Chapter 95

Bin"na*cle (&?;), n. [For bittacle, corrupted (perh. by influence of bin) fr. Pg. bitacola binnacle, fr. L. habitaculum dwelling place, fr. habitare to dwell. See Habit, and cf. Bittacle.] (Naut.) A case or box placed near the helmsman, containing the compass of a ship, and a light to show it at night. Totten.

Bin"ny (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A large species of barbel (Barbus bynni), found in the Nile, and much esteemed for food.

Bin"o*cle (&?;), n. [F. binocle; L. bini two at a time + oculus eye.] (Opt.) A dioptric telescope, fitted with two tubes joining, so as to enable a person to view an object with both eyes at once; a double-barreled field glass or an opera glass.

Bin*oc"u*lar (&?;), a. [Cf. F. binoculaire. See Binocle.] 1. Having two eyes. "Most animals are binocular." Derham.

2. Pertaining to both eyes; employing both eyes at once; as, binocular vision.

3. Adapted to the use of both eyes; as, a binocular microscope or telescope. Brewster.

Bin*oc"u*lar (&?;), n. A binocular glass, whether opera glass, telescope, or microscope.

Bin*oc"u*lar*ly, adv. In a binocular manner.

Bin*oc"u*late (&?;), a. Having two eyes.

Bi*no"mi*al (&?;), n. [L. bis twice + nomen name: cf. F. binome, LL. binomius (or fr. bi- + Gr. &?; distribution ?). Cf. Monomial.] (Alg.) An expression consisting of two terms connected by the sign plus (+) or minus (-); as, a + b, or 7 - 3.

Bi*no"mi*al, a. 1. Consisting of two terms; pertaining to binomials; as, a binomial root.

2. (Nat. Hist.) Having two names; -- used of the system by which every animal and plant receives two names, the one indicating the genus, the other the species, to which it belongs.

Binomial theorem (Alg.), the theorem which expresses the law of formation of any power of a binomial.

Bi*nom"i*nal (&?;), a. [See Binomial.] Of or pertaining to two names; binomial.

Bi*nom"i*nous (&?;), a. Binominal. [Obs.]

Bi*not"o*nous (&?;), a. [L. bini two at a time + tonus, fr. Gr. &?;, tone.] Consisting of two notes; as, a binotonous cry.

Bi"nous (&?;), a. Same as Binate.

Bin*ox"a*late (&?;), n. [Pref. bin- + oxalate.] (Chem.) A salt having two equivalents of oxalic acid to one of the base; an acid oxalate.

Bin*ox"ide (&?;), n. [Pref. bin- + oxide.] (Chem.) Same as Dioxide.

||Bin"tu*rong (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A small Asiatic civet of the genus Arctilis.

{ Bi*nu"cle*ar (&?;), Bi*nu"cle*ate (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + nuclear, nucleate.] (Biol.) Having two nuclei; as, binucleate cells.

Bi*nu"cle*o*late (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + nucleolus.] (Biol.) Having two nucleoli.

Bi"o*blast (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + -blast.] (Biol.) Same as Bioplast.

Bi*oc"el*late (&?;), a. [L. bis twice + ocellatus. See Ocellated.] (Zoöl.) Having two ocelli (eyelike spots); -- said of a wing, etc.

Bi`o*chem"is*try (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + E. chemistry.] (Biol.) The chemistry of living organisms; the chemistry of the processes incidental to, and characteristic of, life.

Bi`o*dy*nam"ics (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + E. dynamics.] (Biol.) The doctrine of vital forces or energy.

Bi"o*gen (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + -gen.] (Biol.) Bioplasm.

{ Bi`o*gen"e*sis (&?;), Bi*og"e*ny (&?;), } n. [Gr. &?; life + &?;, &?;, birth.] (Biol.) (a) A doctrine that the genesis or production of living organisms can take place only through the agency of living germs or parents; -- opposed to abiogenesis. (b) Life development generally.

