bachelor's-buttons 
bachelor's-buttons (biii-h'e-ioi-x.-bnt'ni'.), . i>l. 
[Said to be so named because country youths 
used to carry the flower in their pockets to 
divine their success with their sweethearts.] 
1. The popular name of several plants, as the 
double-flowered variety of Lychnis tliurna (tin- 
red campion), Crntaurra nii/ra (knapweed), 
but chiefly the double-flowered varieties of 
ItanuitCHlux iimiiilifoliits (white bachelor's-but- 
tons) and Rtinuiirulux arris (yellow bachelor's- 
buttons). The name is also given to the ragged-robin 
(Ijiii-linix l''(it*-<-itftili), to the globu-umaranth (wnqpfawui 
//.i/*ix), to the NCI//;.'.,.." .Micci'xa, ami iu some parts of the 
I Hite.l States to I'tili/i/tilii lnl,-n all. I to other plants. 
2. A name for the seeds of Sfri/chi/os \ii.i-- 
t'ontiea, formerly used for ])oisouiug rats. JJun- 
ijlixon. 
bachelorship (buc-h'e-lor-ship), . [< //<//< Vr 
+ -shi/i.] The state or condition of being a 
bachelor in any sense ; the rank or degree of a 
bachelor; the unmarried state of a man. 
bachle 1 , . See bauchle 1 . 
bachle-t, c. ' An obsolete Scotch form of baffle. 
bacile (bu-che'le), .; pi. biieili (-16). [It., < 
ML. bacile, baccilc, bacliilc, a basin, a dry mea- 
sure; cf. bacillus, baccinus, barrli in us. bachiintx, 
a basin, a dry measure: see battiii.'] 1. In 
eerant., a basin or deep dish: in use in English 
for an ornamental vessel of Italian make and 
of that shape, especially for a vessel of enam- 
eled and lustered pottery. 2. In metrology, 
same as liachel. 
bacillar (bus'i-lar), a. [< L. baeillum or NL. ba- 
ril/itH, it. v. , + -).] 1. Belonging or pertaining 
to the genus Bacillus. 2. Resembling in form 
a short rod or bacillus; bacilliform. As applied 
to the valves of diatoms, it indicates that their greatest 
dimension is in a direction parallel to the line of juncture 
of the two valves ; that is, they are longer than broad, ami 
therefore rod-like. Sec cut under bacilttt*. 
Bacillaria (bas-i-la'ri-ij), n. [NL., < bacillus + 
-ana.] A genus of microscopic algae, belong- 
ing to the class Diatomaeete. They consist of slen- 
der rectangular segments, arranged iu tabular or oblique 
series. The compound segments of frustules are inces- 
santly slipping backward and forward over each other. 
They are frequent on the coasts of Great Britain. 
Bacillariaceae (bas-i-la-ri-a'se-e), n. pi. [NL., 
< Bacillaria + -aceat.] Same as Diatomaceai. 
bacillary (bas'i-la-ri), a. [< bacillus + -ary,] 
1. Pertaining to or consisting of bacilli : char- 
acterized by the presence or agency of bacilli. 
2. Having the form of small rods Badllary 
layer, the layer of rods and cones of the retina. See ret inn. 
bacilli, . Plural of bacillus. 
bacillian (ba-sil'i-an), a. [< bacillus + -ian.] 
Pertaining to or of the nature of a bacillus: 
as, "bacillian parasites," B. W. Richardson. 
bacillicide (ba-sil'i-sid), . [< NL. bacillus + 
L. -cida, < ccedere, kill.] A substance em- 
ployed to kill bacilli or infectious germs; a 
germicide. 
A combination of lime with chlorine, perhaps the best 
of all the bacillicides, is very generally employed. 
