Part 28

BLACK, blak, _adj._ of the darkest colour: without colour: obscure: dismal: sullen: horrible: dusky: foul, dirty: malignant: dark-haired, wearing dark armour or clothes.--_n._ black colour: absence of colour: a negro: mourning: the dark smut which attacks wheat: a speck of black on the face, a sooty particle in the air: black clothes, esp. dress trousers.--_v.t._ to make black: to soil or stain: to draw in black.--_n._ BLACK'AMOOR, a black Moor: a negro.--_adjs._ BLACK'-AND-TAN, having black hair on the back, and tan or yellowish-brown elsewhere, esp. of a terrier; BLACK'-A-VISED, of dark complexion (probably originally _black-[`a]-vis_).--_v.t._ BLACK'BALL, to reject in voting by putting a black ball into a ballot-box.--_ns._ BLACK'BALLING, the act of so rejecting a candidate; BLACK'-BAND, iron ore containing enough of coal to calcine it; BLACK'-BEE'TLE, a cockroach; BLACK'BERRY, the berry of the bramble; BLACK'BIRD, a species of thrush of a black colour: a current name for a negro or Polynesian kidnapped for labour; BLACK'BIRDING, the kidnapping of such; BLACK'BOARD, a board painted black, used in schools for writing, forming figures, &c.--_adjs._ BLACK'-BOD'ING, of evil omen; BLACK'-BROWED, having black eyebrows: sullen.--_ns._ BLACK'-CAP, a bird, a species of warbler, so called from its black crown: (_cook._) an apple roasted until it is black, and served up in a custard: the full-dress cap put on by English judges when about to pronounce sentence of death; BLACK'-CATT'LE, oxen, bulls, and cows; BLACK'-CHALK, a variety of clay-slate of a bluish-black colour, used for drawing, and also for making black paint; BLACK'COCK, a species of grouse, common in the north of England and in Scotland; BLACK'-CURR'ANT, a garden shrub with black fruit used in making preserves; BLACK'-DEATH, a name given to the plague of the 14th century from the black spots which appeared on the skin; BLACK'-DRAUGHT, the popular name for a purgative medicine consisting chiefly of senna and Epsom salts; BLACK'-DROP, a liquid preparation of opium, vinegar, and sugar.--_v.t._ BLACK'EN, to make black: to defame.--_adj._ BLACK'FACED, having a black face: dismal.--_ns._ BLACK'-FLAG, the flag of a pirate, or that hoisted at the execution of a criminal--from its colour; BLACK'-FRIAR, a friar of the Dominican order, so called from his black mantle (over a white woollen habit): (_pl._) the region in a city, as London, where their convent stood; BLACKGUARD (blag'[:a]rd), originally applied to the lowest menials about a court, who took charge of the pots, kettles, &c.: a low, ill-conducted fellow.--_adj._ low: scurrilous.--_v.t._ to treat as a blackguard; _v.i._ to play the blackguard.--_n._ BLACK'GUARDISM.--_adv._ BLACK'GUARDLY.--_ns._ BLACK'-HEART'EDNESS; BLACK'-HOLE, formerly the name for the punishment-cell in a barrack: the memorable black-hole in the Fort-William barracks at Calcutta, into which, in in 1756, as many as 146 Europeans were thrust over night, of whom only 23 were found surviving in the morning; BLACK'ING, a substance used for blacking leather, &c.--_adj._ BLACK'ISH.--_ns._ BLACK'-JACK, a vessel for holding drink, originally made of leather: (_naut._) the flag of a pirate; BLACK'-LEAD, a black mineral (plumbago, not lead) used in making pencils, blacking grates, &c.; BLACK'LEG, a low, gambling fellow: a turf-swindler: a term applied by strikers to men willing to work for the wages against which themselves have struck--also BLACK'-NEB; BLACK'-LET'TER, the old English (also called Gothic) letter ([Black-letter]); BLACK'-LIST, a list of defaulters; BLACK'-MAR[=I]'A, the closely covered, usually black-painted van in which prisoners are conveyed between the court and the prison; BLACK'-MON'DAY, Easter Monday, so called on account of the sufferings experienced by the army of Edward III. from the severity of the weather on that day in 1360; BLACK'-MONK, a monk of the order of St Benedict, from his garments; BLACK'NESS; BLACK'-PUDD'ING, a blood-pudding (q.v.).; BLACK'-ROD, the usher of the chapter of the Garter and of the House of Lords, so called from the black wand tipped with a golden lion which he carries; BLACK'-SHEEP, a disreputable member of a family or group; BLACK'SMITH, a smith who works in iron, as opposed to a _Whitesmith_, or one who works in tin; BLACK'THORN, a species of dark-coloured thorn: the sloe: a stick made from its stem.--_adjs._ BLACK'-TRESSED, having black tresses; BLACK-VISAGED (blak'-viz'[=a]jd), having a black visage or appearance.--_n._ BLACK'-WASH, a lotion of calomel and lime-water: anything that blackens.--BLACK AND BLUE, with the livid colour of a bruise in the flesh; BLACK BOOK, an official book bound in black, a book recording the names of persons deserving punishment; BLACK EYE, an eye of which the iris is dark--a point of beauty: a discoloration around the eye due to a blow or fall; BLACK FELLOW, a native in Australia.--IN BLACK AND WHITE, in writing or in print: in art, in no colours but black and white.--TO BE BLACK IN THE FACE, to have the face purple through strangulation, passion, or effort; TO BE IN ANY ONE'S BLACK BOOKS, to have incurred any one's displeasure; TO BLACK OUT, to obliterate with black. [A.S. _blac_, _blaec_, black.]

