Chapter 78

Ba*ro"ko (b*r"k), n. [A mnemonic word.] (Logic) A form or mode of syllogism of which the first proposition is a universal affirmative, and the other two are particular negatives.

Ba*rol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. baros weight + -logy.] The science of weight or gravity.

Bar`o*ma*crom"e*ter (&?;), n. [Gr. baros weight + makro`s long + -meter.] (Med.) An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a newborn infant.

Ba*rom"e*ter (&?;), n. [Gr. baros weight + -meter: cf. F. baromètre.] An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather, or for ascertaining the height of any ascent.

The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence about 1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling a graduated glass tube about 34 inches long with mercury and inverting it in a cup containing mercury. The column of mercury in the tube descends until balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise or fall under varying conditions is a measure of the change in the atmospheric pressure. At the sea level its ordinary height is about 30 inches (760 millimeters). See Sympiesometer. Nichol.

Aneroid barometer. See Aneroid barometer, under Aneroid. -- Marine barometer, a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals from an arm or support on shipboard. -- Mountain barometer, a portable mercurial barometer with tripod support, and long scale, for measuring heights. -- Siphon barometer, a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere. -- Wheel barometer, a barometer with recurved tube, and a float, from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.

{ Bar`o*met"ric (br`*mt"rk), Bar`o*met"ric*al (-mt"r*kal), } a. Pertaining to the barometer; made or indicated by a barometer; as, barometric changes; barometrical observations.

Bar`o*met"ric*al*ly, adv. By means of a barometer, or according to barometric observations.

Bar`o*met"ro*graph (-r*grf), n. [Gr. baros weight + me`tron measure + -graph.] A form of barometer so constructed as to inscribe of itself upon paper a record of the variations of atmospheric pressure.

Ba*rom"e*try (&?;), n. The art or process of making barometrical measurements.

Bar"o*metz (&?;), n. [Cf. Russ. baranets' clubmoss.] (Bot.) The woolly-skinned rhizoma or rootstock of a fern (Dicksonia barometz), which, when specially prepared and inverted, somewhat resembles a lamb; -- called also Scythian lamb.

Bar"on (&?;), n. [OE. baron, barun, OF. baron, accus. of ber, F. baron, prob. fr. OHG. baro (not found) bearer, akin to E. bear to support; cf. O. Frisian bere, LL. baro, It. barone, Sp. varon. From the meaning bearer (of burdens) seem to have come the senses strong man, man (in distinction from woman), which is the oldest meaning in French, and lastly, nobleman. Cf. L. baro, simpleton. See Bear to support.]

1. A title or degree of nobility; originally, the possessor of a fief, who had feudal tenants under him; in modern times, in France and Germany, a nobleman next in rank below a count; in England, a nobleman of the lowest grade in the House of Lords, being next below a viscount.

"The tenants in chief from the Crown, who held lands of the annual value of four hundred pounds, were styled Barons; and it is to them, and not to the members of the lowest grade of the nobility (to whom the title at the present time belongs), that reference is made when we read of the Barons of the early days of England's history. . . . Barons are addressed as ‘My Lord,' and are styled ‘Right Honorable.' All their sons and daughters are ‘Honorable.'" Cussans.

2. (Old Law) A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife. [R.] Cowell.

Baron of beef, two sirloins not cut asunder at the backbone. -- Barons of the Cinque Ports, formerly members of the House of Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port. -- Barons of the exchequer, the judges of the Court of Exchequer, one of the three ancient courts of England, now abolished.

Bar"on*age (&?;), n. [OE. barnage, baronage, OF. barnage, F. baronnage; cf. LL. baronagium.] 1. The whole body of barons or peers.

The baronage of the kingdom. Bp. Burnet.

2. The dignity or rank of a baron.

3. The land which gives title to a baron. [Obs.]

Bar"on*ess (&?;), n. A baron's wife; also, a lady who holds the baronial title in her own right; as, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.

Bar"on*et (&?;), n. [Baron + - et.] A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is hereditary. The baronets are commoners.

The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by patent. The word, however, in the sense of a lesser baron, was in use long before. "Baronets have the title of 'Sir' prefixed to their Christian names; their surnames being followed by their dignity, usually abbreviated Bart. Their wives are addressed as 'Lady' or 'Madam'. Their sons are possessed of no title beyond 'Esquire.'" Cussans.

Bar"on*et*age (&?;), n. 1. State or rank of a baronet.

