Chapter 159

Bill of adventure . See under Adventure . -- Bill of costs , a statement of the items which form the total amount of the costs of a party to a suit or action. -- Bill of credit . (a) Within the constitution of the United States, a paper issued by a State, on the mere faith and credit of the State, and designed to circulate as money. No State shall "emit bills of credit ." U. S. Const. Peters . Wharton . Bouvier (b) Among merchants, a letter sent by an agent or other person to a merchant, desiring him to give credit to the bearer for goods or money. -- Bill of divorce , in the Jewish law, a writing given by the husband to the wife, by which the marriage relation was dissolved. Jer. iii. 8 . -- Bill of entry , a written account of goods entered at the customhouse, whether imported or intended for exportation. -- Bill of exceptions . See under Exception . -- Bill of exchange (Com.) , a written order or request from one person or house to another, desiring the latter to pay to some person designated a certain sum of money therein generally is, and, to be negotiable, must be, made payable to order or to bearer. So also the order generally expresses a specified time of payment, and that it is drawn for value. The person who draws the bil is called the drawer , the person on whom it is drawn is, before acceptance, called the drawee , -- after acceptance, the acceptor ; the person to whom the money is directed to be paid is called the payee . The person making the order may himself be the payee. The bill itself is frequently called a draft . See Exchange . Chitty . -- Bill of fare , a written or printed enumeration of the dishes served at a public table, or of the dishes (with prices annexed) which may be ordered at a restaurant, etc. -- Bill of health , a certificate from the proper authorities as to the state of health of a ship's company at the time of her leaving port. -- Bill of indictment , a written accusation lawfully presented to a grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support the accusation, they indorse it "A true bill," or "Not found," or " Ignoramus ", or "Ignored." -- Bill of lading , a written account of goods shipped by any person, signed by the agent of the owner of the vessel, or by its master, acknowledging the receipt of the goods, and promising to deliver them safe at the place directed, dangers of the sea excepted. It is usual for the master to sign two, three, or four copies of the bill; one of which he keeps in possession, one is kept by the shipper, and one is sent to the consignee of the goods. -- Bill of mortality , an official statement of the number of deaths in a place or district within a given time; also, a district required to be covered by such statement; as, a place within the bills of mortality of London . -- Bill of pains and penalties , a special act of a legislature which inflicts a punishment less than death upon persons supposed to be guilty of treason or felony, without any conviction in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings. Bouvier. Wharton . -- Bill of parcels , an account given by the seller to the buyer of the several articles purchased, with the price of each. -- Bill of particulars (Law) , a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off. -- Bill of rights , a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons of England to the Prince and Princess of Orange in 1688, and enacted in Parliament after they became king and queen. In America, a bill or declaration of rights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the several States. -- Bill of sale , a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer of goods and chattels. -- Bill of sight , a form of entry at the customhouse, by which goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of full information, may be provisionally landed for examination. -- Bill of store , a license granted at the customhouse to merchants, to carry such stores and provisions as are necessary for a voyage, custom free. Wharton . -- Bills payable ( pl. ), the outstanding unpaid notes or acceptances made and issued by an individual or firm. -- Bills receivable ( pl. ), the unpaid promissory notes or acceptances held by an individual or firm. McElrath . -- A true bill , a bill of indictment sanctioned by a grand jury.

Bill <Xpage=145>

Bill , v. t. 1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.

2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods .

Billage <Xpage=145>

Bil"lage (?) , n. and v. t. & i . Same as Bilge .

Billard <Xpage=145>

Bil"lard (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also billet and billit .]

Billbeetle, or Billbug <Xpage=145>

Bill`bee"tle (?) , or Bill"bug` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A weevil or curculio of various species, as the corn weevil. See Curculio .

Billboard <Xpage=145>

Bill"board` (?) , n. 1. (Naut.) A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on the bow or fore channels of a vessel, for the bill or fluke of the anchor to rest on.

Totten.

