Part 29

BLOOMERY, bl[=oo]m'[.e]r-i, _n._ the first forge through which iron passes after it has been melted from the ore, and where it is made into BLOOMS, or rough ingots, for hammering or drawing out.

BLORE, bl[=o]r, _n._ a violent gust of wind. [Prob. related to BLARE and BLOW.]

BLOSME. See BLOOM.

BLOSSOM, blos'om, _n._ a flower-bud, the flower that precedes fruit.--_v.i._ to put forth blossoms or flowers: to flourish and prosper.--_n._ BLOSS'OMING.--_adj._ BLOSS'OMY, covered with flowers, flowery. [A.S. _bl['o]stm_, _bl['o]stma_, from root of BLOOM.]

BLOT, blot, _n._ a spot or stain: an obliteration, as of something written: a stain in reputation.--_v.t._ to spot or stain: to obliterate or destroy: to disgrace: to dry writing with blotting-paper:--_pr.p._ blot'ting; _pa.p._ blot'ted.--_n._ and _adj._ BLOT'TESQUE, a painting executed with heavy blot-like touches, a daub or (_fig._) a vigorous descriptive sketch.--_n._ BLOTTING-P[=A]'PER, unsized paper, used for absorbing ink.--_adj._ BLOT'TY. [Prob. Scand., as in Dan. _plet_, Ice. _blettr_, a spot.]

BLOT, blot, _n._ a piece liable to be taken at backgammon: a weak place in anything. [Ety. obscure; Dut. _bloot_, naked.]

BLOTCH, bloch, _n._ a dark spot on the skin: a pustule.--_v.t._ to mark or cover with blotches.--_adjs._ BLOTCHED, BLOTCH'Y. [Prob. formed on BLOT.]

BLOUSE, blowz, _n._ a loose sack-like outer garment, somewhat like the English smock-frock. [Fr.]

BLOW, bl[=o], _n._ a stroke or knock: a sudden misfortune or calamity.--AT A BLOW, by a single action, suddenly; TO COME TO BLOWS, TO EXCHANGE BLOWS, to come to hostilities; WITHOUT STRIKING A BLOW, without a struggle. [A.S. _bl['e]owan_ is doubtful, cog. with Dut. _blouwen_, to dress (beat) flax, Ger. _bl[=a]uen_, to beat hard. The noun appears in the 15th century without evidence of parentage.]

BLOW, bl[=o], _v.i._ to bloom or blossom:--_pr.p._ bl[=o]w'ing; _pa.p._ bl[=o]wn. [A.S. _bl['o]wan;_ Ger. _bl[:u]hen_. See BLOOM, BLOSSOM.]

BLOW, bl[=o], _v.i._ to produce a current of air: to move, as air or the wind.--_v.t._ to drive air upon or into: to drive by a current of air, as 'to blow away, down,' &c.: to sound, as a wind-instrument: to breathe hard or with difficulty: to spout, as whales: (_prov._) to boast: to spread by report: to fan or kindle:--_pa.t._ blew (bl[=oo]); _pa.p._ blown (bl[=o]n).--_ns._ BLOW'-BALL, the downy head of a dandelion in seed; BLOW'ER, a metal plate put upon the upper part of a fireplace, so as to increase the draught through the fire: a machine for driving a blast of air, as into a furnace; BLOW'-FLY, or _Flesh-fly_, an insect of the order Diptera, and of the large family Muscidae, to which the common house-fly and blue-bottle belong.--_p.adj._ BLOWN, out of breath, tired: swelled: stale, worthless.--_n._ BLOW'PIPE, a pipe through which a current of air is blown on a flame, to increase its heat: a kind of weapon much used by some of the Indian tribes of South America both in hunting and war, consisting of a long straight tube in which a small poisoned arrow is placed, and forcibly expelled by the breath.--_adj._ BLOW'Y.--TO BLOW HOT AND COLD, to be favourable and unfavourable by turns, to be irresolute; TO BLOW OFF (steam, &c.), to allow to escape, to escape forcibly; TO BLOW ONE'S OWN TRUMPET, to sound one's own praises; TO BLOW OVER, to pass away, to subside, as a danger or a scandal; TO BLOW UP, to shatter or destroy by explosion: to scold; TO BLOW UPON, to take the bloom, freshness, or the interest off anything, to bring into discredit: to inform upon. [A.S. _bl['a]wan_; Ger. _bl[:a]hen_, _blasen_; L. _flare_.]

BLOWZE, blowz, _n._ a ruddy, fat-faced wench.--_adjs._ BLOWZED, BLOWZ'Y, fat and ruddy, or flushed with exercise, dishevelled, slatternly. [Perh. related to root of BLUSH; or of cant origin.]

BLUBBER, blub'[.e]r, _n._ the fat of whales and other sea animals.--_v.i._ to weep effusively.--_p.adj._ BLUBB'ERED, of a face swollen with weeping. [M. E. _blober_, _bluber_; most likely onomatopoeic]

BLUCHER, bl[=oo]ch'[.e]r, _n._ a strong leather half-boot or high shoe, named from Marshal _Bl[:u]cher_, the Prussian general at Waterloo.

BLUDGEON, blud'jun, _n._ a short stick with a heavy end to strike with. [First in 18th century; origin very obscure; from a cant word conn. with BLOOD.]

BLUE, bl[=oo], _n._ the colour of the sky when unclouded--hence the sea, the sky, as in 'a bolt from the blue:' one of the seven primary colours.--_adj._ of the colour blue: learned, pedantic: indecent or obscene, as in _blue_ stories.--_ns._ BLUE'-BEARD, a monster who murders a series of wives in Perrault's famous _conte_, before he is himself cut off: one who is 'unfortunate' with his wives after the fashion of Henry VIII.; BLUE'BELL, a plant that bears blue bell-shaped flowers; BLUE'-BIRD, a small American bird akin to the warblers; BLUE'-BLACK, black with a tinge of blue; BLUE'-BOOK, the name popularly applied to the reports and other papers printed by parliament, because usually stitched up in blue paper wrappers; BLUE'-BOT'TLE, a common name for the Blue Cornflower: a familiar name for a policeman or beadle; BLUE'-CAP, a fish of the salmon kind with blue spots on its head: the blue titmouse: (_Shak._) a Scotchman, from his blue bonnet; BLUE'-EYE, a beautiful little bird in New South Wales, one or the honey-eaters; BLUE'-FISH, a fish of the family Scomberidae, abundant on the east coast of North America.--_n.pl._ BLUE'-GOWNS, the name commonly given to a former class of privileged mendicants in Scotland--called also the _King's Bedesmen_.--_ns._ BLUE'-GRASS, a permanent grass found in Europe and North America; BLUE'-GUM, a kind of Eucalyptus; BLUE'-JACK'ET, a seaman in the navy, as distinguished from a marine; BLUE'-JAY, a common North American bird of the [Illustration] jay family; BLUE'NESS; BLUE'-NOSE, a nickname for a Nova Scotian; BLUE'-P[=E]'TER, a blue flag with white square in the centre, used in the navy as a signal for sailing; BLUE'PILL, a mercurial pill, used as a purgative in cases of torpid or inflamed liver; BLUE'-STOCK'ING, a name given to learned ladies who display their acquirements in a pedantic manner, to the neglect of womanly graces--about 1750 Mrs Montague and others began to substitute literary conversation for cards, and the name implying a disregard for the conventional costume of polite society was suggested by the blue stockings of Benjamin Stillingfleet--the French _bas bleu_ is a translation; BLUE'-STONE, blue copperas, sulphate of copper; BLUE'-THROAT, or BLUE'-BREAST, a beautiful and melodious bird, nearly allied to the nightingale; BLUE'-WING, a kind of duck, either a sub-genus of Anas, or a special genus Cyanopterus--the best-known species, the Common or Lunate Blue-wing, the Blue-winged Teal of the United States.--_adj._ BL[=U]'ISH, slightly blue.--BLUE BLOOD, aristocratic blood--the _sangre azul_ of the Spanish hidalgoes; BLUE BONNET, a round flat cap of blue woollen, much worn in Scotland: a blue-bonneted Scotch peasant or soldier; BLUE-BOTTLE FLY, the meat-fly or blow-fly; BLUE-COAT BOY, a scholar of Christ's Hospital--also (from the blue coat having formerly been the usual dress of servants) a servant, beadle, soldier; BLUE DEVIL, an evil demon: (_pl._) deep despondency, the apparitions seen in delirium tremens; BLUE FUNK (_slang_), great terror; BLUE RIBBON, a term applied to any great prize, as the Derby stakes--from the blue ribbon worn by Knights of the Garter: the badge assumed by the so-called Blue Ribbon Army introduced from America in 1878; BLUE WATER, the deep sea, as opposed to port or a narrow channel.--LIGHT BLUE, and DARK BLUE, the distinctive colours in their athletic contests of Eton and Cambridge, and of Harrow and Oxford respectively; THE BLUES, the Royal Horse Guards; THE BLUES (for blue devils), a colloquial expression for depression of spirits.--TO BE A BLUE, to be chosen to represent Oxford or Cambridge at an inter-university contest in cricket, football, rowing, or athletics; AN OLD BLUE, one once so chosen.--TO DRINK TILL ALL'S BLUE, until everything around one looks blue; TO LOOK BLUE, to be down-spirited.--TRUE BLUE, faithful to the principles of the political party wearing blue as its colour, in many places identified with Conservative. [M. E. _blew_--O. Fr. _bleu_, of Teut. origin; as also Scand. _bl['a]_, which gave M. E. _bla_, _blo_, and modern _blae_.]

