness . Modesty arises from a low estimate of ourselves; bashfulness is an abashment or agitation of the spirits at coming into contact with others; diffidence is produced by an undue degree of self-distrust; shyness usually arises from an excessive self-consciousness, and a painful impression that every one is looking at us. Modesty of deportment is becoming at all; bashfulness often gives rise to mistakes and blundering; diffidence is society frequently makes a man a burden to himself; shyness usually produces a reserve or distance which is often mistaken for haughtiness.

Bashi-bazouk <Xpage=122>

Bash"i-ba*zouk" (?) , n. [Turkish, light-headed, a foolish fellow.] A soldier belonging to the irregular troops of the Turkish army.

Bashless <Xpage=122>

Bash"less , a. Shameless; unblushing. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Bashyle <Xpage=122>

Bas"hyle (?) , n. (Chem.) See Basyle .

Basi- <Xpage=122>

Ba"si- (?) . A combining form, especially in anatomical and botanical words, to indicate the base or position at or near a base ; forming a base ; as , basi branchials, the most ventral of the cartilages or bones of the branchial arches; basi cranial, situated at the base of the cranium; basi facial, basi temporal, etc.

Basic <Xpage=122>

Ba"sic (?) , a. 1. (Chem.) (a) Relating to a base; performing the office of a base in a salt. (b) Having the base in excess, or the amount of the base atomically greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in proportion that of the related neutral salt. (c) Apparently alkaline, as certain normal salts which exhibit alkaline reactions with test paper.

2. (Min.) Said of crystalline rocks which contain a relatively low percentage of silica, as basalt.

Basic salt (Chem.) , a salt formed from a base or hydroxide by the partial replacement of its hydrogen by a negative or acid element or radical.

Basicerite <Xpage=122>

Ba*sic"er*ite (?) , n. [ Basi- + Gr. <?/ horn, antenna.] (Zo\'94l.) The second joint of the antenn\'91 of crustaceans.

Basicity <Xpage=122>

Ba*sic"i*ty , n. (Chem.) (a) The quality or state of being a base. (b) The power of an acid to unite with one or more atoms or equivalents of a base, as indicated by the number of replaceable hydrogen atoms contained in the acid.

Basidiospore <Xpage=122>

Ba*sid"i*o*spore (?) , n. [ Basidium + spore .] (Bot.) A spore borne by a basidium. -- Ba*sid`i*o*spor"ous (<?/) , a.

Basidium <Xpage=122>

Ba*sid"i*um (?) , n. [NL., dim. of Gr. <?/ base.] (Bot.) A special oblong or pyriform cell, with slender branches, which bears the spores in that division of fungi called Basidiomycetes , of which the common mushroom is an example.

Basifier <Xpage=122>

Ba"si*fi`er (?) , n. (Chem.) That which converts into a salifiable base.

Basifugal <Xpage=122>

Ba*sif"u*gal (?) , a. [ Base , n. + L. fugere to flee.] (Bot.) Tending or proceeding away from the base; as, a basifugal growth .

Basify <Xpage=122>

Ba"si*fy (?) , v. t. [ Base + -fy .] (Chem.) To convert into a salifiable base.

Basigynium <Xpage=122>

Ba`si*gyn"i*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ base + <?/ woman.] (Bot.) The pedicel on which the ovary of certain flowers, as the passion flower, is seated; a carpophore or thecaphore.

Basihyal <Xpage=122>

Ba`si*hy"al (?) , a. [ Basi- + Gr. <?/ (the letter "upsilon"); from the shape.] (Anat.) Noting two small bones, forming the body of the inverted hyoid arch.

Basihyoid <Xpage=122>

Ba`si*hy"oid (?) , n. [ Basi- + hyoid .] (Anat.) The central tongue bone.

Basil <Xpage=122>

Bas"il (?) , n. [Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel .] The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground.

Grier.

Basil <Xpage=122>

Bas"il , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Basiled (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Basiling .] To grind or form the edge of to an angle.

Moxon.

Basil <Xpage=122>

Bas"il , n. [F. basilic , fr. L. badilicus royal, Gr. <?/ , fr. <?/ king.] (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil ( Ocymum basilicum ), and the bush basil, or lesser basil ( O. minimum ), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint ( Pycnanthemum ).

Basil thyme , a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and C . Nepeta . -- Wild basil , a plant ( Calamintha clinopodium ) of the Mint family.

Basil <Xpage=122>

Bas"il (?) , n. [Corrupt. from E. basan , F. basane , LL. basanium , bazana , fr. Ar. bith\'bena , prop., lining.] The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

Basilar, Basilary <Xpage=122>

Bas"i*lar (?) , Bas"i*la*ry (?) , a. [F. basilaire , fr. L. basis . See Base , n. ] 1. Relating to, or situated at, the base.