Bi`o*ge*net"ic (&?;), a. (Biol.) Pertaining to biogenesis.

Bi*og"e*nist (&?;), n. A believer in the theory of biogenesis.

||Bi`og*no"sis (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?; investigation.] (Biol.) The investigation of life.

Bi*og"ra*pher (&?;), n. One who writes an account or history of the life of a particular person; a writer of lives, as Plutarch.

{ Bi"o*graph"ic (&?;), Bi`o*graph"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of or pertaining to biography; containing biography. -- Bi`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

Bi*og"ra*phize (&?;), v. t. To write a history of the life of. Southey.

Bi*og"ra*phy (&?;), n.; pl. Biographies (&?;). [Gr. &?;; &?; life + &?; to write: cf. F. biographie. See Graphic.] 1. The written history of a person's life.

2. Biographical writings in general.

{ Bi`o*log"ic (&?;), Bi`o*log"ic*al (&?;), } a. Of or relating to biology. -- Bi`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Bi*ol"o*gist (&?;), n. A student of biology; one versed in the science of biology.

Bi*ol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + -logy: cf. F. biologie.] The science of life; that branch of knowledge which treats of living matter as distinct from matter which is not living; the study of living tissue. It has to do with the origin, structure, development, function, and distribution of animals and plants.

||Bi*ol"y*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?; a dissolving.] (Biol.) The destruction of life.

Bi`o*lyt"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; life + &?; to destroy.] Relating to the destruction of life.

Bi`o*mag*net"ic (&?;), a. Relating to biomagnetism.

Bi`o*mag"net*ism (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + E. magnetism.] Animal magnetism.

Bi*om"e*try (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + -metry.] Measurement of life; calculation of the probable duration of human life.

Bi"on (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; living, p. pr. of &?; to live.] (Biol.) The physiological individual, characterized by definiteness and independence of function, in distinction from the morphological individual or morphon.

Bi*on"o*my (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?; law.] Physiology. [R.] Dunglison.

{ Bi"o*phor` Bi"o*phore` } (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?; bearing, fr. &?; to bear.] (Biol.) One of the smaller vital units of a cell, the bearer of vitality and heredity. See Pangen, in Supplement.

Bi"o*plasm (b"*plz'm), n. [Gr. bi`os life + pla`sma form, mold, fr. pla`ssein to mold.] (Biol.) A name suggested by Dr. Beale for the germinal matter supposed to be essential to the functions of all living beings; the material through which every form of life manifests itself; unaltered protoplasm.

<! p. 147 !>

Bi`o*plas"mic (b`*plz"mk), a. Pertaining to, or consisting of, bioplasm.

Bi"o*plast (-plst), n. [Gr. bi`os life + pla`ssein to form.] (Biol.) A tiny mass of bioplasm, in itself a living unit and having formative power, as a living white blood corpuscle; bioblast.

Bi`o*plas"tic (b`*pls"tk), a. (Biol.) Bioplasmic.

Bi*or"gan (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + E. organ.] (Biol.) A physiological organ; a living organ; an organ endowed with function; -- distinguished from idorgan.

Bi`o*stat"ics (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?;. See Statics.] (Biol.) The physical phenomena of organized bodies, in opposition to their organic or vital phenomena.

Bi`o*sta*tis"tics (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + E. statistics.] (Biol.) Vital statistics.

Bi"o*tax`y (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; life + &?; arrangement.] (Biol.) The classification of living organisms according to their structural character; taxonomy.

Bi*ot"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; pert. to life.] (Biol.) Relating to life; as, the biotic principle.

Bi"o*tite (&?;), n. [From Biot, a French naturalist.] (Min.) Mica containing iron and magnesia, generally of a black or dark green color; -- a common constituent of crystalline rocks. See Mica.

Bi*pal"mate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + palmate.] (Bot.) Palmately branched, with the branches again palmated.

