Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BLACK'-LEAD, n.

A mineral of a dark steel-gray color, and of a scaly texture, composed of carbon, with a small portion of iron. This name, black-lead, is improper, as it contains no lead. It is called plumbago, and technically graphite, as it is used for pencils. – Cleaveland.

BLACK'-LEGS, n.

In some parts of England, a disease among calves and sheep. It is a sort of jelly which settles in the legs and sometimes in the neck. – Encyc.

BLACK'LEGS, n.

A term applied to gamblers.

BLACK'-LET-TER, n.

The old English or Gothic letter. Old law books with that letter, are called black-letter books.

BLACK'LY, adv.

Darkly; atrociously.

BLACK'-MAIL, n.

1. A certain rate of money, corn, cattle or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England, to certain men, who were allied to robbers, to be by them protected from pillage. – Cowel. Encyc.
2. Black rent, or rents paid in corn or flesh. – Bailey. Encyc.

BLACK'-MON-DAY, n.

Easter Monday, in 34 Ed. III., which was misty, obscure, and so cold that men died on horseback. – Stowe.

BLACK'-MONKS,

a denomination given to the Benedictines. – Encyc.

BLACK'-MOUTH-ED, a.

Using foul or scurrilous language. – Killingbeck.

BLACK'NESS, n.

The quality of being black; black color; darkness; atrociousness or enormity in wickedness.

BLACK'-PUD-DING, n.

A kind of food made of blood and grain. – Johnson.

BLACK'-ROD, n. [black and rod.]

In England, the usher belonging to the order of the garter; so called from the black rod which he carries. He is of the king's chamber and usher of Parliament. – Cowl.

BLACK-ROW-GRAINS, n.

A species of iron stone or ore, found in the mines about Dudley in Staffordshire, England. – Encyc.

BLACK'-SEA, n. [black and sea.]

The Euxine Sea, on the eastern border of Europe.

BLACK'-SHEEP, n. [black and sheep.]

In Oriental history, the ensign or standard of a race of Purkmans in Armenia and Mesopotamia. – Encyc.

BLACK'-SIL-VER, n.

A mineral.

BLACK'SMITH, n. [black and smith.]

A smith who works in iron, and makes iron utensils; more properly, an ironsmith.

BLACK'-SNAKE, n.

A serpent of a black color; two species are found in America. They are of the genus Coluber.

BLACK'-STRAKES, n.

In a ship, are a range of planks immediately above the wales in a ship's side, covered with tar and lampblack. – Encyc.

BLACK'-STRAP, n.

A name of a liquor drank by the vulgar.

BLACK'-TAIL, n. [black and tail.]

A fish, a kind of perch, called also a ruff or pope. – Johnson.

BLACK'-THORN, n. [black and thorn.]

A species of Prunus, called sloe. It grows ten or twelve feet high, very branchy, and armed with sharp, strong spines, and bearing small, round, black cherries. It is much cultivated for hedges. – Encyc.

BLACK'-TIN, n. [black and tin.]

Tin ore, when dressed, stamped and washed ready for melting. It is the ore comminuted by beating into a black powder, like fine sand. – Encyc.

BLACK'-TRESS-ED, a.

Having black tresses.

BLACK'-VIS-AG-ED, a.

Having a dark visage or appearance. – Marston.