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A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes.

The first week day after Christmas, a legal holiday on which Christmas boxes are given to postmen, errand boys, employees, etc. The night of this day is boxing night. [Eng.]

trols of eight scouts each, who are of three classes, tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout.

That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage or a prop.

That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage.

The One First Cause; also, one of the triad of Hindoo gods. The triad consists of Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the Destroyer.

An extended handle by means of which a number of men can unite in working a pump, as in a fire engine.

ing piece of wood; or a stick or piece of wood partly burnt, whether burning or after the fire is extinct. Snatching a live brand from a wigwam, Mason threw it on a matted roof. Palfrey.

To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to break flax.

The first meal in the day, or that which is eaten at the first meal. A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. Shak.

To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc., by the application of fire and scraping.

The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garnison lean in firing.

The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other firearm, behind the chamber.

A strong iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore.

A device attached to the breech of a firearm, to guide the eye, in conjunction with the front sight, in taking aim.

The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before the gun is fired.

A firearm which receives its load at the breech. For cavalry, the revolver and breechloader will supersede the saber. Rep. Sec. War (1860).

To burn. [Obs.] Chaucer. Consuming fire brent his shearing house or stall. W. Browne.

holic or of the Greek Church for the seven canonical hours, namely, matins and lauds, the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours, vespers, and compline; -- distinguished from the missal.

A low wall or vertical partition in the fire chamber of a furnace, for deflecting flame, etc.; -- usually called a bridge wall. Aqueduct bridge. See Aqueduct. -- Asses' bridge, Bascule bridge, Bateau bridge. See under Ass, Bascule, Bateau. -- Bridge of a steamer (Naut.), a narrow platform across the deck, above the r…