Search the Dictionary

Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



2,314 words match “TOM”

BOOM n.
A long pole or spar, run out for the purpose of extending the bottom of a particular sail; as, the jib boom, the studding-sail boom, etc.
BOOTTOPPING n.
The act or process of daubing a vessel's bottom near the surface of the water with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin, as a temporary protection against worms, after the slime, shells, etc., have been scraped off.
BORING n.
. One of the most important applications of boring is in the formation of artesian wells. Tomlinson.
BORON n.
es. It occurs in nature also in boracite, datolite, tourmaline, and some other minerals. Atomic weight 10.9. Symbol B.
BOROUGH n.
The pledge or surety thus given. Blackstone. Tomlins.
BOROUGH-ENGLISH n.
A custom, as in some ancient boroughs, by which lands and tenements descend to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or, if the owner have no issue, to the youngest brother. Blackstone.
BOTFLY n.
botflies of the horse (Gastrophilus equi), the larvæ of which (bots) are taken into the stomach of the animal, where they live several months and pass through their larval states. In tropical America one species sometimes lives under the human skin, and another in the stomach. See Gadfly.
BOTS n.
The larvæ of several species of botfly, especially those larvæ which infest the stomach, throat, or intestines of the horse, and are supposed to be the cause of various ailments. [Written also botts.]
BOUGIE DECIMALE n.
A photometric standard used in France, having the value of one twentieth of the Violle platinum standard, or slightly less than a British standard candle. Called also decimal candle.
BRAIL n.
Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.
BRANCHIOPODA n.
An order of Entomostraca; -- so named from the feet of branchiopods having been supposed to perform the function of gills. It includes the fresh-water genera Branchipus, Apus, and Limnadia, and the genus Artemia found in salt lakes. It is also called Phyllopoda. See Phyllopoda, Cladocera. It is sometimes used in a broa…
BRANCHIURA n.
A group of Entomostraca, with suctorial mouths, including species parasitic on fishes, as the carp lice (Argulus).
BRASH n.
ter brash (Med.), an affection characterized by a spasmodic pain or hot sensation in the stomach with a rising of watery liquid into the mouth; pyrosis. -- Weaning brash (Med.), a severe form of diarrhea which sometimes attacks children just weaned.
BREADBASKET n.
The stomach. [Humorous] S. Foote.
BREAM v.
To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc., by the application of fire and scraping.
BREECH ACTION n.
The breech mechanism in breech-loading small arms and certain special guns, as automatic and machine guns; --used frequently in referring to the method by which the movable barrels of breech- loading shotguns are locked, unlocked, or rotated to loading position.
BREECH PIN; BREECH SCREW n.
iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore.
BREVIARY n.
An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary. A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those roots that are to be cut up or gathered. Holland.
BRICKWORK n.
made of bricks. Niches in brickwork form the most difficult part of the bricklayer's art. Tomlinson.
BRIEF n.
An epitome. Each woman is a brief of womankind. Overbury.
← Previous Page 35 of 116 Next →