Chapter 207

Bul"ly tree` (?) . (Bot.) The name of several West Indian trees of the order Sapotace\'91 , as Dipholis nigra and species of Sapota and Mimusops . Most of them yield a substance closely resembling gutta-percha.

Bulrush <Xpage=191>

Bul"rush` (?) , n. [OE. bulrysche , bolroysche ; of uncertain origin, perh. fr. bole stem + rush .] (Bot.) A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water.

&hand; The name bulrush is applied in England especially to the cat-tail ( Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia ) and to the lake club-rush ( Scirpus lacustris ); in America, to the Juncus effusus , and also to species of Scirpus or club-rush.

Bulse <Xpage=191>

Bulse (?) , n. A purse or bag in which to carry or measure diamonds, etc. [India]

Macaulay.

Bultel <Xpage=191>

Bul"tel (?) , n. [LL. bultellus . See Bolt to sift.] A bolter or bolting cloth; also, bran. [Obs.]

Bulti <Xpage=191>

Bul"ti (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Bolty .

Bultow <Xpage=191>

Bul"tow` (?) , n. A trawl; a boulter; the mod<?/ of fishing with a boulter or spiller.

Bulwark <Xpage=191>

Bul"wark (?) , n. [Akin to D. bolwerk , G. bollwerk , Sw. bolwerk , Dan. bolv\'84rk , bulv\'84rk , rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See Bole stem, and Work , n. , and cf. Boulevard .] 1. (Fort.) A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork.

2. That which secures against an enemy, or defends from attack; any means of defense or protection.

The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defense, . . . the floating bulwark of our island. Blackstone.

3. pl. (Naut.) The sides of a ship above the upper deck.

Syn. -- See Rampart .

Bulwark <Xpage=191>

Bul"wark , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bulwarked (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb . n. Bulwarking .] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect.

Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers. Glover.

Bum <Xpage=191>

Bum (?) , n. [Contr. fr. bottom in this sense.] The buttock. [Low]

Shak.

Bum <Xpage=191>

Bum , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bummed (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb . n. Bumming (<?/).] [See Boom , v. i., to roar.] To make murmuring or humming sound.

Jamieson.

Bum <Xpage=191>

Bum , n. A humming noise.

Halliwell.

Bumbailiff <Xpage=191>

Bum"bail"iff (?) , n. [A corruption of bound bailiff .] [Low, Eng.] See Bound bailiff , under Bound , a.

Bumbard <Xpage=191>

Bum"bard (?) . See Bombard . [Obs.]

Bumbarge <Xpage=191>

Bum"barge` (?) , n. See Bumboat .

Carlyle.

Bumbast <Xpage=191>

Bum"bast (?) . See Bombast . [Obs.]

Bumbelo <Xpage=191>

Bum"be*lo (?) , n. ; pl. Bumbeloes (#) . [It. bombola .] A glass used in subliming camphor. [Spelled also bombolo and bumbolo .]

Bumble <Xpage=191>

Bum"ble (?) , n. [See Bump to boom.] (Zo\'94l.) The bittern. [Local, Eng.]

Bumble <Xpage=191>

Bum"ble , v. i. To make a hollow or humming noise, like that of a bumblebee; to cry as a bittern.

As a bittern bumbleth in the mire. Chaucer.

Bumblebee <Xpage=191>

Bum"ble*bee` (?) , n. [OE. bumblen to make a humming noise (dim. of bum , v.i.) + bee . Cf. Humblebee .] (Zo\'94l.) A large bee of the genus Bombus , sometimes called humblebee ; -- so named from its sound.

&hand; There are many species. All gather honey, and store it in the empty cocoons after the young have come out.

Bumboat <Xpage=191>

Bum"boat` (?) , n. [From bum the buttocks, on account of its clumsy form; or fr. D. bun a box for holding fish in a boat.] (Naut.) A clumsy boat, used for conveying provisions, fruit, etc., for sale, to vessels lying in port or off shore.

Bumkin <Xpage=191>

Bum"kin (?) , n. [ Boom a beam + -kin . See Bumpkin .] (Naut.) A projecting beam or boom; as: (a) One projecting from each bow of a vessel, to haul the fore tack to, called a tack bumpkin . (b) Onr from each quarter, for the main-brace blocks, and called brace bumpkin . (c) A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, to extend the mizzen. [Written also boomkin .]

