Part 26

BET, bet, _n._ a wager: something staked to be lost or won on the result of a doubtful issue, as a horse-race, or the like.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to lay or stake, as a bet:--_pr.p._ bet'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bet or bet'ted.--_ns._ BET'TER, one who bets--also BET'TOR; BET'TING, act of betting or proposing a wager.--AN EVEN BET, an equal chance.--YOU BET, in American slang, certainly. [Prob. shortened from the noun ABET.]

BETAKE, be-t[=a]k', _v.t._ to take one's self to, to go (with _self_): to apply or have recourse:--_pa.t._ betook'; _pa.p._ bet[=a]k'en.

BETEEM, be-t[=e]m', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to grant, to suffer, to allow. [Most prob. from pfx. _be-_, and TEEM.]

BETEL, b[=e]'tl, _n._ the betel-nut, or nut of the areca palm, with lime and the leaves of the Betel-Pepper, chewed by the Malays as a stimulant. [Through Port. from Malay _vettila_.]

BETHANKIT, be-thank'it, Scotch for 'God be thanked.'

BETHEL, beth'el, _n._ a hallowed spot, a name applied by some Methodists to their places of worship: an old ship fitted up in a port as a place of worship for sailors. [Heb. _B[=e]th-[=e]l_, house of God.]

BETHINK, be-thingk', _v.t._ to think on or call to mind: to recollect (generally followed by a reflective pronoun and _of_): to propose to one's self.--_v.i._ to consider:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bethought (be-thawt'). [A.S. _bithencan_; cf. Ger. _bedenken_. See THINK.]

BETHRALL, be-thrawl', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to enslave.

BETHUMB, be-thum', _v.t._ to mark with the thumbs:--_pa.p._ bethumbed'.

BETHUMP, be-thump', _v.t._ to thump or beat soundly.

BETHWACK, be-thwak', _v.t._ to thrash soundly.

BETIDE, be-t[=i]d', _v.i._ to happen to, to befall--in third person, and often impersonally, with dative object, now little used save in phrase, 'woe betide!': (_rare_) to betoken:--_pa.p._ (_Shak._) BETID'. [See TIDE.]

BETIME, be-t[=i]m', _v.i._ (_Shak._) to betide.

BETIMES, be-t[=i]mz', _adv._ in good time: early: seasonably: speedily. [Pfx. _be-_, and TIME, with _adv._ gen. _-s_; like _besides_ from beside.]

BETITLE, be-t[=i]'tl, _v.t._ to give a name to.

BETOIL, be-toil', _v.t._ to weary with toil.

BETOKEN, be-t[=o]'kn, _v.t._ to show by a sign: to foreshow. [See TOKEN.]

BETONY, bet'on-i, _n._ a common British labiate plant growing in woods, of great repute in ancient and medieval medicine, used to dye wool yellow. [Fr.--L. _betonica_, _vettonica_.]

BETOOK, be-took', _pa.t._ of BETAKE.

BETOSSED, be-tost', _pa.p._ (_Shak._) agitated.

BETRAY, be-tr[=a]', _v.t._ to give up treacherously: to disclose in breach of trust: to let go basely or weakly: to deceive the innocent and trustful, to seduce: to discover or show: to show signs of.--_ns._ BETRAY'AL, act of betraying; BETRAY'ER, a traitor, the seducer of a trustful girl. [Pfx. _be-_, and O. Fr. _trair_ (Fr. _trahir_)--L. _trad[)e]re_, to deliver up.]

BETRIM, be-trim', _v.t._ to trim or set in order, to deck, to dress.

BETRODDEN, be-trod'n, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BETREAD', to tread over or walk upon.

BETROTH, be-troth', _v.t._ to contract or promise in order to marriage: to affiance: (_obs._) to pledge one's self to any cause.--_ns._ BETROTH'AL, BETROTH'MENT, an agreement or contract with a view to marriage. [Pfx. _be-_, and TROTH or TRUTH.]

