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aulin to the deck, also around masts to prevent chafing. (c) A long, thin strip used to strengthen a part, to cover a crack, etc. Batten door (Arch.), a door made of boards of the whole length of the door, secured by battens nailed crosswise.

Among distillers, a certain degree of strength in alcoholic liquor, as formerly ascertained by the floating or sinking of glass globules of different specific gravities thrown into it; now ascertained by more accurate meters.

A band of canvas, to strengthen a sail.

at the bottom of a bank or cutting, to catch earth that may roll down the slope, or to strengthen the bank.

To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some occupation.

re of; further than; greater than; as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.

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

The transoms, knees, beams, keelson, and other chief timbers used for connecting and strengthening the parts of a vessel.

plates or valves joined together by an elastic ligament at the hinge, which is usually strengthened by prominences called teeth. The shell is closed by the contraction of two transverse muscles attached to the inner surface, as in the clam, -- or by one, as in the oyster. See Mollusca.

frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. [Colloq.]

Consistency; thickness; substance; strength; as, this color has body; wine of a good body.

A rope stitched to the edges of a sail to strengthen the sail.

the lower edge of the upper slate. -- Bond timber, timber worked into a wall to tie or strengthen it longitudinally.

is resisted by a tie forming a chord of the arch. -- Bowstring girder, an arched beam strengthened by a tie connecting its two ends. -- Bowstring hemp (Bot.), the tenacious fiber of the Sanseviera Zeylanica, growing in India and Africa, from which bowstrings are made. Balfour.

To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves. And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.

Imparting strength or tone; strengthening; invigorating; as, a bracing north wind.

rojecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.

Full, strong muscles, esp. of the arm or leg, muscular strength; a protuberant muscular part of the body; sometimes, the arm. Brawn without brains is thine. Dryden. It was ordained that murderers should be brent on the brawn of the left hand. E. Hall. And in my vantbrace put this withered brawn. Shak.…

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

A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side. Totten.