BOMBAST, bom'-, bum'bast, _n._ inflated or high-sounding language: originally cotton or any soft material used for stuffing garments.--_adj._ BOMBAS'TIC, high-sounding: inflated. [Low L. _bombax_, cotton--Gr.
_bombyx_, silk.]
BOMBAX. See BOMBASINE.
BOMBAY-DUCK, bom-b[=a]'-duk, _n._ a fish of the family Scopelidae, nearly allied to the salmon and trout family, which is salted, dried, and eaten as a relish.
BOMBYX, bom'biks, _n._ the silkworm. [Gr.]
BON, bong, _adj._ good--French, occurring in some English but not Anglicised phrases, as BON ACCORD, good-will, agreement; BON MOT, a jest or smart saying; BON TON, good style, the fashionable world; BON VIVANT, one who lives well or luxuriously.
BONA FIDE, b[=o]'na f[=i]d'[=a], _adv._ and _adj._ in good faith, with sincerity, genuine. [L.]
BONANZA, bon-an'za, _n._ a term common in the Pacific States for a rich mass of gold: any mine of wealth or stroke of luck. [Sp.]
BONAPARTISM, b[=o]'na-part-izm, _n._ attachment to the dynasty of Napoleon _Bonaparte_, Emperor of the French.--_n._ B[=O]'NAPARTIST.
BONA-ROBA, b[=o]'na-r[=o]'ba, _n._ (_Shak._) a showy wanton, a courtesan.
[It. _buona roba_, lit. a fine gown.]
BONBON, bong'bong, _n._ a sweetmeat.--_n._ BONBON'IERE, a fancy box for holding such. [Fr., 'very good'--_bon_, good.]
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BOND, bond, _n._ that which binds, a band: link of connection or union: a writing of obligation to pay a sum or to perform a contract: any constraining or any cementing force: in building, the connection of one stone or brick with another, made by lapping the one over the other as the work is carried up, as in ENGLISH BOND, FLEMISH BOND, &c.: (_pl._) imprisonment, captivity.--_adj._ bound: in a state of servitude.--_v.t._ to put imported goods in the customs' warehouses till the duties on them are paid--hence BONDED STORES or WAREHOUSES, TO TAKE OUT OF BOND, &c.--_p.adj._ BOND'ED, secured by bond, as duties.--_ns._ BOND'ER, a binding stone or brick; BOND'-HOLD'ER, a person who holds bonds of a private person or public company; BOND'ING, that arrangement by which goods remain in the customs' warehouses till the duties are paid; BOND'MAID, BOND'WOMAN, BONDS'WOMAN, a woman-slave; BOND'MAN, a man-slave; BOND'MANSHIP; BOND'SERV'ANT, a slave; BOND'-SERV'ICE, the condition of a bond-servant: slavery; BOND'-SLAVE, a slave; BONDS'MAN, a bondman or slave: a surety; BOND'-STONE, a stone which reaches a considerable distance into or entirely through a wall for the purpose of binding it together; BOND'-TIM'BER, timber built into a wall as it is carried up for the purpose of binding it together in a longitudinal direction.--BONDED DEBT, the debt of a corporation represented by the bonds it has issued, as contrasted with its _floating_ debt. [A variant of _band_--A.S. _bindan_, to bind.]
BONDAGE, bond'[=a]j, _n._ state of being bound: captivity: slavery.--_n._ BOND'AGER, a female outworker in the Border and North country, whom the _hind_ or married cottar was bound to provide for the farm-work. [O. Fr.; Low L. _bondagium_, a kind of tenure. Acc. to Skeat, this is from A.S.
_bonda_, a boor, a householder, from Ice. _bondi_ = _buandi_, a tiller, a husbandman, _bua_, to till, cog. with A.S. _buan_.]
BONE, b[=o]n, _n._ a hard substance forming the skeleton of mammalian animals: a piece of the skeleton of an animal: (_pl._) the bones collectively: mortal remains: pieces of bone held between the fingers of the hand and rattled together to keep time to music: dice, as made of bone, ivory, &c.--_v.t._ to take the bones out of, as meat: to seize, to steal.--_ns._ BONE'-ACHE (_Shak._), aching or pain in the bones; BONE'-ASH, BONE'-EARTH, the remains when bones are burnt in an open furnace; BONE'-BLACK, the remains when bones are heated in a close vessel.--_adj._ BONED--used in composition, as high-boned: having bones: having the bones removed.--_ns._ BONE'-DUST, ground or pulverised bones, used in agriculture; BONE'-LACE, lace woven with bobbins, which were frequently made of bone.--_adj._ BONE'LESS, wanting bones.--_ns._ BONE'-SET'TER, one who treats broken bones without being a duly qualified surgeon; BONE'-SH[=A]K'ER, a name familiarly given to the earlier forms of bicycle before india-rubber tires; BONE'-SPAV'IN, a bony excrescence or hard swelling on the inside of the hock of a horse.--_adj._ BON'Y, full of, or consisting of, bones.--A BONE OF CONTENTION, something that causes strife; A BONE TO PICK, something to occupy one, a difficulty, a grievance, controversy, dispute.--TO MAKE NO BONES OF, to have no scruples in regard to something; TO THE BONE, to the inmost part. [A.S. _ban_, Ger. _bein_.]
BONFIRE, bon'f[=i]r, _n._ a large fire in the open air on occasions of public rejoicing, &c.--originally a fire in which bones were burnt. [Not Fr. _bon_, good, and FIRE.]
BONGRACE, bon'gr[=a]s, _n._ a shade from the sun once worn by women on the front of the bonnet: a broad-brimmed hat or bonnet. [Fr.]
BONHOMIE, bon'o-m[=e], _n._ easy good-nature. [Fr.; _bon homme_, a good fellow.]
BONIFACE, bon'i-f[=a]s, _n._ a generic name for an innkeeper, like 'mine host' or 'landlord'--from the hearty _Boniface_ of Farquhar's _Beaux'
Stratagem_.
BONING, b[=o]n'ing, _n._ the act of estimating straightness by looking along a series of poles, as in _boning-rod_ or _telescope_.
BONITO, bo-n[=e]to, _n._ a name given to several fishes of the mackerel family--the Stripe-bellied Tunny of the tropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific; the Mediterranean Bonito; the Plain Bonito. [Sp.]
BONNE, bon, _n._ a French nursemaid. [Fr.; _fem._ of _bon_, good.]
BONNE-BOUCHE, bon-b[=oo]sh, _n._ a delicious morsel. [Fr.]
BONNET, bon'et, _n._ a covering for the head worn by women, without a brim, tied on by strings, and now letting the whole face be seen, although formerly a bonnet (esp. a POKE'-BONN'ET) covered the sides of the face: a soft cap: the velvet cap within a coronet: (_fort._) a small work before the salient or flanked angle of the ravelin: (_naut._) an additional part laced to the foot of jibs, or other fore-and-aft sails, to gather more wind: a wire-covering over a chimney-top: a decoy or pretended player or bidder at a gaming-table or an auction, the accomplice of a thimble-rigger or other petty swindler.--_v.t._ to put a bonnet on: to crush a man's hat over his eyes.--_adj._ and _p.adj._ BONN'ETED.--_ns._ BONN'ET-PIECE, a gold coin of James V. of Scotland, on which the king wears a bonnet instead of a crown; BONN'ET-ROUGE, the red cap of liberty of the French Revolution, shaped like a nightcap.--BONNET LAIRD, a Scotch name for a petty landowner who wore a bonnet, not the hat of the gentry.--BALMORAL BONNET, a flat cap resembling the Scotch (Lowland) bonnet; GLENGARRY BONNET, rising to a point in front, with ribbons hanging down behind; SCOTCH BONNET, of a broad, round, flat shape, of dark-blue colour, with a tuft on the top, the fabric thick-milled woollen, without seam or lining--like the Basque _beret_. [O.
Fr.--Low L. _bonnetum_, orig. the name of a stuff.]
BONNY, bon'i, _adj._ beautiful: handsome: gay: plump: pleasant-looking: as a general term expressing appreciation = considerable, &c., often ironically: cheerful: (_Shak._) stout, strong.--_adv._ BONN'ILY, beautifully: gaily.--_n._ BONN'INESS, handsomeness: gaiety. [Fr. _bon_, _bonne_--L. _bonus_.]
BONSPIEL, bon'sp[=e]l, _n._ a great curling-match. [Dr Murray suggests an assumed Dut. _bondspel_, from _bond_ = _verbond_, 'covenant, alliance, compact,' and; _spel_, play; the word having entered Scotch as a whole, _spiel_, _spel_, having never been in common use for 'play.']
BONUS, b[=o]n'us, _n._ a premium beyond the usual interest for a loan: an extra dividend to shareholders: an extra gratuity paid to workmen: a douceur or bribe. [L. _bonus_, good.]