2. A flat surface, as of a panel or of a fence, on which bills are posted; a bulletin board. <-- esp. a large board on which the space is rented for advertising purposes. -->

Bill book <Xpage=145>

Bill" book` (?) . (Com.) A book in which a person keeps an account of his notes, bills, bills of exchange, etc., thus showing all that he issues and receives.

Bill broker <Xpage=145>

Bill" bro`ker (?) . One who negotiates the discount of bills.

Billed <Xpage=145>

Billed (?) , a. Furnished with, or having, a bill, as a bird; -- used in composition; as, broad- billed .

Billet <Xpage=145>

Bil"let (?) , n. [F. billet , dim. of an OF. bille bill. See Bill a writing.] 1. A small paper; a note; a short letter. "I got your melancholy billet ."

Sterne.

2. A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge; as, a billet of residence .

Billet <Xpage=145>

Bil"let , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Billeted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Billeting .] [From Billet a ticket.] (Mil.) To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.

Billeted in so antiquated a mansion. W. Irving.

Billet <Xpage=145>

Bil"let , n. [F. billette , bille , log; of unknown origin; a different word from bille ball. Cf. Billiards , Billot .] 1. A small stick of wood, as for firewood.

They shall beat out my brains with billets . Shak.

2. (Metal.) A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.

3. (Arch.) An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.

4. (Saddlery) (a) A strap which enters a buckle. (b) A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap.

Knight.

5. (Her.) A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.

Billet-doux <Xpage=145>

Bil`let-doux" (?) , n. ; pl. Billets-doux (#) . [F. billet note + doux sweet, L. dulcis .] A love letter or note.

A lover chanting out a billet-doux . Spectator.

Billethead <Xpage=145>

Bil"let*head` (?) , n. (Naut.) A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon lone is run out when the whale darts off.

Billfish <Xpage=145>

Bill"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish ( Tylosurus, or Belone, longirostris ) and allied species. (b) The saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast ( Scomberesox saurus ). (c) The Tetrapturus albidus , a large oceanic species related to the swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike ( Lepidosteus osseus ).

Billhead <Xpage=145>

Bill"head` (?) , n. A printed form, used by merchants in making out bills or rendering accounts.

Bill holder <Xpage=145>

Bill" hold`er (?) . 1. A person who holds a bill or acceptance.

2. A device by means of which bills, etc., are held.

Billhook <Xpage=145>

Bill"hook` (?) , n. [ Bill + hook .] A thick, heavy knife with a hooked point, used in pruning hedges, etc. When it has a short handle, it is sometimes called a hand bill ; when the handle is long, a hedge bill or scimiter .

Billiard <Xpage=145>

Bil"liard (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the game of billiards. "Smooth as is a billiard ball."

B. Jonson.

Billiards <Xpage=145>

Bil"liards (?) , n. [F. billiard billiards, OF. billart staff, cue form playing, fr. bille log. See Billet a stick.] A game played with ivory balls o a cloth-covered, rectangular table, bounded by elastic cushions. The player seeks to impel his ball with his cue so that it shall either strike (carom upon) two other balls, or drive another ball into one of the pockets with which the table sometimes is furnished.

Billing <Xpage=145>

Bill"ing (?) , a. & n. Caressing; kissing.

Billingsgate <Xpage=145>

Bil"lings*gate` (?) , n. 1. A market near the Billings gate in London, celebrated for fish and foul language.

2. Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language; vituperation; ribaldry.

Billion <Xpage=145>

Bil"lion (?) , n. [F. billion , arbitrarily formed fr. L. bis twice, in imitation of million a million. See Million .] According to the French and American method of numeration, a thousand millions, or 1,000,000,000; according to the English method, a million millions, or 1,000,000,000,000. See Numeration .

Billman <Xpage=145>

Bill"man (?) , n. ; pl. Billmen (<?/) . One who uses, or is armed with, a bill or hooked ax. "A billman of the guard."

Savile.

Billon <Xpage=145>

Bil`lon" (?) , n. [F. Cf. Billet a stick.] An alloy of gold and silver with a large proportion of copper or other base metal, used in coinage.

Billot <Xpage=145>

Bil"lot (?) , n. [F. billot , dim. of bille . See Billet a stick.] Bullion in the bar or mass.