Disinfectants, p. 19. 
bacillicidic (ba-sil-i-sid'ik), a. [< bacillicide + 
-jc.] Destructive to bacilli. 
bacilliculture (ba-sil'i-kul-tur), . [< NL. ba- 
cillus + L. cultura, culture.] The cultivation 
of bacteria in vegetable or animal infusions or 
otherwise, for purposes of investigation. 
bacilliform (ba-sil'i-f6rm), a. [< NL. bacillus 
+ L. forma, form.] Of the form of a small 
rod; rod-shaped ; bacillar in form. 
bacillus (ba-sil'us), n.; pi. bacilli (-5). [NL., 
a particular use of LL. bacillus, L. baeillum, a 
little rod or staff, dim. of L. baculus, baculum, 
a stick, staff; cf. Gr. /JaKT/xtv, a staff, perhaps 
akin to jialvetv, go, = 
L. venire = E. come.] 
1. In anat., a little 
rod or rod-like body, 
as one of the rods of 
the retina. 2. An 
individual of the 
genus Bacillus. 3. 
[cap.'] A so-called 
genus of the micro- 
scopical vegetable 
organisms known as 
bacteria, having the 
form of very slender 
straight filaments, 
short or of moderate 
length, and consist- 
ing of one or more 
elongated cylindri- 
cal joints. Several _ 
forms, or species, are ree- p^' 
uguized, Of these, tub- ure, 
lacillus, highly magnified. Up- 
figure, B. anlhracts ; lower tig- 
:, Comma Bacillus. 
II I 
till* is funnel in rennet, and is the agent in luityrie fer- 
mentation ; ft. "<'<' known as an- 
thrax oreharbon ; and 11. (iiit>il<iit<-t, i- is one of the spc. ics 
which produce putrefaction, other species are believed 
to cause tuberculosis, leprosy, ami cholera. Tin- ., .111111:1 
bacillus, which is asserted to l>c a]wa>s present in the 
eonr.se of tile last-nameil .ii-ca^. . i^ peculiar in having a 
more or less curve-. I form. Sec /;.<./.;/..,,, aid >'/., a 
/,///. vf.'*. 
4. ['-'(/).] In ruttiiH., a genus of ortliopti-nms 
gressorial insects, of the family riiaxuiitlir ; the 
walking-sticks. 5f. Medicine maile up into a 
long round figure like a stick. Ki-rscy (170H). 
bacint, . An obsolete form of //*/. 
bacinett, n. An obsolete form of haxini-t. 
bacino (ba-che'no), . ; pi. /<r/i (-ne). [It., a 
basin : see basin."] In cerani., one of the dishes 
of richly colored pottery which are found built 
into the walls of certain medieval buildings in 
Italy, especially at Pesaro, Pisa, Rome, and 
Bologna. 
back! (bak), n. [< ME. bak, < AS. Ixee = OS. 
buk = OFries. bek = Ml), bak (D. bak- in 
comp. ) = LG. bak (also in cornp., bak-, > G. 
bark- in comp., also separately, back, fore- 
castle) = Icel. Sw. bak = Dan. bat/, buck. 
Cf. AS. liri/r,/. back, E. ritli/f.] 1. The whole 
hinder part of the human body, opposite the 
front and between the sides, or the upper part 
of the body of most animals; technically, 
the spinal, dorsal, or tergal portion, surface, 
or aspect of the trunk, extending from the 
scruff of the neck between the shoulders to the 
buttocks, hams, or bifurcation of the body at 
the legs; the tergum; the dorsum; the notee- 
um. 2. The corresponding or related portion 
of any part or organ of the body ; the posterior 
aspect of a thing ; the part opposite to or fur- 
thest from the front, or in any way correlated 
with the back of the trunk : as, the back of the 
head, neck, arm, leg; the back of the hand; 
the back of the mouth. 3. Anything resem- 
bling the back in position. () As being behind 
or furthest from the face or front, like the back in man : 
as, the back of a house. 
Trees set upon the back* of chimneys do ripen fruits 
sooner. Bacon, Nat. Hist. 
(6) As being behind, or in the furthest distance, with ref- 
erence to the spectator, speaker, scene of action, etc. : as, 
the back of an island ; the back of a wood ; the '"'./. of a 
village, (c) As being the part which comes behind in the 
ordinary movements of a thing, or when it ia used : as. 
the back of a knife, saw, etc. (d) As forming the upper, 
and especially the outer and upper, portion of a thing, 
like the back of one of the lower animals : as, the buck of 
a hand-rail ; the back of a rafter. (<') The ridge of a hill. 
