Chapter 90

Bull¶head·ed (?), a. Having a head like that of a bull. Fig.: Headstrong; obstinate; dogged. Bul¶lion (?), n. [Cf. OE. bullyon a hook used for fastening the dress, a button, stud, an embossed ornament of various kinds, e.g., on the cover of a book, on bridles or poitrels, for purses, for breeches and doublets, LL. bullio the swelling of boiling water, a mass of gold or silver, fr. L. bulla boss, stud, bubble (see Bull an edict), or perh. corrupted fr. ?. billon base coin, LL. billioÿbullion. Cf. Billon, Billet a stick.] 1. Uncoined gold or silver in the mass. µ Properly, the precious metals are called bullion, when smelted and not perfectly refined, or when refined, but in bars, ingots or in any form uncoined, as in plate. The word is often often used to denote gold and silver, both coined and uncoined, when reckoned by weight and in mass, including especially foreign, or uncurrent, coin. 2. Base or uncurrent coin. [Obs.] And those which eld's strict doom did disallow, And damm for bullion, go for current now. Sylvester. 3. Showy metallic ornament, as of gold, silver, or copper, on bridles, saddles, etc. [Obs.] The clasps and bullions were worth a thousand pound. Skelton. 4. Heavy twisted fringe, made of fine gold or silver wire and used for epaulets; also, any heavy twisted fringe whose cords are prominent. Bul¶lionÏist, n. An advocate for a metallic currency, or a paper currency always convertible into gold. Bul¶liÏrag (?), v.t. [Cf. bully, n. & v., and rag to scold, rail. Cf. Ballarag.] To intimidate by bullying; to rally contemptuously; to badger. [Low] Bull¶ish (?), a. Partaking of the nature of a bull, or a blunder. Let me inform you, a toothless satire is as improper as a toothed sleek stone, and as bullish. Milton. Bull¶ist, n. [F. bulliste. See Bull an edict.] A writer or drawer up of papal bulls. [R.] Harmar. BulÏli¶tion (?), n. [L. bullire, bullitum, to boil. See Boil, v.i.] The action of boiling; boiling. [Obs.] See Ebullition. Bacon. Bull¶Ðnecked· (?), a. Having a short and thick neck like that of a bull. Sir W.Scott. Bul¶lock (?), n. [AS. bulluc a young bull. See Bull.] 1. A young bull, or any male of the ox kind. Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old. Judges vi.25. 2. An ox, steer, or stag. Bul¶lock, v.t. To bully. [Obs.] She shan't think to bullock and domineer over me. Foote. Bul¶lock'sÐeye· (?), n. See Bull'sÐeye, 3. ØBul¶lon (?), n. (Zo”l.) A West Indian fish (Scarus Croicensis). Bull¶pout· (?), n. (Zo”l.) See Bullhead, 1 (b). Bull's¶Ðeye· (?), n. 1. (Naut.) A small circular or oval wooden block without sheaves, having a groove around it and a hole through it, used for connecting rigging. 2. A small round cloud, with a ruddy center, supposed by sailors to portend a storm. 3. A small thick disk of glass inserted in a deck, roof, floor, ship's side, etc., to let in light. 4. A circular or oval opening for air or light. 5. A lantern, with a thick glass lens on one side for concentrating the light on any object; also, the lens itself. Dickens. 6. (Astron.) Aldebaran, a bright star in the eye of Taurus or the Bull. 7. (Archery & Gun.) The center of a target. 8. A thick knob or protuberance left on glass by the end of the pipe through which it was blown. 9. A small and thick oldÐfashioned watch. [Colloq.] Bull's¶Ðnose· (?), n. (Arch.) An external angle when obtuse or rounded. Bull¶ ter¶riÏer (?). (Zo”l.) A b?eed of dogs obtained by crossing the bulldog and the terrier. Bull¶ trout· (?). (Zo”l.) (a) In England, a large salmon trout of ??? species, as Salmo ??? and S. Cambricus, which ascend rivers; Ð called also sea trout. (b) Salvelinus malma of California and Oregon; Ð called also Dolly Varden troutÿand redÐspotted trout. (c) The huso or salmon of the Danube. Bull¶weed· (?), n. [Bole a stem + weed.] (Bot.) Knapweed. Prior. Bull¶wort· (?), n. (Bot.) See Bishop'sÐweed. Bul¶ly (?), n.; pl. Bullies (?). [Cf. LG. bullerjaan, bullerb„k, bullerbrook, a blusterer, D. bulderaar a bluster, bulderen to bluster; prob. of imitative origin; or cf. MHG. buole lover, G. buhle.] 1. A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent, tyrannical fellow. Bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in. Palmerston. 2. A brisk, dashing fellow. [Slang Obs.] Shak. Bul¶ly (?), a. 1. Jovial and blustering; dashing. [Slang] ½Bless thee, bully doctor.¸ Shak. 2. Fine; excellent; as, a bully horse. [Slang, U.S.] Bul¶ly, v.t. [imp. & p.p. Bullied (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Bullying.] To intimidate with threats and by an overbearing, swaggering demeanor; to act the part of a bully toward. For the last fortnight there have been prodigious shoals of voluntrees gone over to bully the French, upon hearing the peace was just singing. Tatler. Syn. - To bluster; swagger; hector; domineer. Bul¶ly, v.i. To act as a bully. Bul¶lyÏrag (?), v.t. Same as Bullirag. Bul¶lyÏrock· (?), n. A bully. [Slang Obs.] Shak. Bul¶ly tree· (?). (Bot.) The name of several West Indian trees of the order Sapotace‘, as Dipholis nigraÿand species of Sapotaÿand Mimusops. Most of them yield a substance closely resembling guttaÐpercha. 