BALM-CRICKET, bam'-krik'et, _n._ (_Tennyson_) a cicada. [Ger. _baum_, a tree, and CRICKET.]
BALMORAL, bal-mor'al, _n._ a kind of Scotch cap: a figured woollen petticoat: a kind of boot lacing in front.
BALNEOLOGY, bal-ne-ol'o-ji, _n._ the scientific study of bathing and of mineral springs. [L. _balneum_, bath.]
BALSAM, bawl'sam, _n._ the common name of a genus of succulent herbaceous plants: a resinous oily substance generally supposed to be derived from a species of Balsamodendron, early famous in the East for its fragrance and medicinal virtues: (_fig._) any healing agent.--_v.t._ to heal: (_rare_) embalm.--_adjs._ BALSAM'IC, BAL'SAMOUS, having the qualities of balsam: soothing; BALSAMIF'EROUS, producing balsam; BAL'SAMY, fragrant.--CANADA BALSAM, a kind of turpentine obtained from the Balm of Gilead fir. [L.
_balsamum_--Gr. _balsamon_; prob. of Semitic origin.]
BALTIMORE, bal'tim-[=o]r, _n._ a finch-like perching bird of the starling family, very common in North America, called also _Baltimore oriole_, _Fire-bird_, &c. [From Lord _Baltimore_, whose livery was orange and black--its colour.]
[Illustration]
BALUSTER, bal'ust-[.e]r, _n._ a small pillar used as a support to the rail of a staircase, &c.--_adj._ BAL'USTERED.--_n._ BAL'USTRADE, a row of balusters joined by a rail, forming an ornamental parapet to a balcony, &c.
[Fr. _balustre_--Low L. _balaustium_--Gr. _balaustion_, the flower of the pomegranate; from the similarity of form.]
BAM, bam, _n._ a slang word for a hoax: a false tale.--_v.t._ to cheat or hoax. [See BAMBOOZLE.]
BAMBINO, bam-bi'no, _n._ a term in art descriptive of the child Jesus, esp.
of the swaddled figure of the infant Saviour exhibited at Christmas in Catholic churches. [It., dim. of _bambo_.]
BAMBOO, bam-b[=oo]', _n._ a gigantic Indian reed or grass, with hollow-jointed stem, and of hard texture. [Malay _bambu_.]
BAMBOOZLE, bam-b[=oo]'zl, _v.t._ to deceive: to confound or mystify.--_n._ BAMBOO'ZLEMENT. [Of cant origin--but not Gipsy; first appears about 1700.]
BAN, ban, _n._ a proclamation: sentence of banishment: outlawry: anathematisation: a denunciation: a curse.--_v.t._ (_arch._) to curse: (_prov._) to chide or rail upon: to anathematise: to proscribe. [A.S.
_bannan_, to summon; the noun _bann_ does not appear in A.S. (which has _gebann_), but is a common Teut. word, as in Old High Ger. and Scand.
_bann_. The O. Fr. _ban_ and Low L. _bannum_ are of the same origin.]
BAN, ban, _n._ the governor of a BANAT, an old name for the military divisions on the eastern boundaries of the Hungarian kingdom.--_ns._ BANATE, BANNAT. [Pers. _b[=a]n_, lord.]
BANAL, b[=a]n'al, or ban'al, _adj._ commonplace, trivial.--_n._ BANAL'ITY, triviality. [Fr.]
BANANA, ba-na'na, _n._ a gigantic herbaceous plant, remarkable for its nutritious fruit. [Sp. or Port. _banana_, from the native name in Guinea.]
BANBURY, ban'ber-i, _n._ a kind of cake made at _Banbury_, a town in Oxfordshire.
BANCO, bang'ko, _n._ a commercial term meaning the standard money in which a bank keeps its accounts, as distinguished from the current money of the place.--IN BANCO, applied to the sittings of a superior court of common law as a full court distinguished from sittings at Nisi Prius or on circuit.
[It. See BANK.]
BAND, band, _n._ that by which loose things are held together: (_fig._) a moral bond of restraint or of obligation: a tie or connecting piece: (_pl._) shackles, bonds, fetters (_B._): (_arch._) an agreement or promise given: (_arch._) security given: (_Spens._) a pledge. [M. E. _band_, _bond_; A.S. _bend_, from _bindan_, to bind. See BIND.]
BAND, band, _n._ a strip of cloth, or the like, to bind round anything, as a hat-band, waist-band, &c.: a stripe crossing a surface distinguished by its colour or appearance: the neck-band or collar of a shirt, also the collar or ruff worn by both sexes in the 17th century (termed a falling-band later, when turned down over the shoulders): (_pl._) the pair of linen strips hanging down in front from the collar, worn by some Protestant clergymen and by English barristers.--_n._ BAND'AGE, a strip or swathe of cloth used by surgeons to keep a part of the body at rest, to apply pressure, or to retain dressings or apparatus in position--the two chief varieties, the roller and the triangular handkerchief bandage: a piece of cloth used to blindfold the eyes.--_v.t._ to bind with such.--_n._ BAND'BOX, a light kind of box for holding bands, caps, millinery, &c.--_p.adj._ BAND'ED, fastened as with a band: striped with bands: leagued, allied.--_ns._ BAND'FISH, a name given to various kinds of fish with long, thin, flat bodies; BAND'SAW, an endless saw, consisting of a toothed steel belt; BAND'STER, one who binds the sheaves after the reapers.
[M. E. _bande_--O. Fr. _bande_, of Teut. origin; cf. A.S. _bindan_; Ger.
