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An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining him.

A voracious pikelike, marine fish, of the genus Sphyræna, sometimes used as food.

Mentally dull; stupid. Shak. Barren flower, a flower which has only stamens without a pistil, or which as neither stamens nor pistils. -- Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward of the forest regions. -- Barren Ground bear (Zoöl.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the Barren Grounds, now believed…

ives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind." Robynson (More's Utopia). "Base ingratitude." Milton.

An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive oil, lard, or other fatty substance.

A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. [Obs.]

The pedestal of a column, pillar, or statue. [Obs.] If no basis bear my rising name. Pope.

id to have been invented at Venice. Some dress, some dance, some play, not to forget Your piquet parties, and your dear basset. Rowe.

A large stick; a club; specifically, a piece of wood with one end thicker or broader than the other, used in playing baseball, cricket, etc.

A Hebrew measure containing the tenth of a homer, or five gallons and three pints, as a measure for liquids; and two pecks and five quarts, as a dry measure.

Furring done with small pieces nailed directly upon the wall.

Two or more pieces of artillery in the field.

A trifling piece of finery; a gewgaw; that which is gay and showy without real value; a cheap, showy plaything. The ineffective bauble of an Indian pagod. Sheridan.

Obscenity; filthy, unchaste language. "The pert style of the pit bawdry." Steele.

ow, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.

A tree of the West Indies related to the myrtle (Pimenta acris).

A piece of linen about 1 ft. 8 in. wide by 213 ft. long, covered with embroidery representing the incidents of William the Conqueror's expedition to England, preserved in the town museum of Bayeux in Normandy. It is probably of the 11th century, and is attributed by tradition to Matilda, the Conqueror's wife.…

A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery. Bayonet clutch. See Clutch. -- Bayonet joint, a form of coupling similar to that by which a bayonet is fixed on the barrel of a musket. Knight.

Salt which has been obtained from sea water, by evaporation in shallow pits or basins, by the heat of the sun; the large crystalline salt of commerce. Bacon. Ure.

ith a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.