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. µ The name bulrush is applied in England especially to the catÐtail (Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia) and to the lake clubÐrush (Scirpus lacustris); in America, to the Juncus effusus, and also to species of Scirpus or clubÐrush. ØBulse (?), n. A purse or bag in which to carry or measure diamonds, etc. [India] Macaulay. Bul¶tel (?), n. [LL. bultellus. See Bolt to sift.] A bolter or bolting cloth; also, bran. [Obs.] Bul¶ti (?), n. (Zo”l.) Same as Bolty. Bul¶tow· (?), n. A trawl; a boulter; the mod? of fishing with a boulter or spiller. Bul¶wark (?), n. [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolv„rk, bulv„rk, 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. 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 (?), n. [Contr. fr. bottom in this sense.] The buttock. [Low] Shak. 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, n. A humming noise. Halliwell. Bum¶bail¶iff (?), n. [A corruption of bound bailiff.] [Low, Eng.] See Bound bailiff, under Bound, a. Bum¶bard (?). See Bombard.ÿ[Obs.] Bum¶barge· (?), n. See Bumboat. Carlyle. Bum¶bast (?). See Bombast. [Obs.] Bum¶beÏlo (?), n.; pl. Bumbeloes (?). [It. bombola.] A glass used in subliming camphor. [Spelled also bombolo and bumbolo.] Bum¶ble (?), n. [See Bumpÿto boom.] (Zo”l.) The bittern. [Local, Eng.] 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. Bum¶bleÏbee· (?), n. [OE. bumblen to make a humming noise (dim. of bum, v.i.) + bee. Cf. Humblebee.] (Zo”l.) A large bee of the genus Bombus, sometimes called humblebee; Ð so named from its sound. µ There are many species. All gather honey, and store it in the empty cocoons after the young have come out. 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. Bum¶kin (?), n. [Boom a beam + Ïkin. 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 mainÐbrace blocks, and called brace bumpkin. (c) A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, to extend the mizzen. [Written also boomkin.] ØBum¶maÏlo (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo”l.) A small marine Asiatic fish (Saurus ophidon) used in India as a relish; Ð called also Bombay duck. Bum¶mer (?), n. An idle, worthless fellow, who is without any visible means of support; a dissipated sponger. [Slang, U.S.] Bum¶meÏry (?), n. See Bottomery. [Obs.] There was a scivener of Wapping brought to hearing for relief against a bummery bond. R.North. 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, v.i. To come in violent contact with something; to thump. ½Bumping and jumping.¸ Southey. 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 ½veneration;¸ the bump of ½acquisitiveness.¸ [Colloq.] 4. The act of striking the stern of the boat in advance with the prow of the boat following. [Eng.] 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, n. The noise made by the bittern. 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] Bump¶er (?), n. 1. That which bumps or causes a bump. 2. Anything which resists or deadens a bump or shock; a buffer. Bump¶kin (?), n. [The same word as bumkin, which Cotgrave defines thus: ½Bumkin, Fr. chicambault, the luffeÐblock, a long and thick piece of wood, whereunto the foreÐsayle and spritÐsayle 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. ½Bashful country bumpkins.¸ W.Irving. Bump¶tious (?), a. SelfÐconceited; forward; pushing. [Colloq.] Halliwell. Bump¶tiousÏness, n. Conceitedness. [Colloq.] 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 (?), 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, v.i. [imp. & p.p. Bunched (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Bunching.] 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, v.t. To form into a bunch or bunches. Bunch¶Ðbacked· (?), a. Having a bunch on the back; crooked. ½BunchÐbacked toad.¸ Shak. Bunch¶ber·ry (?), n. (Bot.) The dwarf cornel (Cornus Canadensis), which bears a dense cluster of bright red, edible berries. 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. Bunch¶iÏness (?), n. The quality or condition of being bunchy; knobbiness. 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. Bun¶combe, Bun¶kum (?), n. [Buncombe a country of North Carolina.] SpeechÐmaking 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 Ð 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. µ ½The phrase originated near the close of the debate on the famous 'Missouri Question,' in the 16th Congress. It was then used by Felix Walker Ð a na‹ve 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. ØBund (?), n. [G.] League; confederacy; esp. the confederation of German states. ØBund (?), n. [Hindi band.] An embankment against inundation. [India] S. Wells Williams. ØBun¶der (?), n. [Pers. bandar a landing place, pier.] A boat or raft used in the East Indies in the landing of passengers and goods.

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