Chapter 48

cliffs on rocky coasts, and are composed in part of alg‘. They are of the size of a goose egg, and in substance resemble isinglass. See Illust. under Edible. 3. (Bot.) An orchideous plant with matted roots, of the genus Neottia (N. nidusÏavis.) Bird'sÐnest pudding, a pudding containing apples whose cores have been replaces by sugar. Ð Yellow bird's nest, a plant, the Monotropa hypopitys. Bird'sÐnest·ing (?), n. Hunting for, or taking, birds' nests or their contents. Bird's¶Ðtongue· (?), n. (Bot.) The knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare). Bird¶Ðwit·ted (?), a. Flighty; passing rapidly from one subject to another; not having the faculty of attention. Bacon. Bi·recÏtan¶guÏlar (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + rectangular.] Containing or having two right angles; as, a birectangular spherical triangle. Bi¶reme (?), n. [L. biremis; bis twice + remus oar: cf. F. birŠme.] An ancient galley or vessel with two banks or tiers of oars. BiÏret¶ta (?), n. Same as Berretta. Bir¶ganÏder (?), n. See Bergander. Birk (?), n. [See Birch, n.] A birch tree. [Prov. Eng.] ½The silver birk.¸ Tennyson. Birk, n. (Zo”l.) 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. ?92.] To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to carouse. [Obs. or Dial.] Skelton. Bir¶law (?), n. [See ByÏlaw.] (Law) A law made by husbandmen respecting rural affairs; a rustic or local law or byÏlaw. [Written also byrlaw, birlie, birley.] BiÏros·trate (?), BiÏros¶traÏted (?), } a. [Pref. biÏ + 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 (?), n. [OE. byrte; cf. F. bertonneau. Cf. Bret, Burt.] (Zo”l.) A fish of the turbot kind; the brill. [Written also burt, bret, or brut.] [Prov. Eng.] Birth (?), n. [OE. burth, birth, AS. beor?, gebyrd, fr. beran to bear, bring forth; akin to D. geboorate, OHG. burt, giburt, G. geburt, Icel. bur?r, Skr. bhrti bearing, supporting; cf. Ir. & Gael. beirthe born, brought forth. ?92. See 1st Bear, and cf. Berth.] 1. The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; Ð 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. ½At her next birth.¸ Milton. 5. That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or vegetable. Poets are far rarer births that 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. Ð Parentage; extraction; lineage; race; family. Birth, n. See Berth. [Obs.] De Foe. Birth¶day· (?), 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 + Ïdom.] 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. The angelic song in Bethlehem field, On thy birthnight, that sung thee Savior born. Milton. Birth¶place· (?), n. The town, city, or country, where a person is born; place of origin or birth, in its more general sense. ½The birthplace of valor.¸ Burns. Birth¶right· (?), n. Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution; esp. the rights or inheritance of the first born. Lest there be any ... profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Heb. xii. 16. Birth¶root· (?), n. (Bot.) An herbaceous plant (Trillium erectum), and its astringent rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties. Birth¶wort· (?), n. A genus of herbs and shrubs (Aristolochia), reputed to have medicinal properties. Bis (?), adv. [L. bis twice, for duis, fr. root of duo two. See Two, and cf. BiÏ.] Twice; Ð a word showing that something is, or is to be, repeated; as a passage of music, or an item in accounts. BisÏ, pref. A form of BiÏ, sometimes used before s, c, or a vowel. Bi¶sa an¶teÏlope (?). (Zo”l.) See Oryx. BiÏsac¶cate (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + saccate.] (Bot.) Having two little bags, sacs, or pouches. BisÏcay¶an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Biscay in Spain. Ðn. A native or inhabitant of Biscay. Bis¶coÏtin (?), n. [F. biscotin. See Biscuit.] A confection made of flour, sugar, marmalade, and eggs; a sweet biscuit. Bis¶cuit (?), n. [F. biscuit (cf. It. biscotto, Sp. bizcocho, Pg. biscouto), fr. L. bis twice + coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook, bake. See Cook, and cf. Bisque a kind of porcelain.] 