2. The collective body of baronets.

Bar"on*et*cy (&?;), n. The rank or patent of a baronet.

Ba*ro"ni*al (&?;), a. Pertaining to a baron or a barony. "Baronial tenure." Hallam.

Bar"o*ny (&?;), n.; pl. Baronies (&?;). [OF. baronie, F. baronnie, LL. baronia. See Baron.] 1. The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a baron.

2. In Ireland, a territorial division, corresponding nearly to the English hundred, and supposed to have been originally the district of a native chief. There are 252 of these baronies. In Scotland, an extensive freehold. It may be held by a commoner. Brande & C.

Ba*roque" (&?;), a. [F.; cf. It. barocco.] (Arch.) In bad taste; grotesque; odd.

Bar"o*scope (br"*skp), n. [Gr. baros weight + -scope: cf. F. baroscope.] Any instrument showing the changes in the weight of the atmosphere; also, less appropriately, any instrument that indicates or foreshadows changes of the weather, as a deep vial of liquid holding in suspension some substance which rises and falls with atmospheric changes.

{ Bar`o*scop"ic (&?;), Bar`o*scop"ic*al (&?;), } a. Pertaining to, or determined by, the baroscope.

Ba*rouche" (&?;), n. [G. barutsche, It. baroccio, biroccio, LL. barrotium, fr. L. birotus two-wheeled; bi- =bis twice + rota wheel.] A four-wheeled carriage, with a falling top, a seat on the outside for the driver, and two double seats on the inside arranged so that the sitters on the front seat face those on the back seat.

Ba`rou*chet" (&?;), n. A kind of light barouche.

Bar"post` (&?;), n. A post sunk in the ground to receive the bars closing a passage into a field.

Barque (&?;), n. Same as 3d Bark, n.

Bar"ra*can (&?;), n. [F. baracan, bouracan (cf. Pr. barracan, It. baracane, Sp. barragan, Pg. barregana, LL. barracanus), fr. Ar. barrakn a kind of black gown, perh. fr. Per. barak a garment made of camel's hair.] A thick, strong stuff, somewhat like camlet; -- still used for outer garments in the Levant.

Bar"rack (&?;), n. [F. baraque, fr. It. baracca (cf. Sp. barraca), from LL. barra bar. See Bar, n.]

1. (Mil.) A building for soldiers, especially when in garrison. Commonly in the pl., originally meaning temporary huts, but now usually applied to a permanent structure or set of buildings.

He lodged in a miserable hut or barrack, composed of dry branches and thatched with straw. Gibbon.

2. A movable roof sliding on four posts, to cover hay, straw, etc. [Local, U.S.]

Bar"rack, v. t. To supply with barracks; to establish in barracks; as, to barrack troops.

Bar"rack, v. i. To live or lodge in barracks.

Bar"ra*clade (&?;), n. [D. baar, OD. baer, naked, bare + kleed garment, i.e., cloth undressed or without nap.] A home-made woolen blanket without nap. [Local, New York] Bartlett.

Bar"ra*coon` (&?;), n. [Sp. or Pg. barraca. See Barrack.] A slave warehouse, or an inclosure where slaves are quartered temporarily. Du Chaillu.

{ Bar`ra*cu"da (&?;), Bar`ra*cou"ta (&?;), } n. 1. (Zoöl.) A voracious, pikelike, marine fish, of the genus Sphyræna, sometimes used as food.

That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is Sphyræna spet (or S. vulgaris); a southern species is S. picuda; the Californian is S. argentea.

2. (Zoöl.) A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand (Thyrsites atun).

Bar"rage (&?;), n. [F., fr. barrer to bar, from barre bar.] (Engin.) An artificial bar or obstruction placed in a river or watercourse to increase the depth of water; as, the barrages of the Nile.

||Bar*ran"ca (&?;), n. [Sp.] A ravine caused by heavy rains or a watercourse. [Texas & N. Mex.]

||Bar"ras (&?;), n. [F.] A resin, called also galipot.

Bar"ra*tor (&?;), n. [OE. baratour, OF. barateor deceiver, fr. OF. barater, bareter, to deceive, cheat, barter. See Barter, v. i.] One guilty of barratry.

Bar"ra*trous (&?;), a. (Law) Tainted with, or constituting, barratry. -- Bar"ra*trous*ly, adv. Kent.

Bar"ra*try (&?;), n. [Cf. F. baraterie, LL. barataria. See Barrator, and cf. Bartery.] 1. (Law) The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels. [Also spelt barretry.] Coke. Blackstone.