BETTER, bet'[.e]r, _adj._ (serves as _comp._ of GOOD) good in a greater degree: preferable: improved: more suitable: larger: kinder: stronger in health.--_adv._ (_comp._ of WELL) well in a greater degree: more fully or completely: over or more than: with greater advantage: (_pl._) superiors.--_v.t._ to make better (also reflexively, to better one's self), to improve: to benefit: also with intransitive sense, to grow better.--_p.adjs._ BET'TERED, improved, amended; BET'TERING, improving.--_ns._ BET'TERING, BET'TERMENT, BET'TERNESS.--_adj._ BET'TERMOST.--BETTER HALF, a jocose term for a wife, once applied seriously to either wife or husband, and even the soul as opposed to the body.--I HAD BETTER = I should hold it better to--the original construction having been a dative pronoun.--TO BE BETTER OFF, to be in superior circumstances; TO BE BETTER THAN ONE'S SELF, to do more than one had promised; TO GET THE BETTER OF, to gain the advantage over. [A.S. _bet_ (adv.), _betera_, better; Goth. _batiza_, Ger. _besser_. Prob. cog. with BOOT.]

BETTY, bet'ti, _n._ a man who troubles himself with the women's work in a household: a _slang_ name for a burglar's jemmy or _jenny_. [_Betty_, _Bet_, familiar abbrev. of _Elizabeth_.]

BETUMBLED, be-tum'bld, _adj._ (_Shak._) tumbled or disordered.

BETUTOR, be-t[=u]'tor, _v.t._ to tutor or instruct.

BETWEEN, be-tw[=e]n', BETWIXT, be-twikst', _prep._ in the middle of two, of space, time, or degree: in the middle or intermediate space, to defend or separate: expressing reciprocal relation from one to another: by the joint

## action of two or more persons.--_ns._ BETWEEN'-DECKS, the space between any

two decks of a ship; BETWEEN'ITY (_rare_), state of being between.--_prep._ BETWEEN'-WHILES, at intervals.--BETWEEN OURSELVES, in confidence; BETWIXT AND BETWEEN, in a middling position.--TO GO BETWEEN, to act as a mediator. [A.S. _betw['e]onum_ _betwe['o]nan_--_be_, and _twegen_, _twa_, two, twain.]

[Illustration]

BEVEL, bev'el, _n._ a slant or inclination of a surface: an instrument opening like a pair of compasses, and adjustable for measuring angles.--_adj._ having the form of a bevel: slanting.--_v.t._ to form with a bevel or slant:--_pr.p._ bev'elling; _pa.p._ bev'elled.--_ns._ BEV'EL-GEAR, BEV'EL-WHEELS (_mech._), wheels working on each other in different planes, the cogs of the wheels being bevelled or at oblique angles to the shafts.--_p.adj._ BEV'ELLED, cut to an oblique angle, sloped off. [Fr. _biveau_, an instrument for measuring angles; orig. unknown.]

BEVER, an obsolete form of BEAVER.

BEVERAGE, bev'[.e]r-[=a]j, _n._ drink: a mixture of cider and water: any agreeable liquor for drinking.--_n._ BE'VER, a small repast between meals: (_obs._) a time for drinking.--_v.i._ to take such a repast. [O. Fr. _bevrage_ (Fr. _breuvage_), _beivre_--L. _bibere_, to drink.]

BEVY, bev'i, _n._ a brood or flock of birds, esp. of quails: a company, esp. of ladies. [M. E. _bevey_, prob. the same as O. Fr. _bevee_, _buvee_, drink, It. _bevuta_, a draught; the transference of sense being perh. from a drink or a drinking-bout to a drinking-party.]

BEWAIL, be-w[=a]l', _v.t._ to lament: to mourn loudly over (esp. the dead).--_v.i._ to utter lamentations.--_adjs._ BEWAIL'ABLE, BEWAIL'ING. [See WAIL.]

BEWARE, be-w[=a]r', _v.i._ to be on one's guard: to be suspicious of danger: to take care (with _of_; with clause--_lest_, _that_, _not_, _how_). [From the words _be_ and _ware_ run together. See WARY.]

