bice 
formerly dusky, dnrk (cf. OF. n:ur Ms, dark 
blue, m-< bin, dark f;r<-i>u, F. fci'.v lilmn; wliily 
brown), =Pr. W= l(. f/r/i<i, grayish, prob. = Pg. 
fc.ri, brown, dusky; cf. Ml.. " bit.viHx, fcalu," 
i. e.. fallow, in an AS. glossary. Tlio sunn- 
word (F. Itise = I'r. bixn = It. dial. bixn = Bret. 
Ai^ = Swiss lii.if, hiini-) was applied to the. 
north or northeast wind, from the accompany- 
ing darkness, like L. ntjiiib>, < ut/uUus, dark, 
dusky: sec hisr. The origin of the word is 
uncertain. J A name given to two colors used 
iu painting, one blue, the other green, both 
native carbonates of copper. Inferior kinds f 
till-in arc iilsn prepared UtlflcUUy. Thi' former is often 
r:illr.l iii.Hmtain-bliie, tho laitrr inouiituiii-greeii, mala- 
chite-green, etc. Al*o r.illol l>ia<lettu. 
lir.iuiul sm:ilt-<, blue verditer, anil other pigments have 
parted under the name of bin,: ; which has thcrcfinv ii 
come a very equivocal pigment, and its name nearly obso- 
lete : nor is It at present to be found in the shops, although 
niilrh t-oiiiuieiiileil by old u ritris oil the art. 
Field's (Jfinniiiar o/(Voi<n'ii>/ (Davidson's ed., 1877), p. 61). 
Bicellaria (bi-se-la'ri-ii), . [NL., < L. bi-, 
two-, + cella, cell, + -aria.] A genus of chilo- 
stomatous gymnolieraatous polyzoans, typical 
of the family lih-i Unriiiln-. 
BicellariidSB (bl"sel-a-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
liii-i'l/firiii + -Ida:.] A family of ChHostomnta. 
bicellular (bi-sel'u-lar), . [< W-2 + cellular.] 
Having two cells ; consisting of two cells. 
Bicelluli (bl-sel'u-li), n. i>l. [NL., < L. bi-, two-, 
+ NL. cellula, dim. of L. cella, cell.] A group 
of heteropterous hemipterous insects contain- 
ing bugs of the division Geoeorisa or Auro- 
corisa, which have two basal cells of the mem- 
branous hemielytra. [Not in use.] 
bicensal (bi-sen sal), a. [< bi- 2 + census + -al.] 
In ijcom., consisting of two ovals, real or imagi- 
nary, finite or infinite. 
bicentenary (bi-sen'te-na-ri), a. and . [< it- 2 
+ centenary.] I. a. Relating to or consisting 
of two hundred, especially two hundred years ; 
bicentennial: as, a bicentenary celebration. 
II. n. 1. That which consists of or compre- 
hends two hundred (commonly the space of 
two hundred years). 2. A two hundredth an- 
niversary. 
Part of the enthusiasm of a bi-centenary. 
The American, VI. 23. 
bicentennial (bi-sen-ten'i-al), a. and n. [< bi-'* 
+ centennial.'] I. a. 1. Consisting of or last- 
ing two hundred years: as, a bicentennial pe- 
riod. 2. Occurring every two hundred years. 
II. n. The two hundredth anniversary of 
an event ; a bicentenary. 
bicephalic (bi-se-fal'ik or bi-sef'a-lik), a. [< 
L. bi-, two-, + Gr. Keipa^r/, head: see cephalic.] 
Having two heads ; bicephalous ; specifically, 
ornamented with two heads or busts, as an 
engraved gem or the like. Jour. Archieol., 
XXIX. 311. 
bicephalous (bi-sef'a-lus), a. [As bicephalic 
+ -OK*.] Having two heads. 
biceps (bi'seps), a. and M. [< L. bicei>s (bicipit-), 
< bi-, two-, -f caput, head.] I. a. Two-headed, 
or having two distinct origins : specifically, in 
limit., applied to certain muscles. 
II. n. 1. In anat., a muscle havingtwo heads 
or origins; specifically, the biceps brachii. 2. 
Figuratively, strength or muscular develop- 
ment. 3. Muscular strength of the arm; 
ability to use the arm effectively : from such 
strength or ability depending on the devel- 
opment of the biceps muscle. Biceps brachii, 
or bleeps humeii, the two-headed muscle of the arm, 
arising I'.v its loiii: head from the glcnoid fossa, and by its 
short head from the coracoid process of the scapula, and 
inserted into the tuberosity of the radius. It is a strong 
flexor and supinator of the forearm, and a guide to the 
lirachlal artery in surgieal operations upon that vessel. 