2. (Mar. Law) A fraudulent breach of duty or willful act of known illegality on the part of a master of a ship, in his character of master, or of the mariners, to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo, and without his consent. It includes every breach of trust committed with dishonest purpose, as by running away with the ship, sinking or deserting her, etc., or by embezzling the cargo. Kent. Park.

3. (Scots Law) The crime of a judge who is influenced by bribery in pronouncing judgment. Wharton.

Barred" owl" (&?;). (Zoöl.) A large American owl (Syrnium nebulosum); -- so called from the transverse bars of a dark brown color on the breast.

Bar"rel (br"rl), n. [OE. barel, F. baril, prob. fr. barre bar. Cf. Barricade.] 1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads.

2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31½ gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds.

3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.

<! p. 121 pr=SA !>

4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged. Knight.

5. A jar. [Obs.] 1 Kings xvii. 12.

6. (Zoöl.) The hollow basal part of a feather.

Barrel bulk (Com.), a measure equal to five cubic feet, used in estimating capacity, as of a vessel for freight. - - Barrel drain (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical tube. -- Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part of a boiler, containing the flues. -- Barrel of the ear (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic cavity. -- Barrel organ, an instrument for producing music by the action of a revolving cylinder. -- Barrel vault. See under Vault.

Bar"rel (br"rl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barreled (-rld), or Barrelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Barreling, or Barrelling.] To put or to pack in a barrel or barrels.

{ Bar"reled, Bar"relled } (&?;), a. Having a barrel; -- used in composition; as, a double-barreled gun.

Bar"ren (br"ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. bréhaigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. brékhañ, markhañ, sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.] 1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; -- said of women and female animals.

She was barren of children.

Bp. Hall.

2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; sterile. "Barren mountain tracts." Macaulay.

3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.

Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott.

Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift.

4. Mentally dull; stupid. Shak.

Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a pistil, or which has neither stamens nor pistils. -- Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward of the forest regions. -- Barren Ground bear (Zoöl.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown bear of Europe. -- Barren Ground caribou (Zoöl.), a small reindeer (Rangifer Grœnlandicus) peculiar to the Barren Grounds and Greenland.

Bar"ren, n. 1. A tract of barren land.

2. pl. Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not timber; as, pine barrens; oak barrens. They are not necessarily sterile, and are often fertile. [Amer.] J. Pickering.

Bar"ren*ly, adv. Unfruitfully; unproductively.

Bar"ren*ness, n. The condition of being barren; sterility; unproductiveness.

A total barrenness of invention. Dryden.

Bar"ren*wort` (&?;), n. (Bot.) An herbaceous plant of the Barberry family (Epimedium alpinum), having leaves that are bitter and said to be sudorific.

Bar"ret (&?;), n. [F. barrette, LL. barretum a cap. See Berretta, and cf. Biretta.] A kind of cap formerly worn by soldiers; -- called also barret cap. Also, the flat cap worn by Roman Catholic ecclesiastics.

Bar`ri*cade" (&?;), n. [F. barricade, fr. Sp. barricada, orig. a barring up with casks; fr. barrica cask, perh. fr. LL. barra bar. See Bar, n., and cf. Barrel, n.]

1. (Mil.) A fortification, made in haste, of trees, earth, palisades, wagons, or anything that will obstruct the progress or attack of an enemy. It is usually an obstruction formed in streets to block an enemy's access.

2. Any bar, obstruction, or means of defense.

Such a barricade as would greatly annoy, or absolutely stop, the currents of the atmosphere. Derham.

Bar`ri*cade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barricaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Barricading.] [Cf. F. barricader. See Barricade, n.] To fortify or close with a barricade or with barricades; to stop up, as a passage; to obstruct; as, the workmen barricaded the streets of Paris.

The further end whereof [a bridge] was barricaded with barrels. Hakluyt.

Bar`ri*cad"er (&?;), n. One who constructs barricades.

Bar`ri*ca"do (&?;), n. & v. t. See Barricade. Shak.

Bar"ri*er (&?;), n. [OE. barrere, barere, F. barrière, fr. barre bar. See Bar, n.] 1. (Fort.) A carpentry obstruction, stockade, or other obstacle made in a passage in order to stop an enemy.

2. A fortress or fortified town, on the frontier of a country, commanding an avenue of approach.

3. pl. A fence or railing to mark the limits of a place, or to keep back a crowd.

No sooner were the barriers opened, than he paced into the lists. Sir W. Scott.

4. Any obstruction; anything which hinders approach or attack. "Constitutional barriers." Hopkinson.

5. Any limit or boundary; a line of separation.

'Twixt that [instinct] and reason, what a nice barrier! Pope.

Barrier gate, a heavy gate to close the opening through a barrier. -- Barrier reef, a form of coral reef which runs in the general direction of the shore, and incloses a lagoon channel more or less extensive. -- To fight at barriers, to fight with a barrier between, as a martial exercise. [Obs.]

||Bar`ri*gu"do (&?;), n. [Native name, fr. Sp. barrigudo big-bellied.] (Zoöl.) A large, dark- colored, South American monkey, of the genus Lagothrix, having a long prehensile tail.

Bar`ring*out" (&?;), n. The act of closing the doors of a schoolroom against a schoolmaster; -- a boyish mode of rebellion in schools. Swift.

Bar"ris*ter (&?;), n. [From Bar, n.] Counselor at law; a counsel admitted to plead at the bar, and undertake the public trial of causes, as distinguished from an attorney or solicitor. See Attorney. [Eng.]

Bar"room` (&?;), n. A room containing a bar or counter at which liquors are sold.

Bar"row (br"r), n. [OE. barow, fr. AS. beran to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Bier.] 1. A support having handles, and with or without a wheel, on which heavy or bulky things can be transported by hand. See Handbarrow, and Wheelbarrow.

2. (Salt Works) A wicker case, in which salt is put to drain.

Bar"row (br"r), n. [OE. barow, bargh, AS. bearg, bearh; akin to Icel. börgr, OHG. barh, barug, G. barch. &radic;95.] A hog, esp. a male hog castrated. Holland.

Bar"row, n. [OE. bergh, AS. beorg, beorh, hill, sepulchral mound; akin to G. berg mountain, Goth. bairgahei hill, hilly country, and perh. to Skr. bhant high, OIr. brigh mountain. Cf. Berg, Berry a mound, and Borough an incorporated town.] 1. A large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead; a tumulus.

2. (Mining) A heap of rubbish, attle, etc.

Bar"row*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Henry Barrowe, one of the founders of Independency or Congregationalism in England. Barrowe was executed for nonconformity in 1593.

Bar"ru*let (&?;), n. [Dim. of bar, n.] (Her.) A diminutive of the bar, having one fourth its width.

Bar"ru*ly (&?;), a. (Her.) Traversed by barrulets or small bars; -- said of the field.

Bar"ry (&?;), a. (Her.) Divided into bars; -- said of the field.

Barse (bärs), n. [AS. bears, bærs, akin to D. baars, G. bars, barsch. Cf. 1st Bass, n.] The common perch. See 1st Bass. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Bar"tend`er (&?;), n. A barkeeper.

Bar"ter (bär"tr), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bartered (-trd); p. pr. & vb. n. Bartering.] [OE. bartren, OF. barater, bareter, to cheat, exchange, perh. fr. Gr. pra`ttein to do, deal (well or ill), use practices or tricks, or perh. fr. Celtic; cf. Ir. brath treachery, W. brad. Cf. Barrator.] To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for the commodities transferred; to truck.

Bar"ter, v. t. To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange (frequently for an unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; -- sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.

Bar"ter, n. 1. The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities; an exchange of goods.

The spirit of huckstering and barter. Burke.

2. The thing given in exchange.

Syn. -- Exchange; dealing; traffic; trade; truck.

Bar"ter*er (&?;), n. One who barters.

Bar"ter*y (&?;), n. Barter. [Obs.] Camden.

Barth (&?;), n. [Etymol. unknown.] A place of shelter for cattle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Bar*thol"o*mew tide` (&?;). Time of the festival of St. Bartholomew, August 24th. Shak.

Bar"ti*zan` (&?;), n. [Cf. Brettice.] (Arch.) A small, overhanging structure for lookout or defense, usually projecting at an angle of a building or near an entrance gateway.

Bart"lett (&?;), n. (Bot.) A Bartlett pear, a favorite kind of pear, which originated in England about 1770, and was called Williams' Bonchrétien. It was brought to America, and distributed by Mr. Enoch Bartlett, of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Bar"ton (bär"tn), n. [AS. beretn courtyard, grange; bere barley + tn an inclosure.] 1. The demesne lands of a manor; also, the manor itself. [Eng.] Burton.

2. A farmyard. [Eng.] Southey.

Bar"tram (&?;), n. (Bot.) See Bertram. Johnson.