BLACK-ART, blak'-[:a]rt, _n._ necromancy: magic. [Acc. to Trench, a translation of the Low L. _nigromantia_, substituted erroneously for the Gr. _necromanteia_ (see NECROMANCY), as if the first syllable had been L. _niger_, black.]

BLACKMAIL, blak'm[=a]l, _n._ rent or tribute formerly paid to robbers for protection: hush-money extorted under threat of exposure or denunciation, esp. of a baseless charge.--_v.t._ to extort money from a person by this expedient. [BLACK and A.S. _mal_, tribute, toll.]

BLAD, blad, _n._ a fragment of anything, a good lump. [Scot.]

BLADDER, blad'[.e]r, _n._ a thin bag distended with liquid or air: the receptacle for the urine.--_adjs._ BLADD'ERED, BLADD'ERY, swollen like a bladder.--_n._ BLADD'ERWORT, a genus of slender aquatic plants, the leaves floating. [A.S. _bl['ae]dre_--_blawan_; Old Ger. _blahan_, _blajan_, to blow; Ger. _blase_, bladder--_blasen_, to blow; cf. L. _flat-us_, breath.]

BLADE, bl[=a]d, _n._ the leaf or flat part of grass or corn: the cutting part of a knife, sword, &c.: the flat part of an oar: a dashing fellow.--_n._ BLADE'BONE, the flat bone at the back of the shoulder: the scapula.--_adj._ BLAD'ED. [A.S. _blaed_; Ice. _blad_, Ger. _blatt_.]

BLAE, bl[=a], _adj._ blackish or blue in colour: livid: bleak.--_n._ BLAE'BERRY, Scotch name for the bilberry or whortleberry. [M. E. _blo_, _bloo_--Scand. _bl['a]_.]

BLAGUE, blag, _n._ blustering humbug. [Fr.]

BLAIN, bl[=a]n, _n._ a boil or blister. [A.S. _blegen_, a blister, prob. from _blawan_, to blow.]

BLAME, bl[=a]m, _v.t._ to find fault with: to censure.--_n._ imputation of a fault: crime: censure.--_adj._ BLAM'ABLE, deserving of blame: faulty.--_n._ BLAM'ABLENESS.--_adv._ BLAM'ABLY.--_adj._ BLAME'FUL, meriting blame: criminal.--_adv._ BLAME'FULLY.--_n._ BLAME'FULLNESS.--_adj._ BLAMELESS, without blame: guiltless: innocent.--_adv._ BLAME'LESSLY.--_ns._ BLAME'LESSNESS; BLAME'WORTHINESS, quality of being worthy of blame: blamableness.--_adj._ BLAME'WORTHY, worthy of blame: culpable. [Fr. _bl[^a]mer_, _blasmer_--Gr. _blasph[=e]me_-_ein_, to speak ill. See BLASPHEME.]