The mountains huge appear 
Emergent, and their broad bare backn upheave. 
Hilton, f. L., vii. 2S6. 
O'er the long bach of the bushless downs. 
Tennywn, Lancelot and Elaine. 
(/) As being that which supports the ribs : as, the back of 
a ship (namely, the keel and keelson). See broke n-baeknl. 
to) The upright hind part of a chair, serving as a support 
for the back. (A) In but., the outer side of an organ, or 
the side turned away from the axis : as, the back of a leaf 
or of a carpel. 
4. By synecdoche, the whole body, with refer- 
ence to clothing, because the back is usually 
most fully covered: as, he has not clothes to 
his back. 
I bought you a dozen of shirts to your back. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., ill. n. 
5f. Clothing ; a garment to cover the back. 
And owre bakken that moth-eaten be. 
Piers Plomnan (B), x. ;2. 
6. pi. In the leather trade, the thickest and 
best-tanned hides. 7t. The address of a let- 
ter, formerly written on the back of the letter 
itself. Scott. 8f. A reserve or secondary re- 
source. 
This project 
Should have a back, or second, that might hold, 
If this should blast in proof. Shak., Hamlet, iv. 7. 
9. In ship-building, a timber bolted on the 
after end of the rudder, to complete its form. 
10. In metal-mining, the portion of the lode 
which lies between any level or stope and the 
one next above it, or the surface. Generally, 
the backs are the unstoped portions of the lode, 
as far as laid open, and ready to be mined or 
stoped. 11. In coal-mining : (a) Same as face . 
(6) The inner end of a heading where work is 
going on. 12. In foot-ball, a position behind 
the line of rushers, or a player in this position : 
called quarter-back, half-back, three-quarters- 
back, or full-back, according to the distance 
from the rushers Back and belly, (n) Before and 
behind ; all over : as, to beat a person&nct ami belly, (b) 
With clothes and food : as, to keep a person back and belli/ 
(to keep him in clothes ami food). [Vulgar.] Back and 
breast, the usual term in the seventeenth century for 
the body-armor of the period. It consisted of a solid 
breastplate in one piece, generally considered bullet- 
back 
proof, an.i a lighter Imekpieee. tile tuo secured together 
mi'lcr the arms, usually l>> straps an. I !>u<-kl. s. 
Armed uith '*/'/. ";"/ l>i:-u*l, head piece anil I.rac. !, -I -,. 
.V'-"". l.ci:.-n'l nf \l-.hli ..-.:. 
Back and edge*, hn> ; completely. 
Th.-y have cu^auc'l themselves ours lull-It ,tn:t c//r/,-. 
/.'"/'/ Afltllnn'/. iii. 
Back Of a book, that part of the cover to ulneli the !.> 
.sides are attached an.l on uhicli the title is usually printc.l 
-Back Of a bOW, in ". !" f>/, th.- . \tci i,,r si.lc ,,l a IM.VS , 
\\ hi. 1 1 i- . ..nv.A u lien the lio\v is lieltt. Ill mo. l.-l 1 1 Km 
pean IKIWS this part is Hal. gee '"'(. Stol Back Of a 
hand-rail, the upper -urlacc : the nn.l. r siilc U th. 
Back of a hip-rafter, the upper edge ..f the iatt. r 
shaped to the alcjlc liich the adjoining shies make with 
each other. See cut umlcr Itij-. Back Of an arch "i 
Vault, the e.xtnnlos, ..r miter curve nr lace. >.-c I'n-t 
cut under ,<rfh. Back of a roof-rafter, its upper sm 
face. Back of a slate, in /..../i/iy, the upper or weather 
*i<lc. Back of a window, tiic \\ain-. ..tin^ i.elow the 
sash-frame, .\ten.lini,' to the Moor. Backs and Cutters, 
a miners' name for joint c. I mck-sirucl in --, I h,- Lacks run- 
ning in lines more or less parallel to the strike of the 
'liata, and forming the "hack ' of tin: .juarry, and the 
.utters crossing them at ri^ht anj.s. Behind one's 
back, iu secret, or when one is absent. 