BEWEEP, be-w[=e]p', _v.t._ to weep over, to lament.--_p.adj._ BEWEPT', disfigured by weeping.

BEWELTERED, be-wel't[.e]rd, _p.adj._ besmeared by weltering in blood. [Pfx. _be-_, and WELTER.]

BEWET, be-wet', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to wet or moisten.

BEWIG, be-wig', to cover with a wig.--_p.adj._ BEWIGGED'.

BEWILDER, be-wil'd[.e]r, _v.t._ to perplex or lead astray.--_p.adj._ BEWIL'DERED, lost, confused in mind, trackless.--_adj._ BEWIL'DERING.--_adv._ BEWIL'DERINGLY.--_n._ BEWIL'DERMENT, confusion, mental confusion: perplexity. [Pfx. _be-_, and prov. Eng. _wildern_, a wilderness.]

BEWITCH, be-wich', _v.t._ to affect by witchcraft (mostly malignantly): to fascinate or charm.--_ns._ BEWITCH'ERY, BEWITCH'MENT.--_adj._ BEWITCH'ING, charming, enchanting.--_adv._ BEWITCH'INGLY.

BEWRAY, be-r[=a]', _v.t._ (_B._) to accuse: to point out: to betray or divulge unintentionally. [M. E. _bewreien_, _be-_, and A.S. _wr['e]gan_, to accuse.]

BEY, b[=a], _n._ a Turkish governor of a town or province. [Turk. _beg_, pronounced _b[=a]_, a governor.]

BEYOND, be-yond', _prep._ on the farther side of: farther onward than: out of reach of: past in time: above, superior to.--BEYOND MEASURE, excessively; BEYOND SEAS, abroad; THE BACK OF BEYOND (_De Quincey_, &c.), a humorous phrase for any place a great way off; TO BE BEYOND ONE, to pass his comprehension; TO GO BEYOND, to surpass: to circumvent: (_B._, _Shak._) to overreach. [A.S. _begeondan_--pfx. _be-_, and _geond_, across, beyond. See YON.]

BEZANT, be-zant', or bez'ant, _n._ a gold coin, first struck at _Byzantium_ or Constantinople: (_her._) a small circle or, like a gold coin.

BEZEL, bez'l, _n._ the part of the setting of a precious stone which encloses it: the oblique side or face of a cut gem: the grooved flange or rim in which a watch-glass is set: the slope at the edge of a chisel or plane (usually BAS'IL). [From an O. Fr. word represented by mod. Fr. _biseau_; its ult. origin uncertain.]

BEZIQUE, be-z[=e]k', _n._ a game at cards for two, three, or four persons, played with two to four packs, from which cards with from two to six pips have been removed. The name _Bezique_ itself is applied to the combination of the knave of diamonds and queen of spades. [Fr. _besigue_, of obscure origin.]

BEZOAR, b[=e]'z[=o]r, _n._ a stony concretion found in the stomachs of goats, antelopes, llamas, chamois, &c., formerly esteemed an antidote to all poisons. [Through Sp. _bezaar_ and Ar. _b[=a]zahr_, from Pers. _p[=a]d-zahr_, counter-poison, _zahr_, poison.]

BEZONIAN, be-z[=o]'ni-an, _n._ (_Shak._) a beggar, a low fellow. [It. _bisogno_; Sp. _bisono_, Fr. _bisogne_.]

BEZZLE, bez'l, _v.i._ (_obs._) to drink hard: to squander:--_pr.p._ bezz'ling; _pa.p._ bezz'led. [O. Fr. _besiler_. See EMBEZZLE.]

BHANG, bang, _n._ the native name for the Indian preparation of hemp which is smoked or swallowed for its narcotic and intoxicating qualities--in Arabic known as _hashish_. [See ASSASSIN. Hind. _bh[=a]ng_; Pers. _bang_; Sans. _bhang[=a]_.]