Bummalo <Xpage=191>

Bum"ma*lo (?) , n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A small marine Asiatic fish ( Saurus ophidon ) used in India as a relish; -- called also Bombay duck .

Bummer <Xpage=191>

Bum"mer (?) , n. An idle, worthless fellow, who is without any visible means of support; a dissipated sponger. [Slang, U.S.]

Bummery <Xpage=191>

Bum"me*ry (?) , n. See Bottomery . [Obs.]

There was a scivener of Wapping brought to hearing for relief against a bummery bond. R. North.

Bump <Xpage=191>

Bump (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bumped (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bumping .] [Cf. W. pwmp round mass, pwmpiaw to thump, bang, and E. bum , v.i., boom to roar.] To strike, as with or against anything large or solid; to thump; as, to bump the head against a wall .

Bump <Xpage=191>

Bump , v. i. To come in violent contact with something; to thump. " Bumping and jumping."

Southey.

Bump <Xpage=191>

Bump (?) , n. [From Bump to strike, to thump.] 1. A thump; a heavy blow.

2. A swelling or prominence, resulting from a bump or blow; a protuberance.

It had upon its brow A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone. Shak.

3. (Phren.) One of the protuberances on the cranium which are associated with distinct faculties or affections of the mind; as, the bump of "veneration;" the bump of "acquisitiveness." [Colloq.]

4. The act of striking the stern of the boat in advance with the prow of the boat following. [Eng.]

Bump <Xpage=191>

Bump , v. i. [See Boom to roar.] To make a loud, heavy, or hollow noise, as the bittern; to boom.

As a bittern bumps within a reed. Dryden.

Bump <Xpage=191>

Bump , n. The noise made by the bittern.

Bumper <Xpage=191>

Bum"per (?) , n. [A corruption of bumbard , bombard , a large drinking vessel.] 1. A cup or glass filled to the brim, or till the liquor runs over, particularly in drinking a health or toast.

He frothed his bumpers to the brim. Tennyson.

2. A covered house at a theater, etc., in honor of some favorite performer. [Cant]

Bumper <Xpage=191>

Bump"er (?) , n. 1. That which bumps or causes a bump.

2. Anything which resists or deadens a bump or shock; a buffer.

Bumpkin <Xpage=191>

Bump"kin (?) , n. [The same word as bumkin , which Cotgrave defines thus: " Bumkin , Fr. chicambault, the luffe-block, a long and thick piece of wood, whereunto the fore-sayle and sprit-sayle are fastened, when a ship goes by the winde." Hence, a clumsy man may easily have been compared to such a block of wood; cf. OD. boomken a little tree. See Boom a pole.] An awkward, heavy country fellow; a clown; a country lout. "Bashful country bumpkins ."

W. Irving.

Bumptious <Xpage=191>

Bump"tious (?) , a. Self-conceited; forward; pushing. [Colloq.]

Halliwell.

Bumptiousness <Xpage=191>

Bump"tious*ness , n. Conceitedness. [Colloq.]

Bun, Bunn <Xpage=191>

Bun , Bunn (?) , n. [Scot. bun , bunn , OE. bunne , bonne ; fr. Celtic; cf. Ir. bunna , Gael. bonnach , or OF. bugne tumor, Prov. F. bugne a kind of pancake; akin to OHG. bungo bulb, MHG. bunge , Prov. E. bung heap, cluster, bunny a small swelling.] A slightly sweetened raised cake or bisquit with a glazing of sugar and milk on the top crust.

Bunch <Xpage=191>

Bunch (?) , n. [Akin to OSw. & Dan. bunke heap, Icel. bunki heap, pile, bunga tumor, protuberance; cf. W. pwng cluster. Cf. Bunk .] 1. A protuberance; a hunch; a knob or lump; a hump.

They will carry . . . their treasures upon the bunches of camels. Isa. xxx. 6.

2. A collection, cluster, or tuft, properly of things of the same kind, growing or fastened together; as, a bunch of grapes; a bunch of keys.

3. (Mining) A small isolated mass of ore, as distinguished from a continuous vein.

Page.

Bunch <Xpage=191>

Bunch , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bunched er> (<?/); p. pr. & vb.n . Bunching er>.] To swell out into a bunch or protuberance; to be protuberant or round.

Bunching out into a large round knob at one end. Woodward.

Bunch <Xpage=191>

Bunch , v. t. To form into a bunch or bunches.