I confess, Mr. Surface, I cannot hear t hear people at 
tacked hrhiittl. tltfit- lKi<-kx ; and when tii:h ciieum.stan. .-* 
come out against our acquaintance, 1 oun I aluay^ I"*. 
to think the best. >/,.,.</,/, School for Scandal, i. I. 
Lazy-back, a hi^h l.aek-har in a carriage scat. It It 
times mail.- >o as to lie 1. IIIM\ ahle at will. K. II. Kui-lli' 
Mltered back, in iKiiikbiiulinii. n back having line-, 
usually in gold, connected ami miter.-. I in sqiiaie panel, 
by means of cross-lines between the hands.- - Run-up 
back, in hunklnii'liii'i, a back having two lines, usually in 
gold, on its outer ed^e.s, running otf at top and hottoin. 
Distinguished from the iiiiferrd back(whi<.-]i see).- Small 
of the back, the loins ; the reins. Tne back of beyond. 
See beyonil.'Io be on another's back, to he severe on 
one for any fault or foolish act ; chide ; ridicule. [Colloq. | 
TO be On one's (own) back, to be at the end of one's 
resources; be aground. IColloq.] To bow down the 
back, to submit to oppression. Rom. xi. lo. To break 
the back. See break. TO cast behind the back, in 
Scrip.: (a) To forget and forgive. Is. xxxviii. 17. (6) To 
treat with contempt. E/ek. xxiii. 35; Xeh. ix. 26. To 
get one's back up, to resist ; lie obstinate. See to put 
nne't bade up, below. [C'olloq.] To give a back, to liend 
the back and keep it firm so as to allow another to leap 
over one by placing his hands upon the back, or to mount 
up to anything, [t'olloq. ] To make a back. Same as 
to give a back. "to put or get one's back up, to show 
antipathy or aversion; resist; lie angry or indignant: a 
metaphor probably taken from the habits of frightened or 
angry cats. [Colloq. ] To see the back Of, to get rid of. 
To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him. 
back 1 (bak), . [< back 1 , n., and back 1 , adr., the 
attributive use of the noun, as in backbone, 
mingling with that of the adv., as in back yard, 
the yard which is back, back spring, a spring 
backward, etc. As with fore, hind, after, etc., 
there is no definite dividing line between the 
separate adj. use and the use in composition.] 
1 . Lying or being behind ; opposite to the front ; 
hinder; rear: as, the back part of anything; a 
back door or window ; back stairs ; the back side 
of a field. 
I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see mylMtfk 
parts : but my face shall not lie seen. Ex. xxxiii. : 
Hence 2. Away from the front position or 
rank ; remote in place or condition ; far in the 
rear, literally or figuratively : as, the back set- 
tlements of a country. 
In December we had two insurrections of the back in- 
habitants of our province. Franklin, Autobiog., p. 315. 
3. In a backward direction ; returning in the 
direction whence it came: as, a back stroke; 
back water. [In this sense properly with a 
hyphen.] 4. Inarrear; overdue : as, back pay 
or rents Back action. See action. Back cylinder- 
head, that head of a cylinder through which the piston- 
rod passes in locomotives : the opposite head in stationary 
engines. 
back 1 (bak), adv. [By apheresis for aback, < 
ME. abak, < AS. on ba>e: see aback and backi, 
.] 1. To or toward the rear ; backward ; in 
the reverse direction: as, to step or shrink 
back; the tide flowed back. 
All shrank back aghast, and left the denouncer of woe 
standing alone in the centre of the hall. 
Irving, Granada, p. as. 
2. From forward motion or progress ; from ad- 
vancing or advancement ; in a state of restraint, 
hindrance, or retardation : with such verbs as 
keep and hold : as, he was held back with diffi- 
culty; the police kept back the crowd. 
The Lord hath kept thee back from honour. 
Num. xxiv. 11. 
3. To or toward one's (its or their) original 
starting-point, place, or condition: as, to go 
back to the city, to one's old occupation, to 
one's former belief. 
I must hear answer back 
How you excuse my brother. Shak., As you Like it, iv. 3. 
Each successive wave rushes forward, breaks, and rolls 
back. Macaulay, Sir J. Mackintosh 
4. From a present, usual, or natural position ; 
in a direction opposite to some other, expressed 