Bi`pa*ri"e*tal (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + parietal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the diameter of the cranium, from one parietal fossa to the other.

Bip"a*rous (&?;), a. [L. bis twice + parere to bring forth.] Bringing forth two at a birth.

Bi*part"i*ble (&?;), a. [Cf. F. bipartible. See Bipartite.] Capable of being divided into two parts.

Bi*par"tient (&?;), a. [L. bis twice + partiens, p. pr. of partire to divide.] Dividing into two parts. -- n. A number that divides another into two equal parts without a remainder.

Bi*par"tile (&?;), a. Divisible into two parts.

Bip"ar*tite (&?;), a. [L. bipartitus, p. p. of bipartire; bis twice + partire. See Partite.] 1. Being in two parts; having two correspondent parts, as a legal contract or writing, one for each party; shared by two; as, a bipartite treaty.

2. Divided into two parts almost to the base, as a leaf; consisting of two parts or subdivisions. Gray.

Bi`par*ti"tion (&?;), n. The act of dividing into two parts, or of making two correspondent parts, or the state of being so divided.

{ Bi*pec"ti*nate (&?;), Bi*pec"ti*na`ted (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + pectinate.] (Biol.) Having two margins toothed like a comb.

Bi"ped (&?;), n. [L. bipes; bis twice + pes, pedis, &?;oot: cf. F. bipède.] A two-footed animal, as man.

Bi"ped, a. Having two feet; two- footed.

By which the man, when heavenly life was ceased, Became a helpless, naked, biped beast. Byrom.

Bip"e*dal (&?;), a. [L. bipedalis: cf. F. bipédal. See Biped, n.] 1. Having two feet; biped.

2. Pertaining to a biped.

Bi*pel"tate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + peltate.] Having a shell or covering like a double shield.

{ Bi*pen"nate (&?;), Bi*pen"na*ted (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + pennate: cf. L. bipennis. Cf. Bipinnate.] Having two wings. "Bipennated insects." Derham.

||Bi*pen"nis (&?;), n. [L.] An ax with an edge or blade on each side of the handle.

Bi*pet"al*ous (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + petalous.] (Bot.) Having two petals.

||Bi`pin*na"ri*a (&?;), n. [NL., fr. L. bis twice + pinna feather.] (Zoöl.) The larva of certain starfishes as developed in the free-swimming stage.

{ Bi*pin"nate (&?;), Bi*pin"na*ted (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + pinnate; cf. F. bipinné. Cf. Bipennate.] Twice pinnate.

Bi`pin*nat"i*fid (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + pinnatifid.] (Bot.) Doubly pinnatifid.

A bipinnatifid leaf is a pinnatifid leaf having its segments or divisions also pinnatifid. The primary divisions are pinnæ and the secondary pinnules.

Bip"li*cate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + plicate.] Twice folded together. Henslow.

Bi*plic"i*ty (&?;), n. The state of being twice folded; reduplication. [R.] Bailey.

Bi*po"lar (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + polar. Cf. Dipolar.] Doubly polar; having two poles; as, a bipolar cell or corpuscle.

Bi`po*lar"i*ty (&?;), n. Bipolar quality.

{ Bi"pont (&?;), Bi*pont"ine } (&?;), a. (Bibliog.) Relating to books printed at Deuxponts, or Bipontium (Zweibrücken), in Bavaria.

Bi*punc"tate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + punctate.] Having two punctures, or spots.

Bi*punc"tu*al (&?;), a. Having two points.

Bi*pu"pil*late (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + pupil (of the eye).] (Zoöl.) Having an eyelike spot on the wing, with two dots within it of a different color, as in some butterflies.

Bi`py*ram"i*dal (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + pyramidal.] Consisting of two pyramids placed base to base; having a pyramid at each of the extremities of a prism, as in quartz crystals.

Bi*quad"rate (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + quadrate.] (Math.) The fourth power, or the square of the square. Thus 4x4=16, the square of 4, and 16x16=256, the biquadrate of 4.

