Search the Dictionary

aurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the Hyades. Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia's chair. Spenser.

A valuable East Indian fiber plant (Hibiscus cannabinus), or its fiber, which is used throughout India for making ropes, cordage, and a coarse canvas and sackcloth; --called also brown Indian hemp.

An aromatic bark used as a tonic, obtained from a South American of the rue family (Galipea cusparia, or officinalis). U. S. Disp.

See Angostura bark.

A highly elastic wood, used for fishing rods, etc. The tree is unknown, but it is thought to be East Indian.

ssiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon. They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses. Knolles.

One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner. [Archaic]

One who carried liquor or beer in a can or bombard. [Obs.] They . . . made room for a bombardman that brought bouge for a country lady. B. Jonson.

An attack upon a fortress or fortified town, with shells, hot shot, rockets, etc.; the act of throwing bombs and shot into a town or fortified place.

trument of the oboe or bassoon family; thence, a bass reed stop on the organ. The name bombardon is now given to a brass instrument, the lowest of the saxhorns, in tone resembling the ophicleide. Grove.

A certain process for producing upon articles of iron or steel an adherent coating of the magnetic oxide of iron (which is not liable to corrosion by air, moisture, or ordinary acids). This is accomplished by producing, by oxidation at about 1600º F. in a closed space, a coating containing more or less of the ferric ox…

lly, in medicine, pertaining to the bulb of the spinal cord, or medulla oblongata; as, bulbar paralysis.

See Bombard. [Obs.]

See Bumboat. Carlyle.

A tavern; a house where liquors are retailed. [Obs. as an English word.]

A district on the west coast of Africa. Calabar bean, The of a climbing legumious plant (Physostigma venenosum), a native of tropical Africa. It is highly poisonous. It is used to produce contraction of the pupil of the eye; also in tetanus, neuralgia, and rheumatic diseases; -- called also ordeal bean, being used by t…

An alkaloid resembing physostigmine and occurring with it in the calabar bean.

A valuable kind of Peruvian bark obtained from the Cinchona Calisaya, and other closely related species.

See Capybara.

A large South American rodent (Hydrochærus capybara) Living on the margins of lakes and rivers. It is the largest extant rodent, being about three feet long, and half that in height. It somewhat resembles the Guinea pig, to which it is related; -- called also cabiai and water hog.