See ellt under iiuurl'-. - Biceps fellioris, the two-headed 
muscle of the thigh, arising by its long head from the tube- 
rosity of the ischium, und by its short head from the shaft 
of the femur, and inserted into the head of the fibula, its 
tendon forming the outer hamstring. Its action is to flex 
the leg upon the thigh. 
bicessis (bl-ses'is), . [L., < bic-, a reduced 
form of viyinti, = E. twenty, + as (ass-), an as, a 
unit : see as*.} In Rom . metrology, twenty asses. 
bichet, . [< F. bichc, OF. also bisse = Wal- 
loon ink = mod. Pr. bicho = It. dial, becia, a 
laud or roe ; of uncertain origin.] A kind of 
fur ; the skin of the female deer. 
bichir (bich'r), w. [Native name.] A re- 
markable living ganoid fish, I'dli/jitcriis bichir. 
of the family Puluptcriiltc and order Croxxo- 
/it< n/</ii. inhabiting the Nile and other African 
rivers, attaining a length of 18 inches, and 
esteemed as food. See 1'olypterus. 
In the system of fuvier, the bichir was placed among 
the bony tlshes, in the vicinity of the herrings. One of 
35 
545 
the most Interesting features In connection with the flsh 
Is that, in the ymmir, e\tiTii;d yills nre pn-s* nt 
other s|M-<-ii-*, r. srne^;drnsi* jind f. eixllii herl, are 
known. All live In the deeper pools, and apparently 
hury tliriiiM-lvr* in the slime and oo/e on th-- bottom, 
where tin-} feed "II Hi-hex and utlliT ilc|liatie animals. 
,s'M,i./. \dt. Ilitt., III. 98. 
bichlorid, bichloride (bi-klo'rid, -rid or -rid), H. 
A compound in which two equivalents of chlo- 
rine are combined with a base: as, a bichlmiil 
of meri-ury. 
bicho-da-mar (be'cho-dii-mar'), n. [Pg., lit. 
worm of the sea, sea-slug.] Same as beche- 
<li -IHI-I-. 
bichord (bi'kord), a. and n. [< bi-% + chord.} 
I. n. Having two chords. 
II. w. In music, a general name for an in- 
strument having two strings tuned in unison 
for each note, as the mandolin and several 
other instruments of the lute or guitar class. 
bichromate (bi-kro'mat), n. [< W- 2 + chro- 
mate.] A compound containing twice as much 
chromic acid, combined with the same amount 
of base, as the normal chromate contains. 
Bichromate m- blchromlc battery. See ceH, a 
bichromate (bi-kro'mat), . t. ; pret. and pp. 
bichmmntcil, ppr. bichromating. [< bichromate, 
n.] Same as bichromatize. 
The gelatine mass may be bichromated after it is set by 
soaking It in a solution of bichromate of potassium or 
ammonium. Sci. Ainer. (N. S.), LVI. 161. 
bichromatic (bi-kro-mat'ik), a. [< bi-2 + 
chromatic.] Same as dichromatic. 
bichrqmatize (bi-kro'ma-tiz), . t. ; pret. and 
pp. bichromatized, ppr. "biehromatizing. [< bi- 
chromate, n., + -MM To treat with a bichro- 
mate, especially bichromate of potassium. 
Also bichromate. 
The film of a liithniiiMtiml gelatine, used as a photo- 
graphic negative. Ure, Diet., II. -299. 
bichromic (bi-kro'mik), . [< bichrom(ate) + 
-ic.] Pertaining to or using a bichromate. 
In the construction of the induction balance a bickro- 
mil- battery is used. Science, IX. 190. 
bichy (bich'i), n. [Appar. a native name.] A 
name sometimes given to the Cola acvminata, 
a tree of the natural order Sterculiacea: See 
cola-nut. 
biciliate (bi-sil'i-at), a. [< bi-* + citiate.'] Hav- 
ing two cilia. 
The tilciliale swarmspores that escaped were observed 
for some hours under the microscope. 
Tram. Roy. Soc. of Edinburgh, XXXII. 597. 
bicipital (bi-sip'i-tal), a. [< L. biceps (bicipit-), 
two-headed (see b"iceps), + -al.~\ 1. Having 
two heads; two-headed. [Rare.] 2. In anat. : 
(a) Having two heads or origins, as a muscle. 
See biceps, (b) Pertaining to the biceps mus- 
cles. 3. In bot., dividing into two parts at the 
top or bottom. 
Also bicipitous. 
Bicipital fascia, an expansion of the tendon of the bi- 
ceps urachii into the deep fascia of the forearm. Bicipi- 
tal groove, a furrow along the upper part of the humerus, 
in which the tendon of the long head of the biceps muscle 
lies. See cut under humenu. Bicipital ridges, the lips 
of the bicipital groove. 
bicipitosus (bi-sip-i-to'sus), . ; pi. bicipitosi 
(-si). [NL., < L. biceps (bicipit-), two-headed : 
see biceps.] The bicipital muscle of the thigh ; 
the biceps femoris. 
bicipitous (bi-sip'i-tus), a. Same as bicipital. 
IHciiiitoiii serpents. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ill. IS. 
bicircloid (bi-ser'kloid), n. [< 6i-2 + circle + 
-o(rf.] A curve generated by the uniform mo- 
tion of a point around the circumference of a 
circle the center of which itself uniformly de- 
scribes a circle. 
bicircular (bi-ser'ku-lar), a. [< W-2 + circu- 
lar.] Composed of of similar to two circles. 
Bicircular oval, a real branch of a bicircular quartic. 
Bicircular quartic, a quartic curve which passes twice 
through each or the circular points at infinity, having thus 
Fig. i. 
Bicircular Quartic. 
Curve of firat genus, first division ; two real ovals with focal circle 
and central hyperbola. 
an essential analytical similarity to a pair of circles, which 
it also somewhat rt'st-mblcs to the t\vt'. Fur the purpose 
of trucing it, it may be defined as the envelop of all the 
circles having their centers on a fixed ellipse or hyper- 
Fig. 2. 
First genus, second 
division ; one real 
ovaL 
Fig. 3. 
Second genus, no- 
dal curve. 
Fig. 4- 
d eent 
dalci 
bickerer 
hols, and rutting a fixed circle i>rihK<uially. This < ircle In 
called the/wa^ rin-i,\ IMTHIIA.- r m with the 
fixed conic aru fm-i <>( tin- quartSc. 
The latter has, lieeiilcH, two double 
f'H-l, which are the foci "f the i-nnie. 
Tin- i>erpen<li< nl:us from t!,,- imt- i 
of the f'tcal i ircle to the as>nijit"t' s 
of the conn- ,ue Ktanui-nt.-, "I th'- 
quartic. (Sec ni;. 1.) The Intenec- 
tloiu of the fi>cal circle Kith th-- 
quartic are cyclic yuiiilt <fi Oie lat- 
t*r. There are three Renera ( foj. 
circular iiuartles. 'Hie flrat embraces 
all the hicuraal fonna, and these are 
curves of the eighth clan. For these then 
focal circles and two Imaginary ones. The two real conies 
of centers are an ellipse and a confoeal hyperbola. There 
are four real foci and four real cyclic points. This genm 
has two divisions. In the first, the four real foci are con. 
cyclic, and the real curve consists uf two ovals, one of which 
lies without or within the other, accord- 
ing as the four real foci are on a central 
ellipse or hyperbola. Fig. 1 shows the 
latter case, and fig. 3, modified so as to 
make the upper part like the lower, 
would show the former. Bfcircular 
quartics of this division have the prop- 
erty that three points can be taken so 
that the distances rj, r 2 , r-i, of any iwint 
of the curve therefrom shall be express- 
able by an equation ar\ + frrg + cry 0. 
The second division of the first genus embraces curves 
whose four real foci lie In two pairs or two focal circles. 
These real curves consist of single ovals, as In fig. 2. The 
second genua comprises unlcursat curves with one node 
(besides those at the circular points). 
They are of the sixth class. There is 
one real and one Imaginary focal circle. 
The node may be a crunode with an 
outloop (shown by slightly modifying 
fig. 2 in the upper part) or with an In- 
loop, as in fig. 3 ; or it may be an ac- 
node without or within the oval. The 
third genus contains curves with an 
ordinary cusp. These are of the fourth 
class. There is but one focal circle and 
but one focus. The cusp may point out- 
ward, as in fig. 4, or Inward, as in a modification of fig. 3. 
bicker 1 (bik'er), r. [Early mod. E. also becker, 
< ME. bicheren, bikkeren, bekeren, bikeren, appar. 
a freq. in -er; origin unknown. The W. bicra, 
fight, is appar. from the E.] I. in trans. If. 
To exchange blows ; skirmish ; fight off and on : 
said particularly of the skirmishing of archers 
and slingers. 
Two eagles had a conflict and Indurcd together. 
Holland, tr. of Suetonius, p. 243. 
2. To quarrel; contend in words; engage in 
petulant altercation ; wrangle. 
Those petty things about which men cark and bicker. 
Barroic. 
Tho' men may bicker with the things they love. 
Tennynon, Geraint. 
Hence 3. To make a brawling sound ; make 
any repeated noisy action ; clatter. 
Meantime unnumber'd glittering streamlets played, . . . 
That, as they bickered through the sunny shade, 
Though restless, still themselves a lulling murmur made. 
Thonuon, Castle of Indolence, ill. 26. 
4. To run rapidly; move quickly ; quiver; be 
tremulous, like flame or water. 
I make a sudden sally 
And sparkle out among the fern, 
To bicker down a valley. 
Trnnyiton, The Brook. 
There is a keen relish of contrast about the bickering 
flame as it gives an emphasis beyond Gherardo della Notte 
to loved faces. Luirelt, Study Windows, p. 38. 
6. To make a short rapid run. [Middle Eng. 
and Scotch.] 
II. trans. To strike repeatedly. 
bicker 1 (bik'er), H. [< ME. biker, beker: see 
bicker 1 , v.] 1. A fight, especially a confused 
fight. 
Bickera were held on the Calton Hill. Campbell. 
2. A quarrel ; an angry dispute ; an alterca- 
tion. 
If thou say nay, we two shal make a In/cter. 
Chaucer, Good Women, 1