BIAS, b[=i]'as, _n._ a bulge or greater weight on one side of a bowl (in the game of bowling), making it slope or turn to one side: a slant or leaning to one side: a one-sided inclination of the mind, prejudice: any special influence that sways the mind.--_v.t._ to cause to turn to one side: to prejudice or prepossess:--_pa.p._ b[=i]'ased or b[=i]'assed.--_ns._ B[=I]'AS-DRAW'ING (_Shak._), a turn awry; B[=I]'ASING, a bias or inclination to one side. [Fr. _biais_, of dubious origin; Diez suggests L. _bifax_, _bifacem_, two-faced.]

BIAXAL, b[=i]-aks'al, _adj._ having two optic axes.--Also BIAXIAL. [L. _bi-_, and AXIAL.]

BIB, bib, _n._ a cloth put under an infant's chin: a similar article of dress for adults, worn over the breast or above the apron.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to drink, to tipple.--_adj._ B[=I]B[=A]'CIOUS.--_ns._ BIB[=A]'TION, tippling; BIB'BER, a tippler: chiefly used in composition as (_B._) wine-bibber. [M. E. _bibben_, most prob. from L. _bib-[)e]re_, to drink.]

BIB, bib, _n._ a fish of the same genus as the cod and haddock, also called the _Pout_.

BIBBLE-BABBLE, bib'bl-bab'bl, _n._ (_Shak._) idle talk. [Reduplication of BABBLE.]

BIBLE, b[=i]'bl, _n._ the sacred writings of the Christian Church, consisting of the Old and New Testaments.--_adj._ BIB'LICAL, of or relating to the Bible: scriptural.--_adv._ BIB'LICALLY.--_ns._ BIB'LICISM, biblical doctrine, learning, or literature; BIB'LICIST, B[=I]B'LIST, one versed in biblical learning: one who makes Scripture the sole rule of faith. [Fr.--Low L. _biblia_, fem. sing., earlier neut. pl., from Gr. _ta biblia_, lit. 'the books,' esp. the canonical books of Scripture, _biblion_, a book, dim. of _biblos_, papyrus, paper.]

BIBLIOGRAPHY, bib-li-og'raf-i, _n._ the description or knowledge of books, in regard to their authors, subjects, editions, and history.--_n._ BIBLIOG'RAPHER, one versed in bibliography or the history of books.--_adj._ BIBLIOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _graphia_, description.]

BIBLIOLATRY, bib-li-ol'at-ri, _n._ superstitious reverence for the Bible.--_ns._ BIBLIOL'ATRIST, BIBLIOL'ATER, one given to bibliolatry. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _latreia_, worship.]

BIBLIOLOGY, bib-li-ol'[=o]-ji, _n._ an account of books: biblical literature, or theology. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _logos_, discourse.]

BIBLIOMANCY, bib'li-[=o]-man-si, _n._ divination by selecting passages of the Bible at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _manteia_, divination.]

BIBLIOMANIA, bib-li-[=o]-m[=a]n'i-a, _n._ a mania for possessing _rare_ and curious books.--_n._ BIBLIOM[=A]N'IAC, one who has a mania for possessing _rare_ and curious books.--_adj._ BIBLIOMAN[=I]'ACAL. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, and MANIA.]

BIBLIOPHILE, bib'li-[=o]-f[=i]l, _n._ a lover of books, esp. a collector of _rare_ books. [Fr.--Gr. _biblion_, a book, _philos_, friend.]

BIBLIOPOLE, bib'li-[=o]-p[=o]l, _n._ a bookseller.--Also BIBLIOP'OLIST. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _p[=o]leein_, to sell.]

BIBULOUS, bib'[=u]-lus, _adj._ drinking or sucking in: spongy. [L. _bibulus_--_bib-[)e]re_, to drink.]

BICAMERAL, b[=i]-kam'[.e]r-al, _adj._ having two chambers. [L. _bi-_, twice, and _camera_, chamber.]

BICARBONATE, b[=i]-k[:a]r'bon-[=a]t, _n._ a carbonate or salt having two equivalents of carbonic acid to one equivalent of base. [L. _bi-_, twice, and CARBONATE.]