1. A kind of unraised bread, of many varieties, plain, sweet, or fancy, formed into flat cakes, and bakes hard; as, ship biscuit. According to military practice, the bread or biscuit of the Romans was twice prepared in the oven. Gibbon. 2. A small loaf or cake of bread, raised and shortened, or made light with soda or baking powder. Usually a number are baked in the same pan, forming a sheet or card. 3. Earthen ware or porcelain which has undergone the first baking, before it is subjected to the glazing. 4. (Sculp.) A species of white, unglazed porcelain, in which vases, figures, and groups are formed in miniature. Meat biscuit, an alimentary preparation consisting of matters extracted from meat by boiling, or of meat ground fine and combined with flour, so as to form biscuits. BiÏscu¶tate (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + scutate.] (Bot.) Resembling two bucklers placed side by side. ØBise (?), n. [F.] A cold north wind which prevails on the northern coasts of the Mediterranean and in Switzerland, etc.; Ð nearly the same as the mistral. Bise (?), n. (Paint.) See Bice. BiÏsect¶ (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bisected; p. pr. & vb. n. Bisecting.] [L. bis twice + secare, sectum, to cut.] 1. To cut or divide into two parts. 2. (Geom.) To divide into two equal parts. BiÏsec¶tion (?), n. [Cf. F. bissection.] Division into two parts, esp. two equal parts. BiÏsec¶tor (?), n. One who, or that which, bisects; esp. (Geom.) a straight line which bisects an angle. BiÏsec¶trix (?), n. The line bisecting the angle between the optic axes of a biaxial crystal. BiÏseg¶ment (?), n. [Pref. biÏ + segment.] One of tow equal parts of a line, or other magnitude. BiÏsep¶tate (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + septate.] With two partitions or septa. Gray. BiÏse¶riÏal (?), BiÏse¶riÏate (?), } a. [Pref. biÏ + serial, seriate.] In two rows or series. BiÏser¶rate (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + serrate.] 1. (Bot.) Doubly serrate, or having the serratures serrate, as in some leaves. 2. (Zo”l.) Serrate on both sides, as some antenn‘. BiÏse¶tose (?), BiÏse¶tous (?), } a. [Pref. biÏ + setose, setous.] Having two bristles. BiÏsex¶ous (?), a. [L. bis twice + sexus sex: cf. F. bissexe.] Bisexual. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. BiÏsex¶uÏal (?), a. [Pref. biÏ + sexual.] (Biol.) Of both sexes; hermaphrodite; as a flower with stamens and pistil, or an animal having ovaries and testes. BiÏsex¶uÏous (?), a. Bisexual. BiÏseye¶ (?), p. p. of Besee. [Obs.] Chaucer. Evil biseye, ill looking. [Obs.] Bish (?), n. Same as Bikh. Bish¶op (?), n. [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop, L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. ?, ? over + ? inspector, fr. root of ?, ?, to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.] 1. A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director. Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Pet. ii. 25. It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer in the church is called indifferently ½bishop¸ ( ? ) and ½elder¸ or ½presbyter.¸ J. B. Lightfoot. 2. In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a diocese, bishopric, or see. Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C. Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. Shipley. Ð Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882 for bishop in partibus. Ð Bench of Bishops. See under Bench. 3. In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the highest church officers or superintendents. 4. A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a bishop's miter; Ð formerly called archer. 5. A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar. Swift. 6. An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.] If, by her bishop, or her ½grace¸ alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known. Saxe. Bish¶op, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bishoped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to receive formally to favor. Bish¶op (?), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Bishoped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.] [From the name of the scoundrel who first practiced it. Youatt.] (Far.) To make seem younger, by operating on the teeth; as, to bishop an old horse or his teeth. The plan adopted is to cut off all the nippers with a saw to the proper length, and then with a cutting instrument the operator scoops out an oval cavity in the corner nippers, which is afterwards burnt with a hot iron until it is black. J. H. Walsh. Bish¶opÏdom (?), n. Jurisdiction of a bishop; episcopate. ½Divine right of bishopdom.