BLANCH, blansh, _v.t._ to whiten.--_v.i._ to grow white. [Fr. _blanchir_--_blanc_, white. See BLANK.]

BLANC-MANGE, bla-mawngzh', _n._ a white jelly prepared with milk. [Fr. _blanc_, white, _manger_, food.]

BLAND, bland, _adj._ smooth: gentle: mild.--_adv._ BLANDLY.--_n._ BLAND'NESS. [L. _blandus_, perh.--_mla_(_n_)_dus_--Eng. _mild_.]

BLAND, bland, _n._ an Orcadian name for butter-milk and water. [Scand. _blanda_.]

BLANDISH, bland'ish, _v.t._ to flatter and coax, to cajole.--_n._ BLAND'ISHMENT, act of expressing fondness: flattery: winning expressions or

## actions. [Fr. _blandir_, _blandiss-_, from L. _bland[=i]ri_.]

BLANK, blangk, _adj._ without writing or marks, as in white paper: empty, empty of results: vacant, confused: (_poetry_) not having rhyme.--_n._ a paper without writing: a lottery-ticket having no mark, and therefore valueless: an empty space, a void, or vacancy: (_archery_) the white mark in the centre of a target at which an arrow is aimed, hence the object or aim of anything: a form of document having blank spaces afterwards to be filled in.--_v.t._ to make pale: (_Milton_) to confuse.--_n._ BLANK'-CART'RIDGE, a cartridge without a bullet.--_p.adj._ BLANKED, a minced form of _damned_, from the usual form of printing d----d.--_adv._ BLANK'LY.--_ns._ BLANK'NESS; BLANK'-VERSE, verse without rhyme, esp. the heroic verse of five feet. [Fr. _blanc_, from root of Ger. _blinken_, to glitter--Old High Ger. _blichen_, Gr. _phlegein_, to shine.]

BLANKET, blangk'et, _n._ a white woollen covering for beds: a covering for horses, &c.--_v.t._ to cover with a blanket: to toss in a blanket.--_n._ BLANK'ETING, cloth for blankets: the punishment of being tossed in a blanket. [Fr. _blanchet_, dim. of _blanc_, from its null white colour,]

BLARE, bl[=a]r, _v.i._ to roar, to sound loudly, as a trumpet.--_n._ roar, noise. [M. E. _blaren_, orig. _blasen_, from A.S. _blaesan_, to blow. See BLAST.]

BLARNEY, blar'ni, _n._ pleasing flattery or cajoling talk.--_v.t._ to beguile with such. [_Blarney_ Castle, near Cork, where there is a stone difficult to reach, he who kisses which ever after possesses the gift of blarney.]

BLAS['E], bla-z[=a], _adj._ fatigued with pleasures, used up. [Fr. _blaser_.]

BLASH, blash, _n._ watery stuff.--_adj._ BLASH'Y. [Scot.]

BLASPHEME, blas-f[=e]m', _v.t._ and _v.i._ to speak impiously of, as of God: to curse and swear.--_n._ BLASPHEM'ER.--_adj._ BLAS'PHEMOUS, containing blasphemy: impious.--_adv._ BLAS'PHEMOUSLY.--_n._ BLAS'PHEMY, profane speaking: contempt or indignity offered to God. [Gr. _blasph[=e]me-ein_--_blaptein_, to hurt, _ph[=e]mi_ to speak. See BLAME.]

BLAST, blast, _n._ a blowing or gust of wind: a forcible stream of air: sound of a wind instrument; an explosion of gunpowder: anything pernicious.--_v.t._ to strike with some pernicious influence, to blight: to affect with sudden violence or calamity: to rend asunder with gunpowder.--_adj._ BLAST'ED, blighted: cursed, damned.--_ns._ BLAST'-FUR'NACE, a smelting furnace into which hot air is blown; BLAST'-HOLE, a hole in the bottom of a pump through which water enters; BLAST'ING, the separating of masses of stone by means of an explosive substance; BLAST'ING-GEL'ATINE, a powerful explosive made of gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine; BLAST'MENT, withering or shrivelling up caused by blasting; BLAST'-PIPE, a pipe in a steam-engine, to convey the waste-steam up the chimney. [A.S. _bl['ae]st_; cf. Ice. _be['a]sa_; Ger. _blasen_.]