BICE, b[=i]s, _n._ a pale blue or green paint. [Fr. _bis_.]

BICENTENARY, b[=i]-sen'te-na-ri, BICENTENNIAL, b[=i]-sen-ten'ni-al, _adj._ pertaining to the two hundredth.--_n._ the two hundredth anniversary.

BICEPHALOUS, b[=i]-sef'al-us, _adj._ double-headed. [L. _bis_, twice, and Gr. _k[=e]phal[=e]_, head.]

BICEPS, b[=i]'seps, _n._ the muscle in front of the arm between the shoulder and elbow. [L. _biceps_, two-headed--_bis_, twice, and _caput_, head.]

BICHROMATE, b[=i]-kr[=o]'m[=a]t, _adj._ having two parts of chromic acid to one of other ingredients. [L. _bis_, twice, and CHROMATE.]

BICIPITAL, b[=i]-sip'it-al, _adj._ (_anat._) having two heads or origins.--Earlier form BICIP'ITOUS.

BICKER, bik'[.e]r, _v.i._ to contend in a petty way: to quiver: to move quickly and tremulously, as running water.--_n._ a fight, a quarrel: a clattering noise: a short run.--_n._ BICK'ERMENT (_Spens._), bickering, strife. [Acc. to Skeat, _bicker_ = _pick-er_, or _peck-er_, to _peck_ repeatedly with the _beak_.]

BICKER, bik'[.e]r, _n._ a bowl for holding liquor, esp. of wood: a vessel made of wooden staves for holding porridge. [Scot. form of BEAKER.]

BICONCAVE, b[=i]-kon'k[=a]v, _adj._ concave on both sides. [L. _bi-_, twice, and CONCAVE.]

BICONVEX, b[=i]-kon'veks, _adj._ convex on both sides. [L. _bi-_, twice, and CONVEX.]

BICORPORATE, b[=i]-kor'por-[=a]t, _adj._ (_her._) double-bodied, as the head of a lion to which two bodies are attached. [L. _bis_, twice, and CORPORATE.]

BICUSPID, b[=i]-kus'pid, _adj._ having two cusps: a pre-molar tooth. [L. _bi-_, twice, and CUSP.]

BICYCLE, b[=i]'si-kl, _n._ a cycle or velocipede with two wheels furnished with rubber tires, arranged one before the other, impelled by pedals, and steered by transverse handles affixed to the front wheel--also BIKE (_colloq._).--_n._ B[=I]'CYCLIST. [Formed from L. _bi-_, _bis_, twice, and Gr. _kyklos_, a circle.]

BID, bid, _v.t._ to offer: to propose: to proclaim, as the banns of marriage: to invite: to command: to make an offer, and to increase the amount offered for a thing--at an auction:--_pr.p._ bid'ding; _pa.t._ bid or bade; _pa.p._ bid, bid'den.--_n._ an offer of a price.--_ns._ BID'DER, one who bids or offers a price; BID'DING, offer: invitation: command; BID'DING-PRAY'ER, a form of prayer directed to be used before all sermons, lectures, and homilies preached apart from the daily service or holy communion--as university sermons, so called because in it the preacher is directed to bid or exhort the people to pray for certain specified objects.--TO BID FAIR, to seem likely. [A.S. _b['e]odan_; Goth. _biudan_, Ger. _bieten_, to offer.]

BID, bid, _v.t._ to ask for: (nearly _obs._): to pray. [A.S. _biddan_; Goth. _bidjan_; Ger. _bitten_; the connection with BID, to command, is dub. See BEAD.]

BIDE, b[=i]d, _v.t._ and _v.i._ same as ABIDE, to wait for.--_n._ BID'ING (_Shak._), residence, habitation. [A.S. _b['i]dan_; Goth. _beidan_.]

BIDENTATE, b[=i]-dent'[=a]t, _adj._ having two teeth.--Also BIDENT'AL. [L. _bi-_; twice, _dens_, _dentis_, a tooth.]