Bar"way` (&?;), n. A passage into a field or yard, closed by bars made to take out of the posts.

Bar"wise` (&?;), adv. (Her.) Horizontally.

Bar"wood` (-wd`), n. A red wood of a leguminous tree (Baphia nitida), from Angola and the Gabon in Africa. It is used as a dyewood, and also for ramrods, violin bows and turner's work.

Bar`y*cen"tric (&?;), a. [Gr. bary`s heavy + ke`ntron center.] Of or pertaining to the center of gravity. See Barycentric calculus, under Calculus.

Ba*ryph"o*ny (&?;), n. [Gr. bary`s heavy + fwnh` a sound, voice.] (Med.) Difficulty of speech.

Ba*ry"ta (&?;), n. [Gr. bary`s heavy. Cf. Baria.] (Chem.) An oxide of barium (or barytum); a heavy earth with a specific gravity above 4.

Ba*ry"tes (&?;), n. [Gr. bary`s heavy: cf. Gr. bary`ths heaviness, F. baryte.] (Min.) Barium sulphate, generally called heavy spar or barite. See Barite.

Ba*ryt"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to baryta.

Ba*ry"to-cal"cite (&?;), n. [Baryta + calcite.] (Min.) A mineral of a white or gray color, occurring massive or crystallized. It is a compound of the carbonates of barium and calcium.

{ Bar"y*tone, Bar"i*tone } (&?;), a. [Gr. bary`tonos; bary`s heavy + to`nos tone.] 1. (Mus.) Grave and deep, as a kind of male voice.

2. (Greek Gram.) Not marked with an accent on the last syllable, the grave accent being understood.

{ Bar"y*tone, Bar"i*tone }, n. [F. baryton: cf. It. baritono.] 1. (Mus.) (a) A male voice, the compass of which partakes of the common bass and the tenor, but which does not descend as low as the one, nor rise as high as the other. (b) A person having a voice of such range. (c) The viola di gamba, now entirely disused.

2. (Greek Gram.) A word which has no accent marked on the last syllable, the grave accent being understood.

Ba*ry"tum (&?;), n. [NL.] (Chem.) The metal barium. See Barium. [R.]

Ba"sal (&?;), a. Relating to, or forming, the base.

Basal cleavage. See under Cleavage. -- Basal plane (Crystallog.), one parallel to the lateral or horizontal axis.

Ba"sal-nerved` (&?;), a. (Bot.) Having the nerves radiating from the base; -- said of leaves.

Ba*salt" (&?;), n. [L. basaltes (an African word), a dark and hard species of marble found in Ethiopia: cf. F. basalte.] 1. (Geol.) A rock of igneous origin, consisting of augite and triclinic feldspar, with grains of magnetic or titanic iron, and also bottle-green particles of olivine frequently disseminated.

It is usually of a greenish black color, or of some dull brown shade, or black. It constitutes immense beds in some regions, and also occurs in veins or dikes cutting through other rocks. It has often a prismatic structure as at the Giant's Causeway, in Ireland, where the columns are as regular as if the work of art. It is a very tough and heavy rock, and is one of the best materials for macadamizing roads.

2. An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black porcelain.

Ba*salt"ic (&?;), a. [Cf. F. basaltique.] Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as basaltic lava.

Ba*salt"i*form (&?;), a. [Basalt + -form.] In the form of basalt; columnar.

Ba*salt"oid (&?;), a. [Basalt + - oid.] Formed like basalt; basaltiform.

Bas"an (&?;), n. Same as Basil, a sheepskin.

Bas"a*nite (&?;), n. [L. basanites lapis, Gr. ba`sanos the touchstone: cf. F. basanite.] (Min.) Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal.

||Bas`bleu" (&?;), n. [F., fr. bas stocking + bleu blue.] A bluestocking; a literary woman. [Somewhat derisive]

Bas"ci*net (&?;), n. [OE. bacinet, basnet, OF. bassinet, bacinet, F. bassinet, dim. of OF. bacin, F. bassin, a helmet in the form of a basin.] A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor. [Written also basinet, bassinet, basnet.]

Bas"cule (bs"kl), n. [F., a seesaw.] In mechanics, an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls.

Bascule bridge, a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air.

Base (bs), a. [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. Bass a part in music.] 1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic] Shak.

2. Low in place or position. [Obs.] Shak.

3. Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A peasant and base swain." Bacon.

4. Illegitimate by birth; bastard. [Archaic]

Why bastard? wherefore base? Shak.

5. Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.