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A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on the bow or fore channels of a vessel, for the bill or fluke of the anchor to rest on. Totten.

One who uses, or is armed with, a bill or hooked ax. "A billman of the guard." Savile.

A major in the Turkish army.

To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.

A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See Aves.

A confection made of flour, sugar, marmalade, and eggs; a sweet biscuit.

The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger of surprise or attack.

A black garment or dress; as, she wears black; pl. (Obs.)

f persons liable to censure or punishment, as in the English universities, or the English armies.

by them, were jocularly called the "black guard"; also, the servants and hangers-on of an army. [Obs.] A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the black guard in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. Webster (1612).

To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud. [U. S.]

The act or practice of extorting money by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation.

Black garments, etc. See Black, n., 4.

The broad part of an oar; also, one of the projecting arms of a screw propeller.

To be resplendent. Macaulay. To blaze away, to discharge a firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons, as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action. [Colloq.]

An heraldic shield; a coat of arms, or a bearing on a coat of arms; armorial bearings. Their blazon o'er his towers displayed. Sir W. Scott.

One who gives publicity, proclaims, or blazons; esp., one who blazons coats of arms; a herald. Burke.

A coat of arms; an armorial bearing or bearings. The blazonry of Argyle. Lord Dufferin.

To emit blood; to lose blood; to run with blood, by whatever means; as, the arm bleeds; the wound bled freely; to bleed at the nose.

ve; to brandish. [Obs.] And burning blades about their heads do bless. Spenser. Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest. Fairfax.