BIELD, b[=e]ld, _n._ (_Wordsworth_) shelter: protection. [Scot.; conn. with BOLD.]

BIENNIAL, b[=i]-en'yal, _adj._ lasting two years: happening once in two years.--_n._ a plant that lasts two years.--_adv._ BIENN'IALLY. [L. _biennalis_--_bi-_, twice, and _annus_, a year.]

BIER, b[=e]r, _n._ a carriage or frame of wood for bearing the dead to the grave. [A.S. _b['ae]r_; Ger. _bahre_, L. _fer-etrum_. From root of verb BEAR.]

BIESTINGS. Same as BEESTINGS.

BIFACIAL, b[=i]-f[=a]'shyal, _adj._ having two like faces or opposite surfaces. [L. _bi-_, twice, and FACIAL.]

BIFFINS, bif'inz, _n._ apples slowly dried in bakers' ovens and flattened into cakes--prepared in great quantities in Norfolk. [Said to be properly _beefins_, because like raw beef.]

BIFIDATE, bif'id-[=a]t, _adj._ (_bot._) cleft in two.--Also BIF'ID. [L. _bifidus_--_bi-_, _bis_, twice, and _find[)e]re_, perf. _fidi_, to cleave or split.]

BIFLORATE, b[=i]-fl[=o]'r[=a]t, _adj._ bearing two flowers. [L. _bi-_, twice, and _flos_, _floris_, a flower.]

BIFOLD, b[=i]'f[=o]ld, _adj._ twofold: (_Shak._) of two kinds. [L. _bi-_, twice, and FOLD.]

BIFOLIATE, b[=i]-f[=o]'li-[=a]t, _adj._ having two leaves. [L. _bi-_, twice, and FOLIATE.]

BIFORM, b[=i]'form, _adj._ having two forms. [L. _bi-_, twice, and FORM.]

BIFURCATE, b[=i]-fur'k[=a]t, BIFURCATED, b[=i]-fur'k[=a]t-ed, _adj._ two-forked; having two prongs or branches.--_n._ BIFURC[=A]'TION, a forking or division into two branches. [L. _bifurcus_--_bi-_, _bis_, twice, _furca_, a fork.]

BIG, big, _adj._ large or great: pregnant: great in air, mien, or spirit: loud: pompous, esp. 'to talk big,' 'look big.'--_adjs._ BIG-BELL'IED, having a big belly; pregnant (_with_); BIG'GISH, rather big.--_ns._ BIG'NESS, bulk, size; BIG'WIG (_colloq._), a leading man, a person of some importance. [M. E. _big_; origin very obscure--Skeat suggests that it is _bilg_, the _l_ being dropped, and compares Ice. _belgja_, to puff out.]

BIG, big, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to build, to pile up.--_n._ BIG'GIN, anything built, a house. [Sc. _byggja_; A.S. _b['u]ian_.]

BIGAMY, big'am-i, _n._ the crime of having two wives or two husbands at once.--_n._ BIG'AMIST, one who has committed bigamy. [Fr.--L. _bi-_, _bis_, twice, and Gr. _gamos_, marriage.]

BIGG, big, _n._ a kind of barley. [Scand.; Ice. _bygg_, Dan. _byg_.]

BIGGIN, big'in, _n._ a child's cap or hood. [Fr. _b['e]guin_, from the cap worn by the _Beguines_, a religious society of women in France.]

BIGHT, b[=i]t, _n._ a bend of the shore, or small bay: a bend or coil of a rope. [A.S. _byht_; cf. Dan. and Sw. _bugt_, Dut. _bocht_; from _b[=u]gan_, to bow.]

BIGNONIA, big-n[=o]'ni-a, _n._ a genus of tropical plants with trumpet-shaped flowers, named from the Abb['e] _Bignon_, Louis XIV.'s librarian.