BLASTODERM, blas'to-derm, _n._ an embryological term applied to the layer or layers of cells arising from the germinal disc, or the portion of a

## partially segmenting egg which undergoes division. [Gr. _blasto-_,

_blastos_, a sprout, _derma_, _dermat-_, skin.]

BLATANT, bl[=a]t'ant, _adj._ noisy, clamorous, loud.--_adv._ BLAT'ANTLY. [Prob. a coinage of Spenser.]

BLATE, bl[=a]t, _adj._ bashful, timidly awkward. [Scot.; A.S. _bl['a]t_, pale.]

BLATTER, blat't[.e]r, _v.i._ to talk overmuch, to prate.--_v.i._ to hurry or rush noisily.--_n._ a clatter of words, sound of rapid motion. [L. _blater[=a]re_.]

BLAWORT, bl[:a]'wort, _n._ the harebell: the corn blue-bottle.--Also BL[=E]'WART. [Scot. BLAE, and _wort_, herb.]

BLAY, bl[=a], _n._ the fish _bleak_.--Also BLEY. [See BLEAK, a fish.]

BLAZE, bl[=a]z, _n._ a rush of light or of flame: a bursting out or active display: a white spot on the face of a horse or ox: a mark made on a tree by cutting off a strip of bark to mark a track or a boundary.--_v.i._ to burn with a flame: to throw out light.--_n._ BLAZ'ER, a cricket or golf jacket of bright colour.--BLAZES, from the fires of hell, in imprecations like TO BLAZES; also LIKE BLAZES = with fury.--TO BLAZE A TREE, to make a white mark by cutting off a piece of the bark. [A.S. _blaese_, a torch, from root of BLOW.]

BLAZE, bl[=a]z, Blazon, bl[=a]'zn, _v.t._ to proclaim, to spread abroad.--_n._ BLAZ'ER (_Spens._), one who spreads abroad or proclaims. [Same as BLARE; BLAZON is the M. E. _blasen_, with the _n_ retained.]

BLAZON, bl[=a]'zn, _v.t._ to make public: to display: to draw or to explain in proper terms the figures, &c., in armorial bearings.--_n._ the science or rules of coats-of-arms.--_ns._ BLAZ'ONER, one who blazons: a herald: a slanderer; BLAZ'ONRY, the art of drawing or of deciphering coats-of-arms: heraldry. [Fr. _blason_, a coat-of-arms, from root of BLAZE.]

BLEACH, bl[=e]ch, _v.t._ to make pale or white: to whiten, as textile fabrics.--_v.i._ to grow white.--_ns._ BLEACH'ER, one who bleaches, or that which bleaches; BLEACH'ERY, a place for bleaching; BLEACH'-FIELD, a place for bleaching cloth: a bleacher's office or works; BLEACH'ING, the process of whitening or decolourising cloth; BLEACH'ING-GREEN, a green for bleaching clothes on; BLEACH'ING-POW'DER, chloride of lime. [A.S. _bl['ae]can_, from root of BLEAK.]

BLEAK, bl[=e]k, _adj._ colourless: dull and cheerless: cold, unsheltered.--_adv._ BLEAK'LY.--_n._ BLEAK'NESS. [A.S. _blaec_, _bl[^a]c_, pale, shining; a different word from _blac_ (without accent), black. The root is _blican_, to shine.]

BLEAK, bl[=e]k, _n._ a small white river-fish.

BLEAR, bl[=e]r, _adj._ (as in BLEAR-EYED, bl[=e]r'-[=i]d) sore or inflamed: dim or blurred with inflammation. [Low Ger. _bleer-oged_, 'blear-eyed.']

BLEAT, bl[=e]t, _v.i._ to cry as a sheep.--_n._ the cry of a sheep, any similar cry, even of the human voice.--_n._ BLEAT'ING, the cry of a sheep. [A.S. _bl['ae]tan_; L. _bal[=a]re_, Gr. _bl[=e]ch[=e]_, a bleating; root _bla-_; formed from the sound.]