BONZE, bon'ze, _n._ a Buddhist priest. [Jap. _bonzo_ or _bonzi_, a priest.]
BOO, BOOH, b[=oo], _interj._ a sound expressive of disapprobation or contempt.--_v.i._ to utter 'boo!' to hoot.--_v.t._ BOO'-HOO', to weep noisily.
BOOBY, b[=oo]'bi, _n._ a silly or stupid fellow: a sea-bird, of the gannet tribe, remarkable for its apparent stupidity in allowing itself to be knocked down with a stick.--_adjs._ BOO'BY, BOO'BYISH, like a booby: stupid.--_ns._ BOO'BYISM; BOO'BY-TRAP, a rude form of practical joke among boys, by which something is made to fall upon some one entering a door, or the like. [Sp. _bobo_, a dolt: may prob. be cog. with Ger. _bube_.]
BOODLE, b[=oo]d'l, _n._ a crowd, pack--'the whole boodle:' stock-in-trade, capital. [May be conn. with Dut. _boedel_.]
BOODLE, b[=oo]d'l, _n._ (_slang_) a stupid noodle.
BOODY, b[=oo]d'i, _v.i._ to sulk or mope. [Fr. _bouder_, to pout.]
BOOK, book, _n._ a collection of sheets of paper bound together, either printed, written on, or blank: a literary composition: a division of a volume or subject: the Bible: a betting-book, or record of bets made with different people: (_fig._) any source of instruction: the libretto of an opera, &c.: (_pl._) formal accounts of transactions, as minutes of meetings, records kept of his business by a merchant.--_v.t._ to write in a book.--_ns._ BOOK'-ACCOUNT', an account of debt or credit in a book; BOOK'BINDER, one who binds books; BOOK'BINDING, the art or practice of binding or putting the boards on books; BOOK'-CASE, a case with shelves for books; BOOK'-CLUB, an association of persons who buy new books for circulation among themselves; BOOK'-DEBT, a debt for articles charged by the seller in his book-account.--_adj._ BOOK'FUL, full of information gathered from books.--_ns._ BOOK'-HOLD'ER, one who holds the book of the play and prompts the actor in the theatre; BOOK'-HUNT'ER, one who rejoices in discovering _rare_ books; BOOK'ING-OF'FICE, an office where names are booked or tickets are taken.--_adj._ BOOK'ISH, fond of books: acquainted only with books.--_ns._ BOOK'ISHNESS; BOOK'-KEEP'ING, the art of keeping accounts in a regular and systematic manner; BOOK'-LAND, land taken from the _folcland_ or common land, and granted by _boc_ or written charter to a private owner; BOOK'-LEARN'ING, learning got from books, as opposed to practical knowledge.--_adj._ BOOK'LESS, without books, unlearned.--_ns._ BOOK'LET, a small book; BOOK'-MAK'ER, one who makes up books from the writings of others, a compiler: one who makes a system of bets in such a way that the gains must exceed the losses, entering them in a memorandum book; BOOK'-MAK'ING, the art or practice of compiling books from the writings of others: compilation: systematic betting; BOOK'-MAN, a scholar, student; BOOK'-MARK, something placed in a book to mark a particular page or passage; BOOK'-MATE (_Shak._), a mate or companion in the study of books: a schoolfellow; BOOK'-MUS'LIN, muslin used in bookbinding; BOOK'-OATH (_Shak._), an oath made on the Book or Bible; BOOK'PLATE, a label usually pasted inside the cover of a book, bearing the owner's name, crest, coat-of-arms, or peculiar device; BOOK'-POST, the department in the Post-office for the transmission of books; BOOK'SELLER, one who sells books; BOOK'SELLING; BOOK'SHELF, a shelf on which books are placed; BOOK'SHOP, a shop where books are sold; BOOK'-STALL, a stall or stand, generally in the open air, where books are sold; BOOK'-STAND, a book-stall: a stand or support for holding up a book when reading; BOOK'-TRADE, the trade of dealing in books; BOOK'WORM, a worm or mite that eats holes in books: a hard reader: one who reads without discrimination or profit.--TO BE UPON THE BOOKS, to have one's name in an official list; TO BRING TO BOOK, to bring to account; TO TAKE A LEAF OUT OF ANOTHER'S BOOK, to follow the example of some one; TO TALK LIKE A BOOK, to talk pedantically, or in a preternaturally well-informed manner. [A.S. _boc_, a book, the beech; Ger.
_buche_, the beech, _buch_, a book, because the Teutons first wrote on beechen boards.]
BOOM, b[=oo]m, _n._ a pole by which a sail is stretched: a chain or bar stretched across a harbour. [Dut. _boom_, a beam, a tree.]
BOOM, b[=oo]m, _v.i._ to make a hollow sound or roar: to go on with a rush, to become suddenly prosperous.--_v.t._ to push anything into sudden prominence:--_pa.p._ boomed (b[=oo]md); _pr.p._ boom'ing.--_n._ a hollow roar, as of the sea, the cry of the bittern, &c.: a sudden increase of activity in business, or the like--often the direct consequence of puffing advertisements or less legitimate intrigues.--_p.adj._ BOOM'ING, rushing with violence. [From a Low Ger. root found in A.S. _byme_, a trumpet, Dut.
_bommen_, to drum; like BOMB, of imit. origin.]
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BOOMERANG, b[=oo]m'e-rang, _n._ a hard-wood missile used by the natives of Australia, shaped like the segment of a circle, and so balanced that when thrown to a distance it returns towards the thrower. [Australian.]
BOON, b[=oo]n, _n._ a petition: a gift or favour. [Ice. _bon_, a prayer; A.S. _ben_.]
BOON, b[=oo]n, _adj._ gay, merry, or kind. [Fr. _bon_--L. _bonus_, good.]
BOOR, b[=oo]r, _n._ a countryman, a peasant: a Dutch colonist in South Africa: a coarse or awkward person.--_adj._ BOOR'ISH, like a boor: awkward or rude.--_adv._ BOOR'ISHLY.--_n._ BOOR'ISHNESS. [Dut. _boer_; Ger.
_bauer_. The A.S. _gebur_, a farmer, may explain the East Anglian _bor_, neighbour, as a form of address.]
BOORD, an obsolete form of BOARD.
BOOSE. See BOUSE.
BOOT, b[=oo]t, _n._ a covering for the foot and lower part of the leg generally made of leather: an infamous instrument of judicial torture, in which the legs were forced into a strong case and wedges driven in until bone, muscle, and marrow were crushed together--also BOOT'IKIN: a box or receptacle in a coach.--_v.t._ to put on boots.--_n._ BOOT'-CLOS'ER, one who closes the upper leathers of boots.--_pa.p._ BOOT'ED, having boots on, equipped for riding.--_ns._ BOOT'-HOOK, an instrument for pulling on long boots; BOOT'HOSE (_Shak._), hose or stockings used in place of boots; BOOT'-JACK, an instrument for taking off boots; BOOT'LACE, a lace for fastening boots; BOOT'-LAST, BOOT'-TREE, the last or wooden mould on which boots or shoes are made or stretched to keep their shape.--_adj._ BOOT'LESS, without boots: referring also, as in Tennyson's metaphorical use, 'wedded to a bootless calf,' to the ancient custom at a marriage by proxy of the quasi bridegroom putting one unbooted leg into the bride's bed.--_n._ BOOTS, the servant at an inn who cleans the boots, runs messages, &c.--in combination, as Lazy_boots_, Sly_boots_.--BOOT AND SADDLE (a corr. of Fr. _bouteselle_, place saddle), the signal to cavalry to mount.--LIKE OLD BOOTS (_slang_), vigorously, heartily.--SIX FEET IN HIS BOOTS, quite six feet high.--TO DIE IN HIS BOOTS, to be cut off in the midst of health, as by the rope; TO HAVE ONE'S HEART IN ONE'S BOOTS, to be in a state of extreme terror. [O. Fr. _bote_ (mod. _botte_)--Low L.
_botta_, _bota_, of dubious origin.]
BOOT, b[=oo]t, _v.t._ to profit or advantage.--_n._ advantage: profit: any reparation or compensation paid, like the _man-bote_ of old English law: (_Shak._) booty.--_adj._ BOOT'LESS, without boot or profit: useless.--_adv._ BOOT'LESSLY.--_n._ BOOT'LESSNESS.--TO BOOT, in addition; TO MAKE BOOT OF (_Shak._), to make profit of. [A.S. _bot_, compensation, amends, whence _betan_, to amend, to make BETTER.]
BOOTES, bo-[=o]'tez, _n._ a northern constellation beside the Great Bear, containing the bright star Arcturus. [Gr.; an ox-driver.]
BOOTH, b[=oo]th, _n._ a hut or temporary erection formed of slight materials: a covered stall at a fair or market. [Ice. _bu_, Ger. _bude_.]