BIGOT, big'ot, _n._ one blindly and obstinately devoted to a particular creed or party.--_adj._ BIG'OTED, having the qualities of a bigot.--_n._ BIG'OTRY, blind or excessive zeal, esp. in religious matters. [O. Fr.; of dub. origin; variously conn. with _Visigoth_, they being Arians, while the Franks were orthodox; with Sp. _bigote_, a moustache; with _Beguine_ (q.v.); and by Wace with a worthless legend that the Norman Rollo, in refusing to kiss the foot of Charles the Simple, said, 'Ne se, _bi got_.']

BIJOU, be-zh[=oo]', _n._ a trinket: a jewel: a little box:--_pl._ BIJOUX (be-zh[=oo]').--_n._ BIJOU'TRY, jewellery: small articles of virtu. [Fr.]

BIKE, b[=i]k, _n._ a nest of wasps, wild bees, &c.: a swarm of people. [Scot.; ety. dub.]

BIKE. See BICYCLE.

BILABIATE, b[=i]-l[=a]'bi-[=a]t, _adj._ having two lips, as some corollas. [L. _bi-_, twice, and LABIATE.]

BILANDER, b[=i]'land-[.e]r, _n._ a two-masted hoy, having her mainsail bent to the whole length of her yard, hanging fore and aft, and inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 45^o.--Also BY'LANDER. [Dut. _bijlander_.]

BILATERAL, b[=i]-lat'[.e]r-al, _adj._ having two sides.--_adv._ BILAT'ERALLY. [L. _bi-_, twice, and LATERAL.]

BILBERRY, bil'ber-i, _n._ called also _Whortleberry_, a shrub and its berries, which are dark blue. [Cf. Dan. _b[:o]llebaer_; Scot. _blaeberry_; Ger. _blaubeere_.]

BILBO, bil'b[=o], _n._ a rapier or sword:--_pl._ BILBOES (bil'b[=o]z), fetters. [From _Bilbao_, in Spain.]

BILE, b[=i]l, _n._ a thick bitter fluid secreted by the liver--yellow in man and carnivorous animals, green in vegetable feeders: (_fig._) ill-humour.--_n._ BILE'-DUCT, the duct which conveys the bile from the liver and the gall-bladder to the small intestine.--_adjs._ BIL'IARY, belonging to or conveying bile; BIL'IOUS, pertaining to or affected by bile.--_adv._ BIL'IOUSLY. [Fr.--L. _bilis_.]

BILGE, bilj, _n._ the bulging part of a cask: the broadest part of a ship's bottom.--_v.i._ to spring a leak by a fracture in the bilge, as a ship.--_ns._ BILGE'-PUMP; BILGE'-WAT'ER.--_adj._ BILG'Y, having the appearance and disagreeable smell of bilge-water. [Most prob. conn. with BULGE.]

BILHARZIA, bil'h[:a]r-zi-a, _n._ a human parasitic flat worm in the fluke or Trematode order, with differentiated sexes. [From the helminthologist, Theodor _Bilharz_.]

BILINGUAL, b[=i]-ling'wal, _adj._ of or containing two tongues or languages.--Also BILIN'GUAR. [L. _bilinguis_--_bi-_, twice, _lingua_, tongue.]

BILITERAL, b[=i]-lit'[.e]r-al, _adj._ consisting of two letters. [L. _bi-_, twice, and _litera_, a letter.]

BILK, bilk, _v.t._ to elude; to cheat. [Perh. a dim. of BALK; at first a term in cribbage.]

[Illustration]

BILL, bil, _n._ a kind of concave battle-axe with a long wooden handle: a kind of hatchet with a long blade and wooden handle in the same line with it, often with a hooked point, used in cutting thorn hedges or in pruning.--_ns._ BILL'HOOK, a bill or hatchet having a hooked or curved point; BILL'MAN, a soldier armed with a bill. [A.S. _bil_; Ger. _bille_.]

BILL, bil, _n._ the beak of a bird, or anything like it, applied even to a sharp promontory, as Portland Bill: the point of the fluke of an anchor--hence BILL'-BOARD, _n._, used to protect the planking from being injured by the bill when the anchor is weighed.--_v.i._ to join bills as doves: to caress fondly.--_adj._ BILLED. [A.S. _bile_, most prob. the same word as the preceding.]

