Chapter 178

Bo*lo"gnian (?) , a. & n. Bolognese.

Bolognian stone . See Bologna stone , under Bologna .

Bolometer <Xpage=163>

Bo*lom"e*ter (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a stroke, ray + -meter .] (Physics) An instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heat, especially in different parts of the spectrum; -- called also actinic balance , thermic balance .

S. P. Langley.

Bolster <Xpage=163>

Bol"ster (?) , n. [AS. bolster ; akin to Icel. b<?/lstr , Sw. & Dan. bolster , OHG. bolstar , polstar , G. polster ; from the same root as E. bole stem, bowl hollow vessel. Cf. Bulge , Poltroon .] 1. A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.

And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster , This way the coverlet, another way the sheets. Shak.

2. A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support any part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress.

This arm shall be a bolster for thy head. Gay.

3. Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc.

4. (Saddlery) A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.

5. (Naut.) (a) A cushioned or a piece of soft wood covered with tarred canvas, placed on the trestletrees and against the mast, for the collars of the shrouds to rest on, to prevent chafing. (b) Anything used to prevent chafing.

6. A plate of iron or a mass of wood under the end of a bridge girder, to keep the girder from resting directly on the abutment.

7. A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests.

8. The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.

9. (Mech.) the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched.

10. (Cutlery) (a) That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle. (b) The metallic end of a pocketknife handle.

G. Francis.

11. (Arch.) The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital.

G. Francis.

12. (Mil.) A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation. [See Illust . of Gun carriage .]

Bolster work (Arch.) , members which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of certain classical styles.

Bolster <Xpage=163>

Bol"ster , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bolstered (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n . Bolstering .] 1. To support with a bolster or pillow.

S. Sharp.

2. To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual effort; -- often with up .

To bolster baseness. Drayton.

Shoddy inventions designed to bolster up a factitious pride. Compton Reade.

Bolstered <Xpage=163>

Bol"stered (?) , a. 1. Supported; upheld.

2. Swelled out.

Bolsterer <Xpage=163>

Bol"ster*er (?) , n. A supporter.

Bolt <Xpage=163>

Bolt (?) , n. [AS. bolt ; akin to Icel. bolti , Dan. bolt , D. bout , OHG. bolz , G. bolz , bolzen ; of uncertain origin.] 1. A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an arrow, or that which resembles an arrow; a dart.

Look that the crossbowmen lack not bolts . Sir W. Scott.

A fool's bolt is soon shot. Shak.

2. Lightning; a thunderbolt.

3. A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold something in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread cut upon the other end.

4. A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the portion of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action of the key.

5. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter. [Obs.]

Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him. Shak.

6. A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk, often containing about forty yards.

7. A bundle, as of oziers.

Bolt auger , an auger of large size; an auger to make holes for the bolts used by shipwrights. -- Bolt and nut , a metallic pin with a head formed upon one end, and a movable piece (the nut) screwed upon a thread cut upon the other end. See B, C, and D, in illust . above.

See Tap bolt , Screw bolt , and Stud bolt .

Bolt <Xpage=163>

Bolt , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bolted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting .] 1. To shoot; to discharge or drive forth.

<page="164"> Page 164

2. To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.

I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments. Milton.

3. To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food .

4. (U. S. Politics) To refuse to support, as a nomination made by a party to which one has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part.

5. (Sporting) To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies, rabbits, etc.

6. To fasten or secure with, or as with, a bolt or bolts, as a door, a timber, fetters; to shackle; to restrain.

Let tenfold iron bolt my door. Langhorn.

Which shackles accidents and bolts up change. Shak.

Bolt <Xpage=164>

Bolt (?) , v. i. 1. To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room .

This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, . . . And oft out of a bush doth bolt . Drayton.

2. To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.

His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads. Milton.

3. To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as, the horse bolted .

4. (U.S. Politics) To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or a caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.

Bolt <Xpage=164>

Bolt , adv. In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

[He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon. Thackeray.

Bolt upright . (a) Perfectly upright; perpendicular; straight up; unbendingly erect. Addison . (b) On the back at full length. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Bolt <Xpage=164>

Bolt , n. [From Bolt , v. i. ] 1. A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt .

2. A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.

This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt to America -- or anywhere. Compton Reade.

3. (U. S. Politics) A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.

Bolt <Xpage=164>

Bolt , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bolted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting .] [OE. bolten , boulten , OF. buleter , F. bluter , fr. Ll. buletare , buratare , cf. F. bure coarse woolen stuff; fr. L. burrus red. See Borrel , and cf. Bultel .]

1. To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.

He now had bolted all the flour. Spenser.

Ill schooled in bolted language. Shak.

2. To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; -- with out .

Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things. L'Estrange.

3. (Law) To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.

Jacob.

To bolt to the bran , to examine thoroughly, so as to separate or discover everything important.

Chaucer.

This bolts the matter fairly to the bran . Harte.

The report of the committee was examined and sifted and bolted to the bran . Burke.

Bolt <Xpage=164>

Bolt , n. A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

B. Jonson.

Boltel <Xpage=164>

Bol"tel (?) , n. See Boultel .

Bolter <Xpage=164>

Bolt"er (?) , n. One who bolts; esp.: (a) A horse which starts suddenly aside. (b) A man who breaks away from his party.

Bolter <Xpage=164>

Bolt"er , n. 1. One who sifts flour or meal.

2. An instrument or machine for separating bran from flour, or the coarser part of meal from the finer; a sieve.

Bolter <Xpage=164>

Bolt"er , n. A kind of fishing line. See Boulter .

Bolthead <Xpage=164>

Bolt"head` (<?/) , n. 1. (Chem.) A long, straightnecked, glass vessel for chemical distillations; -- called also a matrass or receiver.

2. The head of a bolt.

Bolting <Xpage=164>

Bolt"ing , n. A darting away; a starting off or aside.

Bolting <Xpage=164>

Bolt"ing , n. 1. A sifting, as of flour or meal.

2. (Law) A private arguing of cases for practice by students, as in the Inns of Court. [Obs.]

Bolting cloth , wire, hair, silk, or other sieve cloth of different degrees of fineness; -- used by millers for sifting flour. McElrath . -- Bolting hutch , a bin or tub for the bolted flour or meal; ( fig .) a receptacle.

Boltonite <Xpage=164>

Bol"ton*ite (?) , n. (Min.) A granular mineral of a grayish or yellowish color, found in Bolton, Massachusetts. It is a silicate of magnesium, belonging to the chrysolite family.

Boltrope <Xpage=164>

Bolt"rope` (<?/) , n. (Naut.) A rope stitched to the edges of a sail to strengthen the sail.

Boltsprit <Xpage=164>

Bolt"sprit` (<?/) , n. [A corruption of bowsprit .] (Naut.) See Bowsprit .

Bolty <Xpage=164>

Bol"ty (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) An edible fish of the Nile (genus Chromis ). [Written also bulti .]

Bolus <Xpage=164>

Bo"lus (?) , n. ; pl. Boluses (#) . [L. bolus bit, morsel; cf. G. <?/ lump of earth. See Bole , n. , clay.] A rounded mass of anything, esp. a large pill.

Bom <Xpage=164>

Bom (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A large American serpent, so called from the sound it makes.

Bomb <Xpage=164>

Bomb (?) , n. [F. bombe bombshell, fr. L. bombus a humming or buzzing noise, Gr. <?/ .]

1. A great noise; a hollow sound. [Obs.]

A pillar of iron . . . which if you had struck, would make . . . a great bomb in the chamber beneath. Bacon.

2. (Mil.) A shell; esp. a spherical shell, like those fired from mortars. See Shell .

3. A bomb ketch.

Bomb chest (Mil.) , a chest filled with bombs, or only with gunpowder, placed under ground, to cause destruction by its explosion. -- Bomb ketch , Bomb vessel (Naut.) , a small ketch or vessel, very strongly built, on which mortars are mounted to be used in naval bombardments; -- called also mortar vessel . -- Bomb lance , a lance or harpoon with an explosive head, used in whale fishing. -- Volcanic bomb , a mass of lava of a spherical or pear shape. "I noticed volcanic bombs ."

Darwin.

Bomb <Xpage=164>

Bomb , v. t. To bombard. [Obs.]

Prior.

Bomb <Xpage=164>

Bomb , v. i. [Cf. Boom .] To sound; to boom; to make a humming or buzzing sound. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Bombace <Xpage=164>

Bom"bace (?) , n. [OF.] Cotton; padding. [Obs.]

Bombard <Xpage=164>

Bom"bard (?) , n. [F. bombarde , LL. bombarda , fr. L. bombus + -ard . Cf. Bumper , and see Bomb .] 1. (Gun.) A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for throwing stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon.

They planted in divers places twelve great bombards , wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses. Knolles.

2. A bombardment. [Poetic & R.]

J. Barlow.

3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying liquor or beer. [Obs.]

Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. Shak.

4. pl. Padded breeches. [Obs.]

Bombard phrase , inflated language; bombast. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Bombard <Xpage=164>

Bom"bard (?) , n. [OE. bombarde , fr. F. bombarde .] (Mus.) See Bombardo . [Obs.]

Bombard <Xpage=164>

Bom*bard" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bombarded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bombarding .] To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to throw shells, hot shot, etc., at or into.

Next, she means to bombard Naples. Burke.

His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe. Wood.

Bombardier <Xpage=164>

Bom`bar*dier" (?) , n. [F. bombardier .] (Mil.) (a) One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner. [Archaic] (b) A noncommissioned officer in the British artillery.

Bombardier beetle (Zo\'94l.) , a kind of beetle ( Brachinus crepitans ), so called because, when disturbed, it makes an explosive discharge of a pungent and acrid vapor from its anal glands. The name is applied to other related species, as the B. displosor , which can produce ten or twelve explosions successively. The common American species is B. fumans .

