BATBACHOSPERMEJE 



45 



BEARDING 



Batrachospermese, (ba-trS-ko-spe.r'me-e). [JBa- 

 trachos, frog; sperma, seed.] Plants belong- 

 ing to Algae, the fronds of which have some 

 resemblance to the ova of frogs. 



Batrichnis, (bat-rik'nis). [Gk. batrachos, frog; 

 ichiios, footprint.] Used for footprints of 

 batrachian animals found in New Bed Sand- 

 stone. 



Battalion,(bat-tal'ion). [Bataillon, the French 

 name.] A division of an infantry regiment, 

 usually numbering about 1000 men. 



Battardeau, (bat-ar-do'). [The French word.] 

 A wall built across a ditch, having in it a 

 sluice gate. 



Battens, (bat'nz). [F. baton, a stick.] Lengths 

 of wood, 7 in. wide, used for flooring, &c. 



Batter, (bat'ter). [F. batir, to build.] The 

 build of a wall that is not perpendicular to its 

 base. Straight B., when the slope is straight. 

 Curved B. , when the slope is curved. 



Battering walls. Sloping walls, intended to 

 resist side pressure, as in reservoirs, &c. 



Battery, (bat'ter-i). [Batterie, the French 

 name.] 1. A number of cannon; especially 

 when placed in position. 2. A number of 

 cells or jars for generating or accumulating 

 electricity. Bunsen's J?.=Grove's B., the 

 platinum being replaced by carbon. Bun- 

 sen's New B., with Zn and C in the same 

 cell, in a mixture of sulphuric and chromic 

 acids. Daniell's B., a constant battery; zinc 

 and copper in sulphate of copper solution. 

 Grove's B., a powerful battery: zinc in sul- 

 phuric acid, and platinum with nitric acid to 

 absorb the evolved hydrogen. Secondary B. , 

 a number of pieces of metal, such as plati- 

 num, separated by pieces of moistened cloth, 

 which, after being connected with an active 

 battery for some time, become charged, and 

 act as an independent battery. Magnetic B., 

 a number of magnets arranged to act in 

 unison. Thermo- electric B., a number of 

 thermo-electric couples, arranged iri a con- 

 tinuous series. 



Battery, chemical action of. The origin of 

 the galvanic current. Intensity of C. A.= 

 Intensity of current. Quantity of C. A.= 

 =Quantity of current. 



Batting machine=Blower=Scutcher. A ma- 

 chine used in spinning. 



Battlement, ( bat'1-ment ). [F. bastille, for- 

 tress. ]=The wall of a parapet, usually with 

 openings. 



Baudisserite, (bau-dis'ser-it). A variety of 

 magnesite, q.v. 



Bauhinia, (baw-in'i-a). [M. Bauhin.] A plant, 

 usually twining, belonging to Leguminoseaj. 

 B. po'/rwia=Mountain ebony. 



Baulite, (baw'lit). [Baulaberg, Iceland. ]= 

 Krablite: a mineral, chiefly silicate of alum- 

 inium. 



Bauxite, (bo'zit). [Baux, in France.] A 

 mineral, chiefly a compound of alumina and 

 ferric oxide. 



Bavin, (ba'vin). Impure and nodular lime- 

 stone and shale. 



Bay, (ba). [F. 6aie.]=Lanrel tree: a tree be- 

 longing to Lauracea?. 

 laureola. 



Bayonet, (ba'yon-et). [Bayonne, where first 

 made.] A sharp weapon of attack, fitted to 

 the muzzle of a musket or rifle. 



Bay salt, (bil'sawlt). [Bay or tank used in 

 evaporation.] Salt obtained from sea-water 

 by evaporation. 



Bay window. A window projecting outwards, 

 so as to form a bay-like recess. 



Bdellium, (del'i-um). [Bdellion, the Greek 

 name.] A brittle, transparent gum-resin, 

 from Balsamodendron Africanum, &c., some- 

 what resembling myrrh. 



Beads (specific gravity). Beads of different 

 densities used to ascertain the specific gravity 

 of a liquid, by the density of the bead which 

 just floats in it. 



Beadlet, (bed'let) = Actinia mesembryanthe- 

 mum. A sea anemone. 



Beagle, (b5-gl). [Gael, beag, small.] A small 

 hound. 



Beak, (bek). [Bee, the Gaelic name.] 1. A 

 small fillet. 2. A horny modification of the 

 epidermis on the outside of the muzzle or 

 jaws, as in birds. 



Beak-head, (beklied). A platform on the 

 deck of a ship at the fore end. 



Beam, (bem). [A.-S. beam, tree or post.] 1. 

 A strong piece of timber. 2. A ray of light. 

 B. compass: a compass, one of whose points 

 slides along a beam ; used for describing large 

 circles. B. engine: an engine having abeam, 

 by the motions of which power can be trans- 

 mitted. B. tree=Fyi\is aria. 



Bean, (ben). [The A.-S. name.] A form of 

 fruit, of which the pea and bean are examples; 

 also a common name for several plants bear- 

 ing such fruits. B. cafJers^Zygophyllacese. 

 Buck J5. =Bog-bean=Menyanthes. St. Igna- 

 tius' I?.=Seeds of Ignatia amara. Jonka B. 

 Dipterix odorata. Garden B. = Faba vul- 

 garis = Vicia faba. French B. = Phaseolus 

 vulgaris. B. copper = Granulated copper. 

 B. goose=A.nser segetum. 



Bear, (bar). [Bern, the A.-S. name.] 1.= 

 Ursus: a large omnivorous hybernating quad- 

 ruped, belonging to Plantigrade carnivora. 

 Black 5.=Ursus Americanus. Brown B.= 

 Ursus arctos. Sea .B.=Phoca ursina. Cave 

 .=Ursus speleeus. 2. The name of two 

 Northern constellations. Greater .S.=Ursa 

 Major. Lesser .B.=Ursa Minor. 3. A local 

 name in N. England for a variety of barley. 



Bear's-foot=Helleborus, q.v. 



Bearberry, (bar / ber-ri)=:Arctostaphylos uva- 

 ursi, a wild trailing plant, fruit eaten by 

 bears, belonging to Arbutese. 



Bear-bind=Convolvulus arvensis: a trailing 

 plant, used for binding barley sheaves. 



Beard, (berd). [The A.-S. name.] 1. Hairy 

 appendages on the face, possessed by men, 

 orangs, Diana monkeys, andSakis. 2. Greater 



forked .=Blennius phycis: a fish belonging 

 to Gobioidae. 



Beardie, (berdi)=Cobitis barbatula = Loche: 

 a smaU fish belonging to Cyprinidee. 



Bearding-line. The line of intersection of 

 the surface of keel, dead-wood, stem, and 

 stern-post of a ship, with the outer surface 

 of the frame timbers. 



