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A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to warn a family of the speedy death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the house.

A supernatural being supposed to warn a family of the approaching death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice.

A small fish, the three-spined stickleback.

A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably brought from Bantam, a district of Java.

Carved and painted work in imitation of Japan ware.

The wild ox of Java (Bibos Banteng).

essed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity. Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day. W. Irving.

One who banters or rallies.

g food containing much farinaceous, saccharine, or oily matter; -- so called from William Banting of London.

lightly contemptuous or depreciatory.] In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings. W. Irving.

ortant divisions, the Kafirs, Damaras, Bechuanas, and many tribes whose names begin with Aba-, Ama-, Ba-, Ma-, Wa-, variants of the Bantu plural personal prefix Aba-, as in Ba-ntu, or Aba-ntu, itself a combination of this prefix with the syllable -ntu, a person. -- Ban"tu, a.

An East Indian insectivorous mammal of the genus Tupaia.

A tree of the same genus as the common fig, and called the Indian fig (Ficus Indica), whose branches send shoots to the ground, which take root and become additional trunks, until it may be the tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of men.

Lit., May you live ten thousand years; -- used in salutation of the emperor and as a battle cry. [Japan]

A gigantic African tree (Adansonia digitata), also naturalized in India. See Adansonia.

An idol or symbolical figure which the Templars were accused of using in their mysterious rites.

The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

Pertaining to baptism; as, baptismal vows. Baptismal name, the Christian name, which is given at baptism.

In a baptismal manner.

One who administers baptism; -- specifically applied to John, the forerunner of Christ. Milton.