Bombardman <Xpage=164>

Bom"bard*man (?) , n. One who carried liquor or beer in a can or bombard. [Obs.]

They . . . made room for a bombardman that brought bouge for a country lady. B. Jonson.

Bombardment <Xpage=164>

Bom*bard"ment (?) , n. [F. bombardement .] An attack upon a fortress or fortified town, with shells, hot shot, rockets, etc.; the act of throwing bombs and shot into a town or fortified place.

Bombardo, Bombardon <Xpage=164>

Bom*bar"do (?) , Bom*bar"don (?) , n. [It. bombardo .] (Mus.) Originally, a deep-toned instrument of the oboe or bassoon family; thence, a bass reed stop on the organ. The name bombardon is now given to a brass instrument, the lowest of the saxhorns, in tone resembling the ophicleide.

Grove.

Bombasine <Xpage=164>

Bom`ba*sine" (?) , n. Same as Bombazine .

Bombast <Xpage=164>

Bom"bast (?) , n. [OF. bombace cotton, LL. bombax cotton, bombasium a doublet of cotton; hence, padding, wadding, fustian. See Bombazine .] 1. Originally, cotton, or cotton wool. [Obs.]

A candle with a wick of bombast . Lupton.

2. Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for garments; stuffing; padding. [Obs.]

How now, my sweet creature of bombast ! Shak.

Doublets, stuffed with four, five, or six pounds of bombast at least. Stubbes.

3. Fig.: High-sounding words; an inflated style; language above the dignity of the occasion; fustian.

Yet noisy bombast carefully avoid. Dryden.

Bombast <Xpage=164>

Bom"bast , a. High-sounding; inflated; big without meaning; magniloquent; bombastic.

[He] evades them with a bombast circumstance, Horribly stuffed with epithets of war. Shak.

Nor a tall metaphor in bombast way. Cowley.

Bombast <Xpage=164>

Bom*bast" (?) , v. t. To swell or fill out; to pad; to inflate. [Obs.]

Not bombasted with words vain ticklish ears to feed. Drayton.

Bombastic, Bombastical <Xpage=164>

Bom*bas"tic (?) , Bom*bas"tic*al (?) , a. Characterized by bombast; highsounding; inflated. -- Bom*bas"tic*al*ly , adv.

A theatrical, bombastic , windy phraseology. Burke.

Syn. -- Turgid; tumid; pompous; grandiloquent.

Bombastry <Xpage=164>

Bom"bast*ry (?) , n. Swelling words without much meaning; bombastic language; fustian.

Bombastry and buffoonery, by nature lofty and light, soar highest of all. Swift.

Bombax <Xpage=164>

Bom"bax (?) , n. [LL., cotton. See Bombast , n. ] (Bot.) A genus of trees, called also the silkcotton tree ; also, a tree of the genus Bombax.

Bombazet Bombazette <Xpage=164>

Bom`ba*zet" Bom`ba*zette" (?) , n. [Cf. Bombazine .] A sort of thin woolen cloth. It is of various colors, and may be plain or twilled.

Bombazine <Xpage=164>

Bom`ba*zine" (?) , n. [F. bombasin , LL. bombacinium , bambacinium , L. bombycinus silken, bombycinum a silk or cotton texture, fr. bombyx silk, silkworm, Gr. <?/ . Cf. Bombast , Bombycinous .] A twilled fabric for dresses, of which the warp is silk, and the weft worsted. Black bombazine has been much used for mourning garments. [Sometimes spelt bombasin , and bombasine .]

Tomlinson.

Bombic <Xpage=164>

Bom"bic (?) , a. [L. bombyx silk, silkworm: cf. F. bombique .] Pertaining to, or obtained from, the silkworm; as, bombic acid .

Bombilate <Xpage=164>

Bom"bi*late (?) , v. i. [LL. bombilare , for L. bombitare . See Bomb , n. ] To hum; to buzz. [R.]

Bombilation <Xpage=164>

Bom`bi*la"tion (?) , n. A humming sound; a booming.

To . . . silence the bombilation of guns. Sir T. Browne.

Bombinate <Xpage=164>

Bom"bi*nate (?) , v. i. To hum; to boom.

Bombination <Xpage=164>

Bom`bi*na"tion (?) , n. A humming or buzzing.

Bombolo <Xpage=164>

Bom"bo*lo (?) , n. ; pl. Bomboloes (#) . [Cf. It bombola a pitcher.] A thin spheroidal glass retort or flask, used in the sublimation of camphor. [Written also bumbelo , and bumbolo .]

Bombproof <Xpage=164>

Bomb"proof` (?) , a. Secure against the explosive force of bombs. -- n. A structure which heavy shot and shell will not penetrate.

Bombshell <Xpage=164>

Bomb"shell` (<?/) , n. A bomb. See Bomb , n.

Bombycid <Xpage=164>

Bom*by"cid (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to the genus Bombyx, or the family Bombycid\'91 .

Bombycinous <Xpage=164>