BLEB, bleb, _n._ a transparent blister of the cuticle: a bubble, as in water. [See BULB.]

BLED, bled, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BLEED.

BLEE, bl[=e], _n._ (_Mrs Browning_) complexion, colour. [A.S. _bl['e]o_.]

BLEED, bl[=e]d, _v.i._ to lose blood: to die by slaughter: to issue forth or drop as blood: to have money extorted from one: to feel great pity for, as in the phrase, 'the heart bleeds:' to be as red as blood.--_v.t._ to draw blood from, esp. surgically: to extort sums of money from:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bled.--_n._ BLEED'ING, a discharge of blood: the operation of letting blood.--_adj._ full of compassion: emitting sap: terribly weakened by war: (_Shak._) bloody. [A.S. _bl['e]dan_. See BLOOD.]

BLEMISH, blem'ish, _n._ a stain or defect: reproach.--_v.t._ to mark with any deformity: to tarnish: to defame.--_n._ BLEM'ISHMENT (_Spens._), the state of being blemished, disgrace. [O. Fr. _blesmir_, _blemir_, pr.p. _blemissant_, to stain, of dubious origin. Prof. Skeat thinks it Scand., Ice. _bl[^a]man_, livid colour--_bl[^a]r_, BLUE.]

BLENCH, blensh, _v.i._ to shrink or start back: to flinch. [From root of BLINK.]

BLENCH, blensh, _adj._ or _adv._ based on the payment of a nominal yearly duty.--Also BLANCH. [See BLANK.]

BLEND, blend, _v.t._ to mix together: to confound.--_v.i._ to be mingled or mixed:--_pa.p._ blend'ed and blent.--_n._ a mixture:--_n._ BLEND'ING, the act of mingling: the process by which the fusion of paints is effected. [A.S. _blandan_.]

BLENDE, blend, _n._ native sulphuret of zinc. [Ger. _blenden_, to dazzle, from the lustre of the crystals.]

BLENHEIM, blen'em, _n._ a kind of spaniel named from the Duke of Marlborough's house.

BLENNORRHOEA, blen-no-r[=e]'a, _n._ discharge of mucus. [Gr. _blennos_, mucus.]

BLENNY, blen'ni, _n._ a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, covered with mucus or slimy matter. [Gr. _blennos_, mucus.]

BLENT, blent, (_obs._) _pa.p._ of BLEND--mixed: mingled: (_Spens._) blinded, obscured.

BLESS, bles, _v.t._ to invoke a blessing upon: to make joyous, happy, or prosperous: to consecrate by some religious rite, to cross one's self: to extol as holy, to pronounce happy, to invoke the divine favour upon: to wish happiness to: to praise or glorify:--_pa.p._ blessed (blest), or blest.--_adj._ BLESS'ED, happy: prosperous: happy in heaven, beatified.--_adv._ BLESS'EDLY.--_ns._ BLESS'EDNESS; BLESS'ING, a wish or prayer for happiness or success: any means or cause of happiness: (_B._) a gift or present: a form of invoking the favour of God at a meal.--_adv._ BLESS'INGLY.--SINGLE BLESSEDNESS, the celibate life, the unmarried state generally. [A.S. _bl['e]tsian_, to bless, prob. from _bl['o]t_, sacrifice; the word taken as--_benedic[)e]re_.]

BLESS, bles, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to brandish. [BLAZE(?).]

BLEST, blest, _pa.p._ of BLESS.

BLETHER, ble_th_'er, _v.i._ to talk garrulous nonsense.--_n._ fluent, garrulous nonsense--also BLATH'ER.--_p.adj._ BLETH'ERING, over-talkative.--_ns._ BLETH'ERSKATE, BLATH'ERSKITE (_Amer._), a blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. [M. E. _blather_, of Scand. origin, Ice. _bladhra_, to talk foolishly, _bladhr_, nonsense.]

BLEW, bl[=oo], _pa.t._ of BLOW.

BLEWITS, bl[=u]'its, _n._ a kind of mushroom. [Fr. BLUE.]