BILL, bil, _n._ an account of money: a draft of a proposed law: a written engagement to pay a sum of money at a fixed date: a placard or advertisement: any written statement of particulars: in the criminal law of England, the formal name of a written accusation of serious crime preferred before a grand-jury.--_n._ BILL'-BOOK, a book used in commerce in which an entry is made of all bills accepted and received.--_n.pl._ BILL'-BROK'ERS, persons who, being skilled in the money-market, the state of mercantile and personal credit, and the rates of exchange, engage, either on their own account or that of their employers, in the purchase and sale of foreign and inland bills of exchange and promissory notes: the business of BILL'-DISCOUNT'ERS, or discount-brokers, again, consists in discounting or advancing the amount of bills of exchange and notes which have some time to run before they come due, on the faith of the credit of the parties to the bill.--_n._ BILL'-CHAM'BER, a department of the Court of Session in Scotland which deals with summary business--so called because formerly both summonses and diligence or execution were for the most part commenced by a writ called a bill; BILL'-STICK'ER, one who sticks or posts up bills or placards.--BILL OF ADVENTURE, a writing by a merchant stating that goods shipped by him, and in his name, are the property of another, whose adventure or chance the transaction is--the shipping merchant, on the other hand, undertaking to account to the adventurer for the produce; BILL OF COMPLAINT, the name given in the English Court of Chancery, prior to the Judicature Act of 1873, to the formal statement of the facts and prayer for relief submitted by a plaintiff to the court; BILL OF COSTS, an account stating in detail the charges and disbursements of an attorney or solicitor in the conduct of his client's business; BILL OF EXCEPTIONS, a statement of objections, by way of appeal, against the decision of a judge who is trying a case with a jury in the Court of Session; BILL OF EXCHANGE, a document purporting to be an instrument of pecuniary obligation for value received, and which is employed for the purpose of settling a debt in a manner convenient to the parties concerned; BILL OF FARE, in a hotel, the list of dishes or articles of food; BILL OF HEALTH, an official certificate of the state of health on board ship before sailing; BILL OF LADING, a paper signed by the master of a ship, by which he makes himself responsible for the safe delivery of the goods specified therein; BILL OF MORTALITY, an official account of the births and deaths occurring in a certain district within a given time; BILL OF SALE, in English law, a formal deed assigning personal property, the usual mode of transferring ships, and valuable as mercantile securities over stock-in-trade, furniture, &c.; BILL OF SIGHT, an entry of imported goods of which the merchant does not know the quantity or the quality; BILL OF STORE, a license from the customs authorities to reimport British goods formerly exported; BILL OF VICTUALLING, a list of necessary stores shipped from the bonded warehouse, or for drawback on board vessels proceeding on oversea voyages. [Through Low L. _billa_, from L. _bulla_, anything round, a knob, a seal appended to a charter, hence a document bearing a seal, &c. See BULL, an edict.]

BILLET, bil'et, _n._ a little note or paper: a ticket assigning quarters to soldiers.--_v.t._ to quarter or lodge, as soldiers. [Fr.; dim. of BILL.]

[Illustration]

BILLET, bil'et, _n._ a small log of wood used as fuel: (_archit._) an ornament in Norman architecture resembling billets of wood.--_n._ BILL'ET-HEAD, a billet or round piece of wood fixed in the bow or stern of a whale-boat, round which the harpoon-line is turned when the whale is struck. [Fr. _billette_--_bille_, the young stock of a tree, prob. of Celt. orig., perh. allied to BOLE, the trunk of a tree.]

BILLET-DOUX, bil-e-d[=oo]', _n._ a sweet note: a love-letter. [Fr. _billet_, a letter, _doux_, sweet.]

BILLIARDS, bil'yardz, _n._ a game played with a cue or mace and balls on a table having pockets at the sides and corners.--_adj._ BILL'IARD.--_n._ BILL'IARD-MARK'ER, a person who marks the points made by the players. [Fr. _billard_--_bille_, a ball.]