Bunch-backed <Xpage=191>

Bunch"-backed` (?) , a. Having a bunch on the back; crooked. " Bunch-backed toad."

Shak.

Bunchberry <Xpage=191>

Bunch"ber`ry (?) , n. (Bot.) The dwarf cornel ( Cornus Canadensis ), which bears a dense cluster of bright red, edible berries.

Bunch grass <Xpage=191>

Bunch" grass` (?) . (Bot.) A grass growing in bunches and affording pasture. In California, Atropis tenuifolia , Festuca scabrella , and several kinds of Stipa are favorite bunch grasses. In Utah, Eriocoma cuspidata is a good bunch grass.

Bunchiness <Xpage=191>

Bunch"i*ness (?) , n. The quality or condition of being bunchy; knobbiness.

Bunchy <Xpage=191>

Bunch"y (?) , a. 1. Swelling out in bunches.

An unshapen, bunchy spear, with bark unpiled. Phaer.

2. Growing in bunches, or resembling a bunch; having tufts; as, the bird's bunchy tail .

3. (Mining) Yielding irregularly; sometimes rich, sometimes poor; as, a bunchy mine .

Page.

Buncombe, Bunkum <Xpage=191>

Bun"combe , Bun"kum (?) , n. [ Buncombe a country of North Carolina.] Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said for mere show. [Cant or Slang, U.S.]

All that flourish about right of search was bunkum -- all that brag about hanging your Canada sheriff was bunkum . . . slavery speeches are all bunkum . Haliburton.

To speak for Buncombe , to speak for mere show, or popularly.

&hand; "The phrase originated near the close of the debate on the famous 'Missouri Question,' in the 16th Congress. It was then used by Felix Walker -- a na\'8bve old mountaineer, who resided at Waynesville, in Haywood, the most western country of North Carolina, near the border of the adjacent country of Buncombe , which formed part of his district. The old man rose to speak, while the house was impatiently calling for the ' Question ,' and several members gathered round him, begging him to desist. He preserved, however, for a while, declaring that the people of his district expected it, and that he was bound to 'make a speech for Buncombe .'"

W. Darlington.

Bund <Xpage=191>

Bund (?) , n. [G.] League; confederacy; esp. the confederation of German states.

Bund <Xpage=191>

Bund (?) , n. [Hindi band .] An embankment against inundation. [India]

S. Wells Williams.

Bunder <Xpage=191>

Bun"der (?) , n. [Pers. bandar a landing place, pier.] A boat or raft used in the East Indies in the landing of passengers and goods.

<page="192"> Page 192

Bundesrath <Xpage=192>

Bun"des*rath` (?) , n. [G., from bund (akin to E. bond ) confederacy + rath council, prob. akin to E. read .] The federal council of the German Empire. In the Bundesrath and the Reichstag are vested the legislative functions. The federal council of Switzerland is also so called.

&hand; The Bundesrath of the German empire is presided over by a chancellor, and is composed of sixty-two members, who represent the different states of the empire, being appointed for each session by their respective governments.

By this united congress, the highest tribunal of Switzerland, -- the Bundesrath -- is chosen, and the head of this is a president. J. P. Peters (Trans. M\'81ller's Pol. Hist. ).

Bundle <Xpage=192>

Bun"dle (?) , n. [OE. bundel , AS. byndel ; akin to D. bondel , bundel , G. b\'81ndel , dim. of bund bundle, fr. the root of E. bind . See Bind .] A number of things bound together, as by a cord or envelope, into a mass or package convenient for handling or conveyance; a loose package; a roll; as, a bundle of straw or of paper; a bundle of old clothes.

The fable of the rods, which, when united in a bundle , no strength could bend. Goldsmith.

Bundle pillar (Arch.) , a column or pier, with others of small dimensions attached to it. Weale.

Bundle <Xpage=192>

Bun"dle , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. pos> Bundled (<?/); p. pr. & vb.n . Bundling (<?/) .] 1. To tie or bind in a bundle or roll.

2. To send off abruptly or without ceremony.

They unmercifully bundled me and my gallant second into our own hackney coach. T. Hook.

To bundle off , to send off in a hurry, or without ceremony. -- To bundle one's self up , to wrap one's self up warmly or cumbrously.

Bundle <Xpage=192>

Bun"dle , v. i. 1. To prepare for departure; to set off in a hurry or without ceremony.

2. To sleep on the same bed without undressing; -- applied to the custom of a man and woman, especially lovers, thus sleeping.

Bartlett.

Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin pies, dance at country frolics, and bundle with the Yankee lasses. W. Irving.

Bung <Xpage=192>

Bung (?) , n. [Cf. W. bwng orfice, bunghole, Ir. buinne tap, spout, OGael. buine .] 1. The large stopper of the orifice in the bilge of a cask.

2. The orifice in the bilge of a cask through which it is filled; bunghole.

3. A sharper or pickpocket. [Obs. & Low]

You filthy bung , away. Shak.

Bung <Xpage=192>

Bung , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bunged (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bunging (#) .] To stop, as the orifice in the bilge of a cask, with a bung; to close; -- with up .

To bung up , to use up, as by bruising or over exertion; to exhaust or incapacitate for action. [Low]

He had bunged up his mouth that he should not have spoken these three years. Shelton (Trans. Don Quixote).

Bungalow <Xpage=192>

Bun"ga*low (?) , n. [Bengalee b\'bengl\'be ] A thatched or tiled house or cottage, of a single story, usually surrounded by a veranda. [India]

Bungarum <Xpage=192>

Bun"ga*rum (?) , n. [ Bungar , the native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A venomous snake of India, of the genus Bungarus , allied to the cobras, but without a hood.

Bunghole <Xpage=192>

Bung"hole` (?) , n. See Bung , n. , 2.

Shak.

Bungle <Xpage=192>

Bun"gle (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bungled (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n . Bungling (#) .] [Prob. a diminutive from, akin to bang ; cf. Prov. G. bungen to beat, bang, OSw. bunga . See Bang .] To act or work in a clumsy, awkward manner.

Bungle <Xpage=192>

Bun"gle , v. t. To make or mend clumsily; to manage awkwardly; to botch; -- sometimes with up .

I always had an idea that it would be bungled . Byron.

Bungle <Xpage=192>

Bun"gle (?) , n. A clumsy or awkward performance; a botch; a gross blunder.

Those errors and bungles which are committed. Cudworth.

Bungler <Xpage=192>

Bun"gler (?) , n. A clumsy, awkward workman; one who bungles.

If to be a dunce or a bungler in any profession be shameful, how much more ignominious and infamous to a scholar to be such! Barrow.

Bungling <Xpage=192>

Bun"gling (?) , a. Unskillful; awkward; clumsy; as, a bungling workman .

Swift.

They make but bungling work. Dryden.

Bunglingly <Xpage=192>

Bun"gling*ly , adv. Clumsily; awkwardly.

Bungo <Xpage=192>

Bun"go (?) , n. (Naut.) A kind of canoe used in Central and South America; also, a kind of boat used in the Southern United States.

Bartlett.

Bunion <Xpage=192>

Bun"ion (?) , n. (Med.) Same as Bunyon .

Bunk <Xpage=192>

Bunk (?) , n. [Cf. OSw. bunke heap, also boaring, flooring. Cf. Bunch .] 1. A wooden case or box, which serves for a seat in the daytime and for a bed at night. [U.S.]

2. One of a series of berths or bed places in tiers.

3. A piece of wood placed on a lumberman's sled to sustain the end of heavy timbers. [Local, U.S.]

Bunk <Xpage=192>

Bunk , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Bunked (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bunking .] To go to bed in a bunk; -- sometimes with in . [Colloq. U.S.]

Bartlett.

Bunker <Xpage=192>

Bun"ker (?) , n. [Scot. bunker , bunkart , a bench, or low chest, serving for a seat. Cf. Bunk , Bank , Bench .]

1. A sort of chest or box, as in a window, the lid of which serves for a seat. [Scot.]

Jamieson.

2. A large bin or similar receptacle; as, a coal bunker .

Bunko <Xpage=192>

Bun"ko (?) , n. [Sf. Sp. banco bank, banca a sort of game at cards. Cf. Bank (in the commercial sense).] A kind of swindling game or scheme, by means of cards or by a sham lottery. [Written also bunco .]

Bunko steerer , a person employed as a decoy in bunko. [Slang, U.S.]

Bunkum <Xpage=192>

Bun"kum (?) , n. See Buncombe .

Bunn <Xpage=192>

Bunn (?) , n. See Bun .

Bunnian <Xpage=192>

Bun"nian (?) , n. See Bunyon .

Bunny <Xpage=192>