Billow <Xpage=145>

Bil"low (?) , n. [Cf. Icel. bylgja billow, Dan. b\'94lge , Sw. b\'94lja ; akin to MHG. bulge billow, bag, and to E. bulge . See Bulge .] 1. A great wave or surge of the sea or other water, caused usually by violent wind.

Whom the winds waft where'er the billows roll. Cowper.

2. A great wave or flood of anything.

Milton.

Billow <Xpage=145>

Bil"low , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Billowed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Billowing .] To surge; to rise and roll in waves or surges; to undulate. "The billowing snow."

Prior.

Billowy <Xpage=145>

Bil"low*y (?) , a. Of or pertaining to billows; swelling or swollen into large waves; full of billows or surges; resembling billows.

And whitening down the many-tinctured stream, Descends the billowy foam. Thomson.

Billposter, Billsticker <Xpage=145>

Bill"post`er (?) , Bill"stick"er (?) , n. One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public places.

Billy <Xpage=145>

Bil"ly (?) , n. 1. A club; esp., a policeman's club.

2. (Wool Manuf.) A slubbing or roving machine.

Billyboy <Xpage=145>

Bil"ly*boy` (?) , n. A flat-bottomed river barge or coasting vessel. [Eng.]

Billy goat <Xpage=145>

Bil"ly goat` (?) . A male goat. [Colloq.]

<page="146"> Page 146

Bilobate <Xpage=146>

Bi*lo"bate (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + lobate .] Divided into two lobes or segments.

Bilobed <Xpage=146>

Bi"lobed (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + lobe .] Bilobate.

Bilocation <Xpage=146>

Bi`lo*ca"tion (?) , n. [Pref. bi- + location .] Double location; the state or power of being in two places at the same instant; -- a miraculous power attributed to some of the saints.

Tylor.

Bilocular <Xpage=146>

Bi*loc"u*lar (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + locular : cf. F. biloculaire .] Divided into two cells or compartments; as, a bilocular pericarp .

Gray.

Bilsted <Xpage=146>

Bil"sted (?) , n. (Bot.) See Sweet gum .

Biltong <Xpage=146>

Bil"tong (?) , n. [S. African.] Lean meat cut into strips and sun-dried.

H. R. Haggard.

Bimaculate <Xpage=146>

Bi*mac"u*late (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + maculate , a.] Having, or marked with, two spots.

Bimana <Xpage=146>

Bim"a*na (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Bimanous .] (Zo\'94l.) Animals having two hands; -- a term applied by Cuvier to man as a special order of Mammalia .

Bimanous <Xpage=146>

Bim"a*nous (?) , a. [L. bis twice + manus hand.] (Zo\'94l.) Having two hands; two-handed.

Bimarginate <Xpage=146>

Bi*mar"gin*ate (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + marginate .] Having a double margin, as certain shells.

Bimastism <Xpage=146>

Bi*mas"tism (?) , n. [Pref. bi- + Gr. <?/ breast.] (Anat.) The condition of having two mamm\'91 or teats.

Bimedial <Xpage=146>

Bi*me"di*al (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + medial .] (Geom.) Applied to a line which is the sum of two lines commensurable only in power (as the side and diagonal of a square).

Bimembral <Xpage=146>

Bi*mem"bral (?) , a. [L. bis twice + membrum member.] (Gram.) Having two members; as, a bimembral sentence .

J. W. Gibbs.

Bimensal <Xpage=146>

Bi*men"sal (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + mensal .] See Bimonthly , a. [Obs. or R.]

Bimestrial <Xpage=146>

Bi*mes"tri*al (?) , a. [L. bimestris ; bis twice + mensis month.] Continuing two months. [R.]

Bimetallic <Xpage=146>

Bi`me*tal"lic (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + metallic : cf. F. bim\'82tallique .] Of or relating to, or using, a double metallic standard (as gold and silver) for a system of coins or currency.

