Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BI-PUNC'TU-AL, a.

Having two points.

BI-PU'PIL-LATE, a. [L. bis and pupilla, a pupil.]

Having a spot on the wing, with two dots or pupils within it of a different color, as in some butterflies.

BI-QUAD'RATE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quadratus, squared.]

In mathematics, the fourth power, arising from the multiplication of a square number or quantity by itself. Thus 4 x 4 = 16, which is the square of 4, and 16 x 16 = 256, the biquadrate of that number.

BI-QUAD-RAT'IC, a.

Pertaining to the biquadratic or fourth power. Biquadratic equation, in algebra, is an equation raised to the fourth power, or where the unknown quantity of one of the terms has four dimensions. Biquadratic parabola, in geometry, is a curve line of the third order, having two infinite legs tending the same way. Biquadratic root of a number, is the square root of the square root of that number. Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquadratic root of 81. – Encyc.

BI-QUAD-RAT'IC, n.

The same as Biquadrate. – Encyc.

BI-QUIN'TILE, n. [L. bis, twice, and quintus, fifth.]

An aspect of the planets, when they are distant from each other, by twice the fifth part of a great circle, that is 144 degrees or twice 72 degrees.

BI-RA'DI-ATE, or BI-RA'DI-A-TED, a. [L. bis, twice, and radiatus, set with rays.]

Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin. Encyc.

BIRCH, or BIRCH'EN, a.

Made of birch; consisting of birch.

BIRCH, n. [burch; Sax. birce; D. berken, or berkeboom; Ger. birke; Dan. birk.]

A genus of trees, the Betula, of which there are several species; as, the white or common birch, the dwarf birch, the Canada birch, of which there are several varieties, and the common black birch. Birch of Jamaica, a species of the Pistacia or turpentine tree. – Fam. of Plants.

BIRCH'-WINE, n.

Wine made of the vernal juice of the birch.

BIRD, n. [burd; Sax. bird, or bridd, a chicken; from the root of bear, or W. bridaw, to break forth.]

1. Properly, a chicken, the young of fowls, and hence a small fowl.
2. In modern use, any fowl or flying animal. It is remarkable that a nation should lay aside the use of the proper generic name of flying animals, fowl, Sax. fugel, D. vogel, the flyer, and substitute the name of the young of those animals, as the generic term. The fact is precisely what it would be to make lamb, the generic name of sheep or colt, that of the equine genus.

BIRD, v.i.

To catch birds. – Shak.

BIRD'BOLT, n. [bird and bolt.]

An arrow, broad at the end; for shooting birds. – Shak.

BIRD'-CAGE, n. [bird and cage.]

A box or case with wires, small sticks, or wicker, forming open work, for keeping birds.

BIRD'CALL, n. [bird and call.]

A little stick, cleft at one end, in which is put a leaf of some plant for imitating the cry of birds. A laurel leaf counterfeits the voice of lapwings; a leek, that of nightinitales; &c. – Encyc.

BIRD'-CATCH-ER, n. [bird and catch.]

One whose employment is to catch birds; a fowler.

BIRD'-CATCH-ING, n. [bird and catch.]

The art of taking birds or wild fowls, either for food, for pleasure, or for their destruction, when pernicious to the husbandman.

BIRD'-CHER-RY, n. [bird and cherry.]

A tree, a species of Prunus, called padus; there are other species called by the same name. – Encyc. Fam. of Plants.

BIRD'ER, n.

A bird-catcher.

BIRD'-EYE, or BIRDS'-EYE, a. [bird and eye.]

Seen from above, as if by a flying bird; as, a bird-eye landscape. – Burke.

BIRD'-EY-ED, a.

Of quick sight.

BIRD'ING-PIECE, n. [bird and piece.]

A fowling-piece. – Shak.

BIRD'-LIKE, a.

Resembling a bird.

BIRD'-LIME, n. [bird and lime.]

A viscous substance, usually made of the juice of holly-bark, extracted by boiling, mixed with a third part of nut oil or thin grease, used to catch birds. For this purpose, the twigs of a bush are smeared over with this viscid substance. – Encyc.

BIRD'-LIM-ED, a.

Smeared with bird-lime; spread to insnare. – Howell.