Search the Dictionary

A building for soldiers, especially when in garrison. Commonly in the pl., originally meaning temporary huts, but now usually applied to a permanent structure or set of buildings. He lodged in a miserable hut or barrack, composed of dry branches and thatched with straw. Gibbon.

A thermal cymoscope which operates by increased resistance when subjected to the influence of electric waves. The original form consisted of an extremely fine platinum wire loop attached to terminals and inclosed in a small glass or silver bulb. In a later variety, called the liquid barretter, wire is replace by a colu…

st the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal.

The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.

The outer wall of the ground story of a building, or of a part of that story, when treated as a distinct substructure. ( See Base, n., 3 (a).) Hence: The rooms of a ground floor, collectively. Basement membrane (Anat.), a delicate membrane composed of a single layer of flat cells, forming the substratum upon which, in…

To deprive of. [Obs.] When baseness is exalted, do not bate The place its honor for the person's sake. Herbert.

A regiment, or two or more companies of a regiment, esp. when assembled for drill or battle.

ovisions ordered from the buttery; also, the charges for them; -- only in the pl., except when used adjectively. [Univ. of Oxford, Eng.]

A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible. Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay. Dryden. The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts. I. Taylor

rnament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads, to at one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.

as shown by beads or small bubbles remaining on its surface, or at the side of the glass, when shaken.

f movable dam, in one form consisting of two leaves resting against each other at the top when raised and folding down one over the other when lowered, for deepening shallow parts in a river.

also, a type or type-high piece of metal interspersed in blank parts to support the plate when it is shaved.

The line of flotation of a vessel when properly trimmed with cargo or ballast. Ball bearings. See under Ball. -- To bring one to his bearings, to bring one to his senses. -- To lose one's bearings, to become bewildered. -- To take bearings, to ascertain by the compass the position of an object; to ascertain the rela…

A cloth with which a child is covered when carried to be baptized. Shak.

To make a sound when struck; as, the drums beat.

sis), which is highly prized by the Italians for the delicacy of its flesh in the autumn, when it has fed on figs, grapes, etc.

fy or call by a nod, or a motion of the head or hand; to intimate a command to. [Archaic] When gold and silver becks me to come on. Shak.

The shortest line from one place to another, like that of a bee to its hive when loaded with honey; an air line. "A bee line for the brig." Kane.

The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food.