BLIGHT, bl[=i]t, _n._ a disease in plants, which blasts or withers them: anything that injures or destroys.--_v.t._ to affect with blight: to blast: to frustrate.--_p.adj._ BLIGHT'ING, withering, blasting. [Dr Murray notes that it first appears in literature in the 17th century; prob. orig. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. _blettr_, a stain; perh. related to BLEACH, BLEAK.]

BLIN, blin, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to cease.--_n._ cessation: stoppage. [A.S. _blinnan_, to cease, pfx. _be-_, and _linnan_, to cease.]

BLIND, bl[=i]nd, _adj._ without sight: dark: ignorant or undiscerning: without an opening.--_n._ something to mislead: a window-screen: a shade.--_v.t._ to make blind; to darken, obscure, or deceive; to dazzle.--_pa.p._ bl[=i]nd'ed; _pr.p._ bl[=i]nd'ing.--_ns._ BLIND'AGE (_mil._) a temporary wooden screen faced with earth as a protection against splinters of shell and the like; BLIND'-COAL, non-bituminous coal.--_adj._ BLIND'ED, deprived of sight: without intellectual discernment.--_n._ BLIND'ER, one who or that which blinds; (_pl._) a horse's blinkers.--_adj._ BLIND'FOLD, having the eyes bandaged, so as not to see: thoughtless: reckless.--_v.t._ to cover the eyes: to mislead.--_adj._ BLIND'ING, tending to make blind.--_pr.p._ making blind.--_adv._ BLIND'LY.--_ns._ BLIND'NESS, want of sight, ignorance, folly; BLIND'-SIDE, the side on which a person is blind to danger: weak point; BLIND'WORM, a small reptile, like a snake, having eyes so small as to be supposed blind.--BLIND-MAN'S BUFF, a game in which one of the party is blindfolded and tries to catch the others. [A.S. _blind_; Ice. _blindr_.]

BLINK, blingk, _v.i._ to glance, twinkle, or wink: to see obscurely, or with the eyes half-closed: to shine unsteadily.--_v.t._ to shut out of sight: to avoid or evade.--_n._ a glimpse, glance, or wink: a momentary gleam of light, a spark.--_n._ BLINK'ARD, one who blinks or has bad eyes.--_p.adj._ BLINKED, affected with blinking.--_n.pl._ BLINK'ERS, pieces of leather fastened to the cheek-pieces of a horse's head-stall in driving to prevent him seeing in any direction except straightforward. [M. E. a variant of _blenk_, prob. the same as BLENCH (q.v.).]

BLIRT, blirt, _n._ (_Scot._) a fit of crying.--_v.i._ to burst into tears. [Prob. the same as BLURT.]

BLISS, blis, _n._ the highest happiness: the special happiness of heaven, heaven.--_adj._ BLISS'FUL.--_adv._ BLISS'FULLY.--_n._ BLISS'FULNESS.--_adj._ BLISS'LESS, without bliss. [A.S. _bl['i]dhs_, _bl['i]dhe_, BLITHE.]

BLIST, blist, _pa.t._ (_Spens._) wounded: struck. [From Fr. _blesser_, to wound.]

BLISTER, blis't[.e]r, _n._ a thin bubble or bladder on the skin, containing watery matter: a pustule: a plaster applied to raise a blister.--_v.t._ to raise a blister.--_ns._ BLIS'TER-BEE'TLE, BLIS'TER-FLY, the cantharis, or Spanish fly, used for blistering; BLIS'TER-PLAS'TER, a plaster made of Spanish flies used to raise a blister; BLIS'TER-STEEL, BLIS'TERED-STEEL, steel blistered in the process of manufacture, used for making tools, &c.--_adj._ BLIS'TERY. [M. E.; most prob. O. Fr. _blestre_, conn. with Old Norse _bl['a]str_, _bl['a]sa_, to blow; Ger. _blase_.]

BLITHE, bl[=i]th, _adj._ happy: gay; sprightly.--_adv._ BLITHE'LY.--_n._ BLITHE'NESS.--_adj._ BLITHE'SOME, joyous.--_adv._ BLITHE'SOMELY.--_n._ BLITHE'SOMENESS. [A.S. _bl['i]dhe_, joyful. See BLISS.]

BLIVE, bl[=i]v, _adv._ (_Spens._). Same as BELIVE.

BLIZZARD, bliz'ard, _n._ a blinding storm of wind and snow, a snow-squall.--_adjs._ BLIZZ'ARDLY, BLIZZ'ARDOUS. [A modern coinage--most prob. onomatopoeic, on the analogy of _blow_, _blast_, &c.]

BLOAT, bl[=o]t, _v.t._ to swell or puff out: to dry by smoke (applied to fish).--_v.i._ to swell or dilate: to grow turgid.--_p.adj._ BLOAT'ED.--_n._ BLOAT'ER, a herring partially dried in smoke, esp. at Yarmouth. [Scand., as in Sw. _bl[:o]t_, soft.]

BLOB, blob, _n._ a drop of liquid: anything soft and round, like a gooseberry: a round spot. [Imit.]

[Illustration]

BLOCK, blok, _n._ an unshaped mass of wood or stone, &c.: the wood on which criminals were wont to be beheaded: (_mech._) a pulley together with its framework; a piece of wood on which something is formed: a connected group of houses: an obstruction: a blockhead.--_v.t._ to enclose or shut up: to obstruct: to shape or sketch out roughly.--_n._ BLOCKADE', the blocking up of a place by surrounding it with troops or by ships.--_v.t._ to block up by troops or ships.--_ns._ BLOCK'-HEAD, one with a head like a block, a stupid fellow; BLOCK'-HOUSE, a small temporary fort generally made of logs.--_adj._ BLOCK'ISH, like a block: stupid: dull.--_ns._ BLOCK'-PRINT'ING, printing of BLOCK'-BOOKS, from engraved wooden blocks or pages; BLOCK'-SHIP, a war-ship, inefficient for service in action on account of age, but useful in defence of ports; BLOCK'-SYS'TEM, a system of working trains in which no train is allowed on to a section of line so long as any other train is on that section; BLOCK'-TIN, tin in the form of blocks or ingots. [Widely spread, but acc. to Skeat, of Celt. origin, Gael. _ploc_, Old Ir. _blog_, a fragment. See PLUG.]

BLOKE, bl[=o]k, _n._ a fellow, a man familiarly. [Ety. quite unknown--at any rate not Gipsy.]

BLONCKET, blongk'et, _adj._ (_Spens._) gray. [Fr. _blanchet_, whitish, dim. of _blanc_, white.]

BLONDE, blond, _n._ a person of fair complexion with light hair and blue eyes--opp. to _Brunette_.--_adj._ of a fair complexion: fair. [Fr.]

BLOND-LACE, blond'-l[=a]s, _n._ lace made of silk, so called from its colour.

BLONT, blont, _adj._ (_Spens._). Same as BLUNT.