Bimetallism <Xpage=146>

Bi*met"al*lism (?) , n. [F. bim\'82talisme .] The legalized use of two metals (as gold and silver) in the currency of a country, at a fixed relative value; -- in opposition to monometallism .

&hand; The words bim\'82tallisme and monom\'82tallisme are due to M. Cernuschi [1869].

Littr\'82.

Bimetallist <Xpage=146>

Bi*met"al*list (?) , n. An advocate of bimetallism.

Bimonthly <Xpage=146>

Bi*month"ly (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + monthly .] Occurring, done, or coming, once in two months; as, bimonthly visits; bimonthly publications. -- n. A bimonthly publication.

Bimonthly <Xpage=146>

Bi*month"ly , adv. Once in two months.

Bimuscular <Xpage=146>

Bi*mus"cu*lar (?) , a. [Pref. bi- + muscular .] (Zo\'94l.) Having two adductor muscles, as a bivalve mollusk.

Bin <Xpage=146>

Bin (?) , n. [OE. binne , AS. binn manager, crib; perh. akin to D. ben , benne , basket, and to L. benna a kind of carriage ( a Gallic word), W. benn , men , wain, cart.] A box, frame, crib, or inclosed place, used as a receptacle for any commodity; as, a corn bin ; a wine bin ; a coal bin .

Bin <Xpage=146>

Bin , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Binned (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Binning .] To put into a bin; as, to bin wine .

Bin <Xpage=146>

Bin . An old form of Be and Been . [Obs.]

Bin <Xpage=146>

Bin* . A euphonic form of the prefix Bi- .

Binal <Xpage=146>

Bi"nal (?) , a. [See Binary .] Twofold; double. [R.] " Binal revenge, all this."

Ford.

Binarseniate <Xpage=146>

Bin`ar*se"ni*ate (?) , n. [Pref. bin- + arseniate .] (Chem.) A salt having two equivalents of arsenic acid to one of the base.

Graham.

Binary <Xpage=146>

Bi"na*ry (?) , a. [L. binarius , fr. bini two by two, two at a time, fr. root of bis twice; akin to E. two : cf. F. binaire .] Compounded or consisting of two things or parts; characterized by two (things).

Binary arithmetic , that in which numbers are expressed according to the binary scale, or in which two figures only, 0 and 1, are used, in lieu of ten; the cipher multiplying everything by two, as in common arithmetic by ten. Thus, 1 is one; 10 is two; 11 is three; 100 is four, etc. Davies & Peck . -- Binary compound (Chem.) , a compound of two elements, or of an element and a compound performing the function of an element, or of two compounds performing the function of elements. -- Binary logarithms , a system of logarithms devised by Euler for facilitating musical calculations, in which 1 is logarithm of 2, instead of 10, as in the common logarithms, and the modulus 1.442695 instead of .43429448. -- Binary measure (Mus.) , measure divisible by two or four; common time. -- Binary nomenclature (Nat. Hist.) , nomenclature in which the names designate both genus and species. -- Binary scale (Arith.) , a uniform scale of notation whose ratio is two. -- Binary star (Astron.) , a double star whose members have a revolution round their common center of gravity. -- Binary theory (Chem.) , the theory that all chemical compounds consist of two constituents of opposite and unlike qualities.

Binary <Xpage=146>

Bi"na*ry , n. That which is constituted of two figures, things, or parts; two; duality.

Fotherby.

Binate <Xpage=146>

Bi"nate (?) , a. [L. bini two and two.] (Bot.) Double; growing in pairs or couples.

Gray.

Binaural <Xpage=146>

Bin*au"ral (?) , a. [Pref. bin- + aural .] Of or pertaining to, or used by, both ears.

Bind <Xpage=146>

Bind (?) , v. t. [ imp. Bound (?) ; p. p. Bound , formerly Bounden (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Binding .] [AS. bindan , perfect tense band , bundon , p. p. bunden ; akin to D. & G. binden , Dan. binde , Sw. & Icel. binda , Goth. bindan , Skr. bandh (for bhandh ) to bind, cf. Gr. <?/ (for <?/ ) cable, and L. offendix . &root;90.] 1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner.