Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter B - Page 6

Bakistre (n.) A baker.

Baksheesh (n.) Alt. of Bakshish

Bakshish (n.) Same as Backsheesh.

Balaam (n.) A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass speaking.

Balachong (n.) A condiment formed of small fishes or shrimps, pounded up with salt and spices, and then dried. It is much esteemed in China.

Balaenoidea (n.) A division of the Cetacea, including the right whale and all other whales having the mouth fringed with baleen. See Baleen.

Balance (n.) An apparatus for weighing.

Balance (n.) Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate.

Balance (n.) Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales.

Balance (n.) The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness.

Balance (n.) An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; -- also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account.

Balance (n.) A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary).

Balance (n.) The constellation Libra.

Balance (n.) The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun enters at the equinox in September.

Balance (n.) A movement in dancing. See Balance, v. i., S.

Balanced (imp. & p. p.) of Balance

Balancing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Balance

Balance (n.) To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.

Balance (n.) To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope.

Balance (n.) To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.

Balance (n.) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.

Balance (n.) To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them.

Balance (n.) To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; -- said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account.

Balance (n.) To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books.

Balance (n.) To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.

Balance (n.) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.

Balance (v. i.) To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.

Balance (v. i.) To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate.

Balance (v. i.) To move toward a person or couple, and then back.

Balanceable (a.) Such as can be balanced.

Balancement (n.) The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even adjustment of forces.

Balancer (n.) One who balances, or uses a balance.

Balancer (n.) In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing.

Balancereef (n.) The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.

Balance wheel () A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance.

Balance wheel () A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance).

Balance wheel () A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel.

Balaniferous (a.) Bearing or producing acorns.

Balanite (n.) A fossil balanoid shell.

Balanoglossus (n.) A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta, and Tornaria.

Balanoid (a.) Resembling an acorn; -- applied to a group of barnacles having shells shaped like acorns. See Acornshell, and Barnacle.

Balas ruby () A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel.

Balaustine (n.) The pomegranate tree (Punica granatum). The bark of the root, the rind of the fruit, and the flowers are used medicinally.

Balbutiate (v. i.) Alt. of Balbucinate

Balbucinate (v. i.) To stammer.

Balbuties (n.) The defect of stammering; also, a kind of incomplete pronunciation.

Balcon (n.) A balcony.

Balconied (a.) Having balconies.

Balconies (pl. ) of Balcony

Balcony (n.) A platform projecting from the wall of a building, usually resting on brackets or consoles, and inclosed by a parapet; as, a balcony in front of a window. Also, a projecting gallery in places of amusement; as, the balcony in a theater.

Balcony (n.) A projecting gallery once common at the stern of large ships.

Bald (a.) Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or top, as of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a bald head; a bald oak.

Bald (a.) Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal.

Bald (a.) Undisguised.

Bald (a.) Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean.

Bald (a.) Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat.

Bald (a.) Destitute of the natural covering.

Bald (a.) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced.

Baldachin (n.) A rich brocade; baudekin.

Baldachin (n.) A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an altar; as, the baldachin in St. Peter's.

Baldachin (n.) A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession.

Bald eagle () The white-headed eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) of America. The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the head.

Balder (n.) The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace; the son of Odin and Freya.

Balderdash (n.) A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.

Balderdash (n.) Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.

Balderdash (v. t.) To mix or adulterate, as liquors.

Bald-faced (a.) Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag.

Baldhead (n.) A person whose head is bald.

Baldhead (n.) A white-headed variety of pigeon.

Baldheaded (a.) Having a bald head.

Baldly (adv.) Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly.

Baldness (n.) The state or condition of being bald; as, baldness of the head; baldness of style.

Baldpate (n.) A baldheaded person.

Baldpate (n.) The American widgeon (Anas Americana).

Baldpate (a.) Alt. of Baldpated

Baldpated (a.) Destitute of hair on the head; baldheaded.

Baldrib (n.) A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute of fat.

Baldric (n.) A broad belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn over one shoulder, across the breast, and under the opposite arm; less properly, any belt.

Baldwin (n.) A kind of reddish, moderately acid, winter apple.

Bale (n.) A bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation; also, a bundle of straw / hay, etc., put up compactly for transportation.

Baled (imp. & p. p.) of Bale

Baling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Bale

Bale (v. t.) To make up in a bale.

Bale (v. t.) See Bail, v. t., to lade.

Bale (n.) Misery; calamity; misfortune; sorrow.

Bale (n.) Evil; an evil, pernicious influence; something causing great injury.

Balearic (a.) Of or pertaining to the isles of Majorca, Minorca, Ivica, etc., in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia.

Baleen (n.) Plates or blades of "whalebone," from two to twelve feet long, and sometimes a foot wide, which in certain whales (Balaenoidea) are attached side by side along the upper jaw, and form a fringelike sieve by which the food is retained in the mouth.

Balefire (n.) A signal fire; an alarm fire.

Baleful (a.) Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive.

Baleful (a.) Full of grief or sorrow; woeful; sad.

Balefully (adv.) In a baleful manner; perniciously.

Balefulness (n.) The quality or state of being baleful.

Balisaur (n.) A badgerlike animal of India (Arcionyx collaris).

Balister (n.) A crossbow.

Balistoid (a.) Like a fish of the genus Balistes; of the family Balistidae. See Filefish.

Balistraria (n.) A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows might be discharged.

Balize (n.) A pole or a frame raised as a sea beacon or a landmark.

Balk (v. i.) A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside.

Balk (v. i.) A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called "the balks."

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