_binde_, a band, Eng. BIND.]
BAND, band, _n._ a number of persons bound together for any common purpose: a troop of conspirators, confederates, &c.: a body of musicians, the company of musicians attached to a particular regiment in the army: (_Scot._) band = bond.--_v.t._ to bind together.--_v.i._ to associate, assemble, confederate.--_ns._ BAND'MASTER, the leader of a band of musicians; BANDS'MAN, a member of a band of musicians; BAND'-STAND, a platform for accommodating a band of musicians.--BAND OF HOPE, an association of young persons--often mere infants--pledged to lifelong abstinence from alcoholic drinks--first instituted about 1847. [Fr.
_bande_, of Teut. origin; cf. BEND, BIND.]
BAND, band, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to ban or banish.
BAND, an obsolete _pa.t._ of BIND.
BANDANA, BANDANNA, ban-dan'a, _n._ a kind of silk or cotton coloured handkerchief, with a pattern of spots or diamond prints, originally from India. [Hind. _bandhn[=u]_, the mode of dyeing these, _b[=a]ndh_, a cord.]
BANDEAU, ban'd[=o], _n._ a fillet or narrow band worn by women to bind their hair:--_pl._ BAN'DEAUX. [Fr.]
BANDELET, band'e-let, _n._ (_archit._) a small flat moulding or fillet surrounding a column. [Fr. _bandelette_.]
BANDELIER, ban-de-l[=e]r', _n._ a form of BANDOLEER.
BANDEROL, BANDEROLE, ban'de-r[=o]l, _n._ a small banner or streamer, as that borne on the shaft of a lance: (_archit._) a flat band with an inscription common in Renaissance buildings. [Fr.]
BANDICOOT, ban'di-k[=oo]t, _n._ a genus of insectivorous marsupials found in Australia: the largest species of rat, found in India and Ceylon, called also _Malabar rat_ and _Pig-rat_. [Telegu _pandikokku_, pig-rat.]
BANDIED. See BANDY.
BANDIT, ban'dit, _n._ an outlaw: a robber:--_pl._ BAN'DITS, BANDITT'I. [It.
_bandito_--Low L. _bannire_, _bandire_, to proclaim. See BAN.]
BANDOG, ban'dog, _n._ a dog tied up as a watch-dog, or because of its ferocity. [BAND, fastening, and DOG.]
BANDOLEER, BANDOLIER, ban-do-l[=e]r', _n._ a leathern belt worn by musketeers, to which their ammunition was fixed. [O. Fr.
_bandouillere_--It. _bandoliera_, _banda_, a band.]
BANDOLINE, ban'do-lin, _n._ a gummy substance used for stiffening the hair and keeping it in shape. [Prob. from BAND.]
BANDORE, ban-d[=o]r', _n._ a musical instrument like a guitar, with three or more strings. [Sp. _bandurria_, Fr. _mandore_; L. _pandura_, Gr.
_pandoura_.]
BANDROL, band'r[=o]l, _n._ Same as BANDEROL.
BANDS, of clergymen and barristers. See BAND (2).
BANDY, ban'di, _n._ a club bent at the end for striking a ball: a game at ball with such a club (_bandy-ball_ = _hockey_).--_v.t._ to beat to and fro as with a bandy: to toss from one to another (as words _with_ any one) = to discuss or debate; to give and take blows or reproaches: (_Shak._) to fight, strive:--_pa.p._ ban'died.--_n._ BAN'DYING.--_adj._ BAN'DY-LEGGED, having bandy or crooked legs. [Fr. _bander_, perh. conn. with _bande_, a side.]
BANE, b[=a]n, _n._ destruction: death: mischief: poison.--_v.t._ (_arch._) to harm, to poison.--_adj._ BANE'FUL, destructive.--_adv._ BANE'FULLY.--_n._ BANE'FULNESS. [A.S. _bana_, a murderer; Ice. _bani_, death.]
BANG, bang, _n._ a heavy blow: a sudden loud noise: an explosion.--_v.t._ to beat: to strike violently: to slam, as a door: to make a loud noise: to beat or surpass, to bounce upon.--_interj._ BANG, used with verbs like 'go,' &c., and in such a phrase as 'bang off.'--_p.adj._ BANG'ING, dealing blows: overwhelming.--_adj._ BANG'-UP (_slang_), in the height of style or fashion.--_n._ BANG'STER (_prov._), a braggart, a victor. [Scand. _banga_, to hammer; cf. Ger. _bengel_, a cudgel.]
BANG, bang, _n._ a woman's hair cut square across the brow.--_p.adj._ BANGED, wearing the hair in such a way.--_n._ BANG'-TAIL, a horse's tail with the end squared. [An Americanism, doubtless from the phrase 'bang off.']
BANG. Same as BHANG.
BANGLE, bang'gl, _n._ a ring, bracelet, or anklet.--_adj._ BAN'GLED, adorned with such. [Hind. _bangr[=i]_.]
BANIAN, BANYAN, ban'yan, _n._ an Indian tree of the fig family, remarkable for its vast rooting branches: a Hindu trader, esp. from Guzerat, sometimes loosely applied to all Hindus in Western Asia: a loose flannel jacket or gown worn in India.--BANIAN DAYS, a sailor's phrase, meaning days on which no meat is served out, hence days of short commons generally, from the abstinence from flesh of the Banian merchants. [Port. _banian_, perh.
through Ar. _bany[=a]n_, from Hind. _banya_--Sans. _vanij_, a merchant.]