¸ Milton. Bish¶opÏlike· (?), a. Resembling a bishop; belonging to a bishop. Fulke. Bish¶opÏly, a. Bishoplike; episcopal. [Obs.] Bish¶opÏly, adv. In the manner of a bishop. [Obs.] Bish¶opÏric (?), n. [AS. bisceoprÆce; bisceop bishop + rÆce dominion. See Ïric.] 1. A diocese; the district over which the jurisdiction of a bishop extends. 2. The office of a spiritual overseer, as of an apostle, bishop, or presbyter. Acts i. 20. Bish¶op's cap· (?). (Bot.) A plant of the genus Mitella; miterwort. Longfellow. Bish¶op sleeve· (?). A wide sleeve, once worn by women. Bish¶op's length· (?). A canvas for a portrait measuring 58 by 94 inches. The half bishop measures 45 of 56. Bish¶opÐstool· (?), n. A bishop's seat or see. Bish¶op'sÐweed· (?), n. (Bot.) (a) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Ammi. (b) Goutweed (?gopodium podagraria). Bish¶op'sÐwort· (?), n. (Bot.) Wood betony (Stachys betonica); also, the plant called fennel flower (Nigella Damascena), or devilÏinÏaÏbush. Bis¶ie (?), v. t. To busy; to employ. [Obs.] BiÏsil¶iÏcate (?), n. (Min. Chem.) A salt of metasilicic acid; Ð so called because the ratio of the oxygen of the silica to the oxygen of the base is as two to one. The bisilicates include many of the most common and important minerals. Bisk (?), n. [F. bisque.] Soup or broth made by boiling several sorts of flesh together. King. Bisk, n. [F. bisque.] (Tennis) See Bisque. BiÏsmare¶ (?), BiÏsmer¶ (?), n. [AS. bismer.] Shame; abuse. [Obs.] Chaucer. Bis¶mer (?), n. 1. A rule steelyard. [Scot.] 2. (Zo”l.) The fifteenÏspined (Gasterosteus spinachia). ØBisÏmil¶lah (?), interj. [Arabic, in the name of God!] An adjuration or exclamation common among the Mohammedans. [Written also Bizmillah.] Bis¶mite (?), n. (Min.) Bismuth trioxide, or bismuth ocher. Bis¶muth (?), n. [Ger. bismuth, wismuth: cf. F. bismuth.] (Chem.) One of the elements; a metal of a reddish white color, crystallizing in rhombohedrons. It is somewhat harder than lead, and rather brittle; masses show broad cleavage surfaces when broken across. It metals at 507? Fahr., being easily fused in the flame of a candle. It is found in a native state, and as a constituent of some minerals. Specific gravity 9.8. Atomic weight 207.5. Symbol Bi. µ Chemically, bismuth (with arsenic and antimony is intermediate between the metals and nonmetals; it is used in thermoÏelectric piles, and as an alloy with lead and tin in the fusible alloy or metal. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic substance known. Bismuth glance, bismuth sulphide; bismuthinite. Ð Bismuth ocher, a native bismuth oxide; bismite. Bis¶muthÏal (?), a. Containing bismuth. Bis¶muthÏic (?), a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to bismuth; containing bismuth, when this element has its higher valence; as, bismuthic oxide. Bis·muthÏif¶erÏous (?), a. [Bismuth + Ïferous.] Containing bismuth. Bis¶muthÏine (?), Bis¶muthÏinÏite (?), } n. Native bismuth sulphide; Ð sometimes called bismuthite. Bis¶muthÏous (?), a. Of, or containing, bismuth, when this element has its lower valence. Bis¶muthÏyl· (?), n. (Min.) Hydrous carbonate of bismuth, an earthy mineral of a dull white or yellowish color. [Written also bismuthite.] Bi¶son (?), n. [L. bison, Gr. ?, a wild ox; akin to OHG. wisunt, wisant, G. wisent, AS. wesend, Icel. vÆsundr: cf. F. bison.] (Zo”l.) (a) The aurochs or European bison. (b) The American bison buffalo (Bison Americanus), a large, gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns, which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of North America, but is now restricted to very limited districts in the region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.

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