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To broach; to begin. And right anon his tale he hath attamed. Chaucer.

To corrupt; to defile; to contaminate. [Obs.] Blount.

A tempering, or mixing in due proportion.

See Oriflamme.

Supplying its own power; -- applied to an instrument of the nature of a water-ram.

Characterized by autogamy; self-fertilized.

Self-fertilization, the fertilizing pollen being derived from the same blossom as the pistil acted upon.

In Spain and Spanish America, a corporation or body of magistrates in cities and towns, corresponding to mayor and aldermen.

A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board" marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables. Backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made i…

The method of blackmailing by decoying a person into a compromising situation and extorting money by threats of exposure. [Cant]

The name of two Mohammedan festivals, of which one is held at the close of the fast called Ramadan, and the other seventy days after the fast.

hing wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass speaking. Numb. xxii. 30. [Cant] Balaam basket or box (Print.), the receptacle for rejected articles. Blackw. Mag.

A species of tree (Abies balsamea).

The act of imparting balsamic properties.

Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling, balsam; soft; mitigative; soothing; restorative.

Producing balsam.

The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam.

Having the quality of balsam; containing balsam. "A balsamous substance." Sterne.

An imposition; a cheat; a hoax. Garrick. To relieve the tediumbams. Prof. Wilson.

A child or baby; esp., a representation in art of the infant Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes.