Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BAL-SAM'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In a balsamic manner.

BAL-SAM-IF'ER-OUS, a.

Producing balsam. Smith.

BAL'SA-MINE, n.

Touch-me-not, or Impatiens, a genus of plants. Encyc.

BAL'SAM-SWEAT-ING, a.

Yielding balsam. Crashaw.

BALT'IC, a.

Pertaining to the sea of that name; situated on the Baltic Sea. Each Baltic state to join the righteous cause. Barlow.

BALT'IC, n. [From balte, belt, from certain straits or channels, surrounding its isles, called belts. See Belt.]

The sea which separates Norway and Sweden from Jutland, Holstein and Germany.

BAL'US-TER, n. [It. balaustro; Sp. balaustre; Fr. balustre; from L. palus; Eng. pole, pale. This is corrupted into bannister, which I have rejected.]

A small column or pilaster, of various forms and dimensions, often adorned with moldings, used for balustrades.

BAL'US-TER-ED, a.

Having balusters. Soames.

BAL'US-TRADE, n. [Sp. balaustrado; It. balaustrata; Fr. balustrade; from baluster.]

A row of balusters; joined by a rail, serving as a fence or inclosure, for altars, balconies, stair-cases, terraces, tops of buildings, &c. Encyc. Johnson. BAM or BEAM, n. As an initial syllable in names of places, signifies wood; implying that the place took its name from a grove, or forest. Ger. baum, a tree.

BAM'BOO, n.

A plant of the reed kind, or genus Arundo, growing in the East Indies, and in some other warm climates, and sometimes attaining to the hight of 60 feet. From the main root, which is long, thick and jointed, spring several round, jointed stalks, which at 10 or 12 feet from the ground, send out from their joints several stalks, which are united at their base. These are armed, at their joints, with one or two sharp rigid spines, and furnished with oblong, oval leaves, eight or nine inches long, on short footstalks. The flowers grow in large panicles, from the joints of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close to their receptacles. Old stalks grow to five or six inches in diameter, and are so hard and durable, as to be used for building and for all sorts of furniture, for water-pipes, and for poles to support palanquins. The smaller stalks are used for walking sticks, flutes, &c. Encyc.

BAM-BOO'ZLE, v.t.

To confound; to deceive; to play low tricks. [A low word.] Arbuthnot.

BAM-BOO'ZLER, n.

A cheat; one who plays low tricks. Arbuthnot.

BAN, n. [Sax. bannan, abannan, to proclaim; It. bando, a proclamation; Sp. and Port. bando; Fr. ban; Arm. ban; D. and Ger. ban, bannen; Sw. banna, to revile; Dan. band, ban, outlawry; forbander, to curse. Hence banish. The radical sense is to send, thrust or drive. Class Bn, No. 3.]

1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice, mandatory or prohibitory. In a more particular sense,
2. Notice of a marriage proposed, or of a matrimonial contract, proclaimed in a church, that any person may object, if he knows of any kindred between the parties, of any precontract or other just cause, why the marriage should not take place.
3. An edict of interdiction or proscription. Hence, to put a prince under the ban of the empire, is to divest him of his dignities, and to interdict all intercourse and all offices of humanity with the offender. Sometimes whole cities have been put under the ban, that is, deprived of their rights and privileges. Encyc.
4. Interdiction; prohibition. Milton.
5. Curse; excommunication; anathema. Raleigh.
6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending against a ban.
7. A mulct paid to the bishop by one guilty of sacrilege and other crimes.
8. In military affairs, a proclamation by beat of drum, requiring a strict observance of discipline, either for declaring a new officer, or for punishing an offender.
9. In commerce, a smooth, fine muslin, imported faun the East Indies. Encyc.

BAN, v.i.

To curse. Spenser.

BAN, v.t.

To curse; to execrate. Shak. Knolles.

BA-NA'NA, n.

A species of the genus Musa, or plantain tree, and its fruit. It rises 15 or 20 feet high, with a soft stalk, marked with dark purple stripes and spots, with leaves six feet long, and a foot broad. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a sheath of a fine purple color. The fruit is four or five inches long, and an inch or more in diameter; the pulp is soft and of a luscious taste. When ripe, it is eaten raw, or fried in slices. Bananas grow in large bunches weighing a dozen pounds or more. This tree is the native of tropical countries, and on many isles constitutes an important article of food. Encyc.

BAN'CO, n. [From the It.]

A bank.

BAND, n. [Sax. banda; Sw. band; Dan. baand; D. band; G. band, binde; Sp. banda, venda; Port. It. banda; Ir. banna; Pers. بَنْد band; Sans. bande, bunda; Fr. bande. See Bind and Bend.]

1. A fillet: a cord; a tie; a chain; any narrow ligament with which a thing is bound, tied or fastened, or by which a number of things are confined together.
2. In architecture, any flat low member or molding, broad but not deep, called also fascia, face or plinth. Johnson. Encyc.
3. Figuratively, any chain; any means of restraint; that which draws or confines. Dryden.
4. Means of union or connection between persons; as, Hymen's bands. Shak.
5. Any thing bound round or encircling another. Bacon.
6. Something worn about the neck; as the bands of clergymen. Addison.
7. A company of soldiers; the body of men united under one flag or ensign. Also, indefinitely, a troop, a body of armed men. 2 Kings vi.
8. A company of persons united in any common design; as, a band of brothers.
9. A slip of canvas, sewed across a sail to strengthen it. Mar. Dict. The band of pensioners in England, is a company of 120 gentlemen, who receive a yearly allowance of £100 st. for attending the king on solemn occasions. Encyc. The bands of a saddle are two pieces of iron nailed upon the bows, to hold them in their proper situation. Johnson.

BAND, v.i.

To unite; to associate; to confederate for some common purpose. Acts xxiii.

BAND, v.t.

1. To bind together; to bind over with a band. Dryden.
2. To unite in a troop, company or confederacy. Milton.

BAND'AGE, n. [Fr.]

1. A fillet, roller, or swath, used in dressing and binding up wounds, restraining hemorrhages, and joining fractured and dislocated bones. Sometimes, the act or practice of applying bandages.
2. Something resembling a bandage; that which is bound over another. Addison.

BAN-DAN'A, n.

A species of silk handkerchief.

BAN-DAN'NA, n.

A style of calico printing, in which bright or white spots are produced on a red or dark ground. Ure.

BAND'-BOX, n.

A slight paper box for bands, caps, bonnets, muffs, or other light articles. Addison.

BAND'ED, pp.

Bound with a band; united in a band.