BLUFF, bluf, _adj._ blustering: rough and hearty in manners: outspoken: steep.--_n._ a high steep bank overlooking the sea or a river: the act of bluffing at cards, as in poker--hence any kind of boastful swagger intended to impose upon another: (_slang_) an excuse.--_adjs._ BLUFF'-BOWED, having broad and flat bows, as a ship; BLUFF'-HEAD'ED, applied to a ship having her stem too straight up.--_adv._ BLUFF'LY.--_n._ BLUFF'NESS. [Prob. Dut.]

BLUNDER, blun'der, _v.i._ to make a gross mistake, to flounder about: to utter thoughtlessly.--_n._ a gross mistake.--_p.adj._ BLUN'DERING, apt to make gross mistakes: apt to stumble.--TO BLUNDER AWAY, to throw away some opportunity or advantage. [M. E. _blondren_; prob. conn. with BLAND; perh. from Ice. _blunda_, to doze.]

BLUNDERBUSS, blun'd[.e]r-bus, _n._ a short hand-gun with a wide bore. [Corr. of Dut. _donderbus_--_donder_, thunder, _bus_, a box, barrel of a gun, a gun; Ger. _donnerb[:u]chse_.]

BLUNT, blunt, _adj._ having a dull edge or point; rough, outspoken, dull.--_v.t._ to dull the edge or point: to weaken.--_n._ (_slang_) money.--_adj._ BLUNT'ISH.--_adv._ BLUNTLY.--_n._ BLUNT'NESS.--_adj._ BLUNT'-WIT'TED (_Shak._) dull, stupid. [Orig. sleepy, dull; prob. conn. with Ice. _blunda_, to doze; perh. akin to BLIND.]

BLUR, blur, _n._ a blot, stain, or spot.--_v.t._ to blot, stain, obscure, or blemish (with _out_, _over_):--_pr.p._ blur'ring; _pa.p._ blurred. [A variety of BLEAR.]

BLURT, blurt, _v.t._ to utter suddenly or unadvisedly (with _out_).--_n._ an abrupt outburst.--_p.adj._ BLURT'ING, impulsively frank. [From sound. Cf. BLIRT.]

BLUSH, blush, _n._ a red glow on the face caused by shame, modesty, &c.: any reddish colour: sudden appearance.--_v.i._ to show shame or confusion by growing red in the face: to grow red.--_n._ BLUSH'ET (_Ben Jonson_), a young, modest girl.--_adj._ BLUSH'FUL, full of blushes: modest--_n._ BLUSH'ING, the act of turning red: the appearance of colour upon the cheek.--_p.adj._ showing blushes: modest.--_adv._ BLUSH'INGLY.--AT THE FIRST BLUSH, at the first glance.--TO PUT TO THE BLUSH, to cause to blush. [Prob. Scand.; cog. with A.S. _blysa_, a blaze. See BLAZE, BLOWZE.]

BLUSTER, blus't[.e]r, _v.i._ to make a noise like a blast of wind: to bully or swagger.--_n._ a blast or roaring as of the wind: bullying or boasting language: a storm of anger.--_n._ BLUS'TERING, a noisy blowing as of a blast: swaggering: noisy pretension.--_adj._ stormy: tumultuous: boastful.--_adv._ BLUS'TERINGLY.--_adjs._ BLUS'TEROUS (_Shak._) noisy: boastful; BLUS'TERY, stormy: (_Carlyle_) swaggering. [An augmentative of BLAST.]

BO, b[=o], _interj._ a word used to frighten children.--TO SAY BO TO A GOOSE, to open the mouth, to say even a word.

BOA, b[=o]'a, _n._ a genus of serpents which includes the largest species of serpents (the BOA-CONSTRIC'TOR), which kill their prey by constriction or pressure: a long serpent-like coil of fur, feathers, or the like, worn round the neck by ladies. [Perh. conn. with L. _bos_, an ox.]

BOAD. Same as ABODE, _pa.p._ of ABIDE: also the same as BODE.

BOANERGES, bo-an-erj'es, _n._ a noisy preacher or shouting orator. ['Sons of thunder'--Mark, iii. 17.]

BOAR, b[=o]r, _n._ the male of swine, or its flesh.--_adj._ BOAR'ISH, swinish: brutal.--_n._ BOAR'-SPEAR, a spear used in boar-hunting. [A.S. _b['a]r_; Dut. _beer_; Ger. _b[:a]r_.]

BOARD, b[=o]rd, _n._ a broad and thin strip of timber: a table to put food on: food: a table round which persons meet for some kind of business: any council or authorised body of men, as a 'school-board:' the deck of a ship: (_pl._) the stage: a kind of thick stiff paper, as in pasteboard, Bristol-board, esp. that used in the binding of books.--_v.t._ to cover with boards: to supply with food at fixed terms: to enter a ship: to attack.--_v.i._ to receive food or take meals.--_ns._ BOARD'ER, one who receives board (food): one who boards a ship; BOARD'ING, the act of covering with boards: the covering itself: act of boarding a ship; BOARD'ING-HOUSE, a house where boarders are kept; BOARD'ING-PIKE, a pike used in boarding a ship, or in defending it when attacked; BOARD'ING-SCHOOL, a school in which board is given as well as instruction; BOARD'-SCHOOL, a school under control of a school-board, as elected by the Elementary Education Act of 1870.--_n.pl._ BOARD'-W[=A]'GES, wages allowed to servants to keep themselves in food.--ABOVE BOARD, openly.--BY THE BOARD, over the board or side of a ship--hence, TO GO BY THE BOARD, to be lost or destroyed.--TO SWEEP THE BOARD, to take all the cards. [A.S. _bord_, a board, the side of a ship; Ice. _bordh_, the side of a ship: conn. either with BEAR or with BROAD.]

BOAST, b[=o]st, _v.i._ to talk vaingloriously: to brag (with _of_),--_v.t._ to brag of: speak proudly or confidently of, esp. justifiably: to magnify or exalt one's self.--_n._ an expression of pride: a brag: the cause of boasting.--_adj._ BOAST'FUL, given to brag.--_adv._ BOAST'FULLY.--_ns._ BOAST'FULNESS, BOAST'ING, ostentatious display: vaunting.--_adj._ BOAST'LESS, without boasting; simple, unostentatious. [M. E. _bost_, of doubtful origin; apparently W. _bostio_, Gael. _b[`o]sd_, a bragging, are borrowed.]

BOAT, b[=o]t, _n._ a small open vessel usually moved by oars: a small ship: a vessel like a boat in shape, as a 'sauce-boat.'--_v.i._ to sail about in a boat.--_ns._ BOAT'-HOOK, an iron hook fixed to a pole used for pulling or pushing off a boat; BOAT'-HOUSE, a house or shed for a boat: BOAT'ING, the art or practice of sailing in boats; BOAT'MAN, a man who has charge of a boat: a rower.--IN THE SAME BOAT, in the same circumstances.--TO HAVE AN OAR IN ANOTHER'S BOAT, to meddle with the affairs of others. [A.S. _b['a]t;_ Dut. _boot_; Fr. _bateau_.]

BOATSWAIN, b[=o]t'sw[=a]n (_colloq._ b[=o]'sn), _n._ a petty officer on board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to duty with a whistle. [BOAT, and _swain_, Scand. _sveinn_, a boy.]

BOB, bob, _v.i._ to move quickly up and down, to dangle: to fish with a bob.--_v.t._ to move in a short, jerking manner:--_pr.p._ bob'bing; _pa.p._ bobbed.--_n._ a short jerking motion: a slight blow: anything that moves with a bob or swing: a pendant: a knot of hair, as in BOB'-WIG, one with the ends turned up into short curls: a bunch of lobworms, used in catching eels: any small roundish body: the refrain or burden of a song: a term in bell-ringing--a BOB MINOR is rung upon six bells; a BOB MAJOR on eight; a BOB ROYAL on ten; a BOB MAXIMUS on twelve.--_adj._ BOB'BISH, in good spirits.--_n._ BOB'BLE, the movement of water in commotion. [Perh. Celt., Gael. _baban_, _babag_.]

BOB, bob, _n._ (_slang_) a shilling. [Hardly the O. Fr. _bobe_ = 1-1/2d.]

BOB, bob, BOBBY, bob'i, _n._ a shortened familiar form of _Robert_: a familiar name for a policeman--from Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary at the passing of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1828.--_n._ LIGHT'-BOB, a soldier of the light infantry.

BOBADIL, bob'a-dil, _n._ a swaggering boaster, from Ben Jonson's _Every Man in his Humour_.

BOBBERY, bob'er-i, _n._ a noisy row. [Hindi _b[=a]p re!_ O father!--_Col. Yule_.]

BOBBIN, bob'in, _n._ a small piece of wood on which thread is wound.--_n._ BOBB'INET, a kind of fine netted lace made by machines. [Fr. _bobine_, prob. Celt.; cf. Gael. _baban_, a tassel.]

BOBOLINK, bob'[=o]-lingk, _n._ a North American singing bird, found in the northern states in spring and summer. [At first _Bob Lincoln_, from the note of the bird.]

BOBSTAYS, bob'st[=a]z, _n.pl._ (_naut._) ropes or stays used to confine the bowsprit downward to the stem or cutwater, and counteract the strain of the foremast-stays.

BOBTAIL, bob't[=a]l, _n._ a short or cut tail: a word applied in contempt to the rabble, as in 'tag-rag and _bobtail_.'--_adj._ BOB'TAILED, with tail cut short.

BOCAGE. See BOSCAGE.

BODE, b[=o]d, _v.t._ to portend or prophesy.--_v.i._ to be an omen: to foreshow.--_adj._ BODE'FUL, boding, ominous.--_n._ BODE'MENT, an omen, presentiment.--_pr.p._ BOD'ING, presaging.--_n._ an omen or portent. [A.S. _bodian_, to announce--_bod_, a message; allied to BID.]

BODE, b[=o]d (_Spens._). Same as ABODE.

BODEGA, bo-d[=e]'ga, _n._ a wine-shop. [Sp.]

BODGE, boj, _v.i._ to make bad work, to fail.--_n._ BODG'ER, a botcher, a pedlar. [A form of BOTCH.]

BODICE, bod'is, _n._ a woman's outer garment covering the waist and bust: the close-fitting waist or body of a woman's gown.

BODIKIN, bod'i-kin, _n._ a form of an oath, ''Od's bodikins' = God's little body.

BODKIN, bod'kin, _n._ a small dagger: a small instrument for pricking holes or for dressing the hair: a large blunt needle.--TO SIT, or RIDE, BODKIN, to be wedged in tight between two others. [Prob. conn. with W. _bidog_, a dagger.]

BODLE, bod'l, _n._ a Scotch copper coin, equal to about one-sixth of an English penny, the smallest coin. [Said to be named from a mint-master, one _Bothwell_.]

BODRAGES, bod'r[=a]-jiz, _n.pl._ (_Spens._) a hostile attack, a raid. [Ir. _buaidhreadh_, a disturbance.]

BODY, bod'i, _n._ the whole frame of a man or lower animal: the main part of an animal, as distinguished from the limbs: the main or middle part of anything: matter, as opposed to spirit: substance or substantial quality: a mass: a person: a number of persons united by some common tie.--_v.t._ to give form to: to embody:--_pr.p._ bod'ying; _pa.p._ bod'ied.--_adj._ BOD'ILESS, without a body: incorporeal.--_adv._ BOD'ILY, relating to the body, esp. as opposed to the mind.--_ns._ BOD'Y-COL'OUR, a term applied to paints to express their degree of consistence, substance, and tingeing power; BOD'Y-CUR'ER (_Shak._), a doctor; BOD'YGUARD, a guard to protect the person, esp. of the sovereign; BOD'Y-POL'ITIC, the collective body of the people in its political capacity; BOD'Y SERV'ANT, a personal attendant; BOD'Y-SNATCH'ER, one who secretly disinters the bodies of the dead for the purposes of dissection. [A.S. _bodig_, of dubious origin.]

BOEOTIAN, be-[=o]'shyan, _adj._ pertaining to _Boeotia_ in Greece, noted for the dullness of its inhabitants--hence stupid, dull.

BOER, b[=oo]r, _n._ a Dutch colonist at the Cape engaged in agriculture. [Dut. _boer_. See BOOR.]

BOG, bog, _n._ soft ground: a marsh or quagmire.--_v.t._ to sink or to entangle.--_n._ BOG'-BUTT'ER, a mineral substance, resembling butter, found in Irish bogs.--_adj._ BOGG'Y.--_ns._ BOG'LET, BOG'LAND; BOG'-MOSS, a genus of moss plants; BOG'-OAK, trunks of oak embedded in bogs and preserved from decay--of a deep black colour, often used for making ornaments; BOG'-ORE, a kind of iron ore found in boggy land; BOG'-SPAV'IN, a lesion of the hock-joint of the horse, consisting in distension of the capsule enclosing the joint, usually arising suddenly from a sprain in action; BOG'-TROT'TER, one who lives in a boggy country, hence an Irishman. [Ir. _bogach_; Gael. _bog_, soft.]

BOGGARD, BOGGART. See BOGLE.

BOGGLE, bog'l, _v.i._ to stop or hesitate as if at a bogle: to start with fright: to make difficulties about a thing: to equivocate.--_n._ a scruple, objection: a bungle.--_n._ BOGG'LER, one who boggles: a doubter: (_Shak._) one who starts from the right path. [See BOGLE.]

BOGIE, BOGEY, b[=o]g'i, _n._ a low truck on four wheels, so constructed as to turn easily, a trolly: a revolving under-carriage, as in a locomotive engine. [Ety. unknown; perh. conn. with BOGY, a fiend.]

BOGLE, b[=o]g'l, _n._ a spectre or goblin: a scarecrow: a bugbear, or source of terror--also BOGG'LE.--BOGG'ARD is a common form in the North country. [Scot. _bogle_, a ghost; W. _bwg_, a goblin. See BUG.]

BOGUS, b[=o]'gus, _adj._ counterfeit, spurious. [An American cant word, of very doubtful origin--it may possibly be ult. related to BOGY.]

BOGY, BOGEY, b[=o]g'i, _n._ a goblin: a bugbear or special object of dread, the devil.--_n._ BOG'YISM. [A form of BOGGLE and BOGGARD.]

BOHEA, bo-h[=e]', _n._ the lowest quality of black tea: tea generally. [Chin.]

BOHEMIAN, bo-h[=e]'mi-an, _n._ and _adj._ applied to persons of loose or irregular habits: an artist or man of letters, or indeed any one, who sets social conventionalities aside.--_n._ BOH[=E]'MIANISM. [Fr. _boh['e]mien_, a gipsy, from the belief that these wanderers came from _Bohemia_.]

BOIAR. Same as BOYAR.

BOIL, boil, _v.i._ to bubble up from the action of heat: to be hot: to be excited or agitated.--_v.t._ to heat to a boiling state: to cook or dress by boiling.--_ns._ BOIL'ER, one who boils: that in which anything is boiled: a vessel in which steam, usually for a steam-engine, is generated: a vessel for heating water for baths, &c.; BOIL'ING, the bubbling up of any liquid by the application of heat: the act of dressing food by boiling water.--_adj._ bubbling: swelling with heat or passion.--_n._ BOIL'ING-POINT, the temperature at which liquids begin to boil under heat.--TO BOIL DOWN, to reduce in bulk by boiling, to extract the substance of, to epitomise; TO BOIL OVER, to bubble over the sides of the containing vessel, to break out into unrestrained indignation. [O. Fr. _boillir_--L. _bull[=i]re_--_bulla_, a bubble.]

BOIL, boil, _n._ an inflamed swelling or tumour. [A.S. _b['y]l_; Ger. _beule_.]

BOISTEROUS, bois't[.e]r-us, _adj._ wild: noisy: turbulent: stormy.--_adv._ BOIS'TEROUSLY.--_n._ BOIS'TEROUSNESS. [M. E. _boistous_, approximating, but not in sense, to the O. Fr. _boisteus_, whence modern _boiteux_, lame. The Celtic words throw no light upon its origin.]

BOLAS, b[=o]'las, _n._ missiles used by the South American _gauchos_, consisting of balls or stones strung together, swung round the head and hurled, usually so as to entangle the legs of an animal running. [Sp.]

BOLD, b[=o]ld, _adj._ daring or courageous: forward or impudent: presumptuous: executed with spirit: striking to the sight, well marked: steep or abrupt.--_v.t._ BOLD'EN (_obs._), to make bold.--_adj._ BOLD'FACED, impudent.--_adv._ BOLD'LY.--_n._ BOLD'NESS.--TO MAKE BOLD, to take the liberty, to make free. [A.S. _bald_; Old High Ger. _bald_, Ice. _ballr_.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, _n._ the round stem or body of a tree. [Scand. _bolr_; Ger. _bohle_, a plank.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, _n._ an earthy mineral resembling clay in structure, and consisting essentially of silica, alumina, red oxide of iron, and water; the bole of Lemnos, _Lemnian Earth_, is red in colour, and was once used as a tonic and astringent medicine. [Gr. _b[=o]los_, a clod.]

BOLE, b[=o]l, _n._ a recess in a wall: an opening to admit light and air. [Scot.; origin unknown.]

BOLERO, bo-l[=a]'ro, or bo-l[=e]'ro, _n._ Spanish national dance: also the air to which it is danced. [Sp.]

BOLETUS, bol-[=e]'tus, _n._ a genus of fungi, having a pore-like surface occupying the place of gills. [Gr. _b[=o]lit[=e]s_, mushroom.]

BOLIDE, bol'[=i]d, _n._ a large meteor or fireball. [Fr.--L. _bolid-em_, _bolis_--Gr. _bolis_, _ballein_, to throw.]

BOLIN, an obsolete form of BOWLINE.

BOLL, b[=o]l, _n._ one of the round heads or seed-vessels of flax, poppy, &c.: a pod or capsule.--_p.adjs._ BOLLED (b[=o]ld), swollen, podded; BOLLEN (b[=o]ln), swollen (_Shak._). [A form of BOWL; A.S. _bolla_.]

BOLL, b[=o]l, _n._ a measure of capacity for grain, &c., used in Scotland and the north of England--in Scotland = 6 imperial bushels; in England, varying from 2 to 6 bushels: also a measure of weight, containing, for flour, 140 lb. [Scot. _bow_; prob. a Scand. word; cf. Ice. _bolli_.]

BOLLANDIST, bol'an-dist, _n._ one of the Jesuit writers who continued the _Acta Sanctorum_ (q.v.), begun by John _Bolland_ (1596-1665).

BOLLARD, bol'ard, _n._ a post on a wharf to which vessels are secured: a thick piece of wood on the forepart of a whale-boat, round which the line is turned when a whale is harpooned. [Prob. BOLE.]

BOLOGNA, bol-[=o]n'ya, _adj._ from a town of Italy, which gives its name to Bologna phial, Bologna phosphorus, and Bologna or 'Polony' sausages.--_adj_. BOLOGN'ESE.

BOLOMETER, b[=o]-lom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring minute amounts of radiant heat. [Gr. _bol[=e]_, ray (_ballein_, to throw), _metron_, a measure.]

BOLSTER, b[=o]l'st[.e]r, _n._ a long round pillow or cushion: a pad: anything resembling it in form or use, esp. any piece of mechanism affording a support against pressure.--_v.t._ to support with a bolster: to hold up.--_p.adj._ BOL'STERED, supported: swelled out.--_n._ BOL'STERING, a propping up or supporting. [A.S. _bolster_; from root of BOWL.]

BOLT, b[=o]lt, _n._ a bar or pin used to fasten a door, &c.: an arrow: a thunderbolt, as in 'a bolt from the blue.'--_v.t._ to fasten with a bolt: to throw or utter precipitately: to expel suddenly: to swallow hastily.--_v.i._ to rush away (like a bolt from a bow): to start up: (_U.S._) to break away from one's political party.--_ns._ BOLT'-HEAD, the head of a bolt: a chemical flask; BOLT'-ROPE, a rope sewed all round the edge of a sail to prevent it from tearing; BOLT'SPRIT (same as BOWSPRIT).--_adv._ BOLT'-UP'RIGHT, upright and straight as a bolt or arrow.--_n._ BOLT'-UP'RIGHTNESS. [A.S. _bolt_; Old High Ger. _bolz_.]