Bi`quad*rat"ic (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + quadratic: cf. F. biquadratique.] (Math.) Of or pertaining to the biquadrate, or fourth power.

Biquadratic equation (Alg.), an equation of the fourth degree, or an equation in some term of which the unknown quantity is raised to the fourth power. -- Biquadratic root of a number, the square root of the square root of that number. Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquadratic root of 81. Hutton.

Bi`quad*rat"ic, n. (Math.) (a) A biquadrate. (b) A biquadratic equation.

Bi*quin"tile (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + quintile: cf. F. biquintile.] (Astron.) An aspect of the planets when they are distant from each other by twice the fifth part of a great circle -- that is, twice 72 degrees.

{ Bi*ra"di*ate (&?;), Bi*ra"di*a`ted (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + radiate.] Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin.

Bi*ra"mous (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + ramous.] (Biol.) Having, or consisting of, two branches.

Birch (brch), n.; pl. Birches (-z). [OE. birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. björk, Sw. björk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche, birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr. bhrja. &radic;254. Cf. 1st Birk.] 1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. lenta).

2. The wood or timber of the birch.

3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.

The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in schools. They were also made into brooms.

The threatening twigs of birch. Shak.

4. A birch-bark canoe.

Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of turpentine tree. -- Birch partridge. (Zoöl.) See Ruffed grouse. -- Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch. -- Oil of birch. (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor. (b) An oil prepared from the black birch (B. lenta), said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for which it is largely sold.

Birch, a. Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.

Birch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Birched (brcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Birching.] To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.

Birch"en (brch"'n), a. Of or relating to birch.

He passed where Newark's stately tower Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower. Sir W. Scott.

Bird (brd), n. [OE. brid, bred, bird, young bird, bird, AS. bridd young bird. &radic;92.] 1. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2).

That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. Shak.

The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes. Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20).

2. (Zoöl.) A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See Aves.

3. Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird.

4. Fig.: A girl; a maiden.

And by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry. Campbell.

Arabian bird, the phenix. -- Bird of Jove, the eagle. -- Bird of Juno, the peacock. -- Bird louse (Zoöl.), a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic upon birds. -- Bird mite (Zoöl.), a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous. -- Bird of passage, a migratory bird. -- Bird spider (Zoöl.), a very large South American spider (Mygale avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds. -- Bird tick (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus Ornithomyia, and allies), usually winged.

Bird (&?;), v. i. 1. To catch or shoot birds.

2. Hence: To seek for game or plunder; to thieve. [R.] B. Jonson.

Bird"bolt` (&?;), n. A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them. Hence: Anything which smites without penetrating. Shak.

{ Bird" cage", or Bird"cage` } (&?;), n. A cage for confining birds.

Bird"call` (&?;), n. 1. A sound made in imitation of the note or cry of a bird for the purpose of decoying the bird or its mate.

2. An instrument of any kind, as a whistle, used in making the sound of a birdcall.

Bird"catch`er (&?;), n. One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler.

Bird"catch`ing, n. The art, act, or occupation or catching birds or wild fowls.

Bird" cher`ry (&?;). (Bot.) A shrub (Prunus Padus ) found in Northern and Central Europe. It bears small black cherries.

Bird"er (&?;), n. A birdcatcher.

Bird"-eyed` (&?;), a. Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes.

Bird" fan`ci*er (&?;). 1. One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting rare or curious birds.

2. One who has for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages.

Bird"ie (&?;), n. A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name. Tennyson.

Bird"i*kin (&?;), n. A young bird. Thackeray.

Bird"ing, n. Birdcatching or fowling. Shak.

Birding piece, a fowling piece. Shak.

Bird"let, n. A little bird; a nestling.

Bird"like` (&?;), a. Resembling a bird.