BLOOD, blud, _n._ the red fluid in the arteries and veins of men and animals: descent, of human beings, good birth: relationship, kindred: elliptically for a blood-horse, one of good pedigree: a rake or swaggering dandy about town: the blood-royal, as in 'princes of blood:' temperament: bloodshed or murder: the juice of anything, esp. if red: the supposed seat of passion--hence temper, anger, as in the phrase, 'his blood is up,' &c.: the sensual nature of man.--_interj._ 'S BLOOD--God's blood.--_adjs._ BLOOD'-BESPOT'TED (_Shak._), spotted with blood; BLOOD'-BOLT'ERED (_Shak._), sprinkled with blood as from a bolter or sieve; BLOOD'-BOUGHT, bought at the expense of blood or life; BLOOD'-FROZ'EN (_Spens._), having the blood frozen or chilled.--_ns._ BLOOD'GUILT'INESS, the guilt of shedding blood, as in murder; BLOOD'HEAT, heat of the same degree as that of the human blood (about 98deg Fahr.); BLOOD'-HORSE, a horse of the purest and most highly prized blood, origin, or stock.--_adj._ BLOOD'-HOT, as hot or warm as blood.--_n._ BLOOD'HOUND, a large hound formerly employed in tracing human beings: a blood-thirsty person.--_adv._ BLOOD'ILY.--_adj._ BLOOD'LESS, without blood, dead: without the shedding of blood: (_Shak._) without spirit or activity.--_ns._ BLOOD'-LET'TING, the act of letting blood, or bleeding by opening a vein; BLOOD'-MON'EY, money earned by laying or supporting a capital charge against any one, esp. if the charge be false or made by an accomplice; BLOOD'-POIS'ONING, a name popularly, but loosely, used of pyaemia and allied diseases; BLOOD'-PUD'DING, a pudding made with blood and other materials; BLOOD'-REL[=A]'TION, one related by blood or marriage; BLOOD'-SAC'RIFICE (_Shak._), a sacrifice made with bloodshed; BLOOD'SHED, the shedding of blood: slaughter.--_adjs._ BLOOD'SHOT (of the eye), red or inflamed with blood; BLOOD'-SIZED, sized or smeared with blood.--_n._ BLOOD'-SPAV'IN, a disease of horses consisting of the swelling of a vein on the inside of the hock, from a checking of the blood.--_adj._ BLOOD'-STAINED, stained with blood: guilty of murder.--_ns._ BLOOD'-STONE, a dark-green variety of quartz, variegated with blood-like spots of red jasper, the heliotrope; a brown ore of iron, hematite; BLOOD'-SUCK'ER, an animal that sucks blood, esp. a leech: an extortioner, one who sponges upon another.--_adj._ BLOOD'-SUCK'ING (_Shak._), that sucks or draws blood.--_ns._ BLOOD'-TAX, conscription or universal military service, as drawing from the nation a certain number of lives or recruits annually; BLOOD'-THIRST'INESS, thirst or desire for shedding blood.--_adj._ BLOOD'-THIRST'Y, having a thirst or desire to shed blood.--_ns._ BLOOD'-VES'SEL, a vessel in which blood circulates, a vein or artery; BLOOD'-WORM, a small red earthworm used by anglers.--_adj._ BLOOD'Y, of the nature of blood: stained with blood: murderous, cruel: vulgarly, as an _adj._ emphasising anger or the like: as an _adv._ employed as a mere intensive--most prob. from the habits of the 'bloods' about the beginning of the 18th century (Etheredge, '_bloody_-drunk').--_v.t._ to make bloody.--_n._ BLOOD'Y-BONES, a phrase, together with _Rawhead_, applied to a children's bugbear.--_adjs._ BLOOD'Y-EYED; BLOOD'Y-FACED.--_ns._ BLOOD'Y-FLUX, dysentery, in which the discharges from the bowels are mixed with blood; BLOOD'Y-HAND (_her._), the armorial device of Ulster, hence of baronets.--_adj._ BLOOD'Y-MIND'ED.--_ns._ BLOOD'Y-MIND'EDNESS; BLOOD'Y-SWEAT, a sweat accompanied with the discharge of blood.--AVENGER OF BLOOD, the next-of-kin to a murdered man, whose duty it was to avenge his death--the Hebrew _Goel_.--EATING OF BLOOD, prohibited under the Old Testament dispensation, Jews still killing their own butcher-meat.--IN BLOOD, in full vigour; IN HOT or COLD BLOOD, under or free from excitement or sudden passion. [A.S. _bl['o]d_--root _bl['o]wan_, to bloom; cog. with Old. Fris. _bl['o]d_, Ger. _blut_.]

BLOOM, bl[=oo]m, _v.i._ to put forth blossoms: to flower: to be in a state of beauty or vigour: to flourish: to give a bloom or warm tint to anything.--_n._ a blossom or flower: the opening of flowers: rosy colour: the prime or highest perfection of anything: the first freshness of beauty of anything: the flush or glow on the cheek--(_Spens._) BLOSME.--_p.adj._ BLOOM'ING, bright, shining, flourishing: (_slang_) full-blown.--_adjs._ BLOOM'LESS, without bloom; BLOOM'Y, flowery: flourishing. [Ice. _bl['o]m_; cf. Goth. _bl[^o]ma_, Ger. _blume_.]

BLOOMER, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r, _n._ and _adj._ a dress for women, partly resembling men's dress, devised by Mrs _Bloomer_ of New York about 1849, consisting of a jacket with close sleeves, a skirt falling a little below the knee, and a pair of Turkish trousers.