2. Lower; inferior; applied to impulses or springs of action. [R.] " Basilar instincts."

H. W. Beecher.

Basilic <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"ic (?) , n. [F. basilique .] Basilica.

Basilic, Basilical <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"ic (?) , Ba*sil"ic*al (?) , a. [See Basilica .] 1. Royal; kingly; also, basilican.

2. (Anat.) Pertaining to certain parts, anciently supposed to have a specially important function in the animal economy, as the middle vein of the right arm.

Basilica <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"i*ca (?) , n. ; pl. Basilicas (#) ; sometimes Basilic<?/e (#) . [L. basilica , Gr. <?/ ( sc. <?/ , or <?/ ) fr. <?/ royal, fr. <?/ king .] Originally, the place of a king; but afterward, an apartment provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for this purpose.

2. (Arch.) (a) A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with court rooms, etc., attached. (b) A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction.

Basilica <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"i*ca , n. A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century.

P. Cyc.

Basilican <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"i*can (?) , a. Of, relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical.

There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were in the basilican form. Milman.

Basilicok <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"i*cok (?) , n. [OF. basilicoc .] The basilisk. [Obs.]

Chaucer

Basilicon <Xpage=122>

Ba*sil"i*con (?) , n. [L. basilicon , Gr. <?/ , neut. of <?/ : cf. F. basilicon . See Basilica .] (Med.) An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive oil, lard, or other fatty substance.

Basilisk <Xpage=122>

Bas"i*lisk (?) , n. [L. basiliscus , Gr. <?/ little king, kind of serpent, dim. of <?/ king; -- so named from some prominences on the head resembling a crown.] 1. A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice .

Make me not sighted like the basilisk . Shak.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A lizard of the genus Basiliscus , belonging to the family Iguanid\'91 .

&hand; This genus is remarkable for a membranous bag rising above the occiput, which can be filled with air at pleasure; also for an elevated crest along the back, that can be raised or depressed at will.

3. (Mil.) A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. [Obs.]

Basin <Xpage=122>

Ba"sin (?) , n. [OF. bacin , F. bassin , LL. bacchinus , fr. bacca a water vessel, fr. L. bacca berry, in allusion to the round shape; or perh. fr. Celtic. Cf. Bac .]

1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.

2. The quantity contained in a basin.

3. A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.

4. A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay.

5. (Physical Geog.) (a) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river. (b) The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake.

6. (Geol.) An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; -- especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields .

Basined <Xpage=122>

Ba"sined (?) , a. Inclosed in a basin. " Basined rivers."

Young.

Basinet <Xpage=122>

Bas"i*net (?) , n. Same as Bascinet .

Basioccipital <Xpage=122>

Ba`si*oc*cip"i*tal (?) , a. [ Basi- + occipital .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the bone in the base of the cranium, frequently forming a part of the occipital in the adult, but usually distinct in the young. -- n. The basioccipital bone.

Basion <Xpage=122>

Ba"si*on (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a base.] (Anat.) The middle of the anterior margin of the great foramen of the skull.

Basipodite <Xpage=122>

Ba*sip"o*dite (?) , n. [ Basi- + <?/ , <?/ , foot.] (Anat.) The basal joint of the legs of Crustacea.

Basipterygium <Xpage=122>

Ba*sip`te*ryg"i*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a base + <?/ a fin.] (Anat.) A bar of cartilage at the base of the embryonic fins of some fishes. It develops into the metapterygium. -- Ba*sip`ter*yg"i*al (<?/) , a.

Basipterygoid <Xpage=122>

Ba`sip*ter"y*goid (?) , a. & n. [ Basi- + pierygoid .] (Anat.) Applied to a protuberance of the base of the sphenoid bone.

Basis <Xpage=122>

Ba"sis (?) , n. ; pl. Bases (#) . [L. basis , Gr. <?/ . See Base , n. ] 1. The foundation of anything; that on which a thing rests.

Dryden.

2. The pedestal of a column, pillar, or statue. [Obs.]

If no basis bear my rising name. Pope.

<-- p. 123 -->

3. The ground work the first or fundamental principle; that which supports.

The basis of public credit is good faith. A. Hamilton.

4. The principal component part of a thing.

Basisolute <Xpage=123>

Ba*sis"o*lute (?) , a. [ Basi- + solute , a.] (Bot.) Prolonged at the base, as certain leaves.

Basisphenoid, Basisphenoidal <Xpage=123>