Bird"lime` (&?;), n. [Bird + lime viscous substance.] An extremely adhesive viscid substance, usually made of the middle bark of the holly, by boiling, fermenting, and cleansing it. When a twig is smeared with this substance it will hold small birds which may light upon it. Hence: Anything which insnares.

Not birdlime or Idean pitch produce A more tenacious mass of clammy juice. Dryden.

Birdlime is also made from mistletoe, elder, etc.

Bird"lime`, v. t. To smear with birdlime; to catch with birdlime; to insnare.

When the heart is thus birdlimed, then it cleaves to everything it meets with. Coodwin.

Bird"ling, n. A little bird; a nestling.

Bird"man (&?;), n. A fowler or birdcatcher.

Bird" of par"a*dise (&?;). (Zoöl.) The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers.

The Great emerald (Paradisea apoda) and the Lesser emerald (P. minor) furnish many of the plumes used as ornaments by ladies; the Red is P. rubra or sanguinea; the Golden is Parotia aurea or sexsetacea; the King is Cincinnurus regius.

The name is also applied to the longer-billed birds of another related group (Epimachinæ) from the same region. The Twelve-wired (Seleucides alba) is one of these. See Paradise bird, and Note under Apod.

Bird" pep`per (&?;). A species of capsicum (Capsicum baccatum), whose small, conical, coral-red fruit is among the most piquant of all red peppers.

Bird's"-beak` (&?;), n. (Arch.) A molding whose section is thought to resemble a beak.

Bird"seed` (&?;), n. Canary seed, hemp, millet or other small seeds used for feeding caged birds.

Bird's"-eye` (&?;), a. 1. Seen from above, as if by a flying bird; embraced at a glance; hence, general; not minute, or entering into details; as, a bird's-eye view.

2. Marked with spots resembling bird's eyes; as, bird's-eye diaper; bird's-eye maple.

Bird's"-eye`, n. (Bot.) A plant with a small bright flower, as the Adonis or pheasant's eye, the mealy primrose (Primula farinosa), and species of Veronica, Geranium, etc.

Bird's"-eye` ma"ple (&?;). See under Maple.

Bird's"-foot` (&?;), n. (Bot.) A papilionaceous plant, the Ornithopus, having a curved, cylindrical pod tipped with a short, clawlike point.

Bird's-foot trefoil. (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants (Lotus) with clawlike pods. L. corniculatas, with yellow flowers, is very common in Great Britain. (b) the related plant, Trigonella ornithopodioides, is also European.

Bird's-mouth` (&?;), n. (Arch.) An interior angle or notch cut across a piece of timber, for the reception of the edge of another, as that in a rafter to be laid on a plate; -- commonly called crow's-foot in the United States.

{ Bird's" nest`, or Bird's-nest } (&?;), n. 1. The nest in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her young.

2. (Cookery) The nest of a small swallow (Collocalia nidifica and several allied species), of China and the neighboring countries, which is mixed with soups.

The nests are found in caverns and fissures of cliffs on rocky coasts, and are composed in part of algæ. They are of the size of a goose egg, and in substance resemble isinglass. See Illust. under Edible.

<! p. 148 !>

3. (Bot.) An orchideous plant with matted roots, of the genus Neottia (N. nidus-avis.)

Bird's-nest pudding, a pudding containing apples whose cores have been replaced by sugar. -- Yellow bird's nest, a plant, the Monotropa hypopitys.

Bird's-nest`ing (brdz"nst`ng), n. Hunting for, or taking, birds' nests or their contents.

Bird's"-tongue` (&?;), n. (Bot.) The knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).

Bird"-wit`ted (&?;), a. Flighty; passing rapidly from one subject to another; not having the faculty of attention. Bacon.

Bi`rec*tan"gu*lar (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + rectangular.] Containing or having two right angles; as, a birectangular spherical triangle.

Bi"reme (&?;), n. [L. biremis; bis twice + remus oar: cf. F. birème.] An ancient galley or vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.

Bi*ret"ta (&?;), n. Same as Berretta.

