Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BLACK-CHALK', n.

A mineral of a bluish black color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a variety of argillaceous slate. – Ure.

BLACK'-COCK, n. [black and cock.]

A fowl, called also black-grous and black-game, the Tetrao tetrix of Linnæus.

BLACK'-EA-GLE, n. [black and eagle.]

In Scotland, a name given to the Falco fulvus, the white-tailed eagle of Edwards.

BLACK'-EARTH, n.

Mold; earth of a dark color. – Woodward.

BLACK'ED, pp.

Made black; soiled.

BLACK'EN, v.i.

To grow black, or dark.

BLACK'EN, v.t. [Sax. blæcan. See Black.]

1. To make black. The importation of slaves that has blackened half America. – Franklin.
2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud.
3. To soil.
4. To sully reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character.

BLACK'EN-ED, pp.

Made black.

BLACK'EN-ER, n.

He that blackens.

BLACK'EN-ING, ppr.

Making black; darkening.

BLACK'ER, a. [comp.]

More black.

BLACK'EST, a. [superl.]

Most black.

BLACK'-EY-ED, a.

Having black eyes. – Dryden.

BLACK'-FAC-ED, a.

Having a black face. – Shak.

BLACK'-FISH, n. [black and fish.]

1. A fish in the Orontes, about twenty inches long, in shape resembling the sheatfish. Its eyes are placed near the corners of its mouth on the edge of the lower jaw. – Dict. of Nat. Hist.
2. In the United States, a fish caught on the rocky shores of New England.

BLACK'-FLUX, n.

A mixture of carbonate of potash and charcoal, obtained by deflagrating tartar with half its weight of niter.

BLACK'-FOR-EST, n. [black and forest.]

A forest in Germany, in Swabia; a part of the ancient Hercynian forest.

BLACK'-FRI-AR, n.

Black-friars is a name given to the Dominican Order, called also Predicants and Preaching friars; in France, Jacobins. – Encyc.

BLACK'-GUARD, n. [said to be of black and guard; but is it not a corruption of blackard, black-kind?]

A vulgar term applied to a mean fellow, who uses abusive, scurrilous language, or treats others with foul abuse.

BLACK'-GUARD-ISM, n.

The conduct or language of a black-guard.

BLACK'-HEART-ED, a.

Having a black or malignant heart.

BLACK'ING, n.

A substance used for blacking shoes, variously made; any factitious matter for making things black. – Encyc. Ash.

BLACK'ING, ppr.

Making black.

BLACK'ISH, a.

Somewhat black; moderately black or dark.

BLACK'-JACK, n.

1. A name given by miners to blend, a mineral called also false galena, and blend. It is an ore of zink, in combination with iron and sulphur, sulphuret of zink. – Nicholson.
2. A leathern cup of old times.