Bir"gan*der (&?;), n. See Bergander.

Birk (&?;), n. [See Birch, n.] A birch tree. [Prov. Eng.] "The silver birk." Tennyson.

Birk, n. (Zoöl.) A small European minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus).

Birk"en (&?;), v. t. [From 1st Birk.] To whip with a birch or rod. [Obs.]

Birk"en, a. Birchen; as, birken groves. Burns.

Bir"kie (&?;), n. A lively or mettlesome fellow. [Jocular, Scot.] Burns.

Birl (&?;), v. t. & i. To revolve or cause to revolve; to spin. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Birl (&?;), v. t. & i. [AS. byrlian. &radic;92.] To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to carouse. [Obs. or Dial.] Skelton.

Bir"law (&?;), n. [See By-law.] (Law) A law made by husbandmen respecting rural affairs; a rustic or local law or by-law. [Written also byrlaw, birlie, birley.]

{ Bi*ros`trate (&?;), Bi*ros"tra*ted (&?;), } a. [Pref. bi- + rostrate.] Having a double beak, or two processes resembling beaks.

The capsule is bilocular and birostrated. Ed. Encyc.

Birr (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Birred (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Birring.] [Cf. OE. bur, bir, wind, storm wind, fr. Icel. byrr wind. Perh. imitative.] To make, or move with, a whirring noise, as of wheels in motion.

Birr, n. 1. A whirring sound, as of a spinning wheel.

2. A rush or impetus; force.

Bir"rus (&?;), n. [LL., fr. L. birrus a kind of cloak. See Berretta.] A coarse kind of thick woolen cloth, worn by the poor in the Middle Ages; also, a woolen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or over the head.

Birse (&?;), n. A bristle or bristles. [Scot.]

Birt (brt), n. [OE. byrte; cf. F. bertonneau. Cf. Bret, Burt.] (Zoöl.) A fish of the turbot kind; the brill. [Written also burt, bret, or brut.] [Prov. Eng.]

Birth (brth), n. [OE. burth, birth, AS. beor, gebyrd, fr. beran to bear, bring forth; akin to D. geboorte, OHG. burt, giburt, G. geburt, Icel. burðr, Skr. bhrti bearing, supporting; cf. Ir. & Gael. beirthe born, brought forth. &radic;92. See 1st Bear, and cf. Berth.] 1. The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; -- generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son.

2. Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes, high birth; noble extraction.

Elected without reference to birth, but solely for qualifications. Prescott.

3. The condition to which a person is born; natural state or position; inherited disposition or tendency.

A foe by birth to Troy's unhappy name. Dryden.

4. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two children at a birth. "At her next birth." Milton.

5. That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or vegetable.

Poets are far rarer births than kings. B. Jonson.

Others hatch their eggs and tend the birth till it is able to shift for itself. Addison.

6. Origin; beginning; as, the birth of an empire.

New birth (Theol.), regeneration, or the commencement of a religious life.

Syn. -- Parentage; extraction; lineage; race; family.

Birth, n. See Berth. [Obs.] De Foe.

Birth"day` (brth"d`), n. 1. The day in which any person is born; day of origin or commencement.

Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next The birthday of invention. Cowper.

2. The day of the month in which a person was born, in whatever succeeding year it may recur; the anniversary of one's birth.

This is my birthday; as this very day Was Cassius born. Shak.

Birth"day`, a. Of or pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as, birthday gifts or festivities.

Birth"dom (&?;), n. [Birth + - dom.] The land of one's birth; one's inheritance. [R.] Shak.

Birth"ing, n. (Naut.) Anything added to raise the sides of a ship. Bailey.

Birth"less, a. Of mean extraction. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

Birth"mark` (&?;), n. Some peculiar mark or blemish on the body at birth.

Most part of this noble lineage carried upon their body for a natural birthmark, . . . a snake. Sir T. North.

Birth"night` (&?;), n. The night in which a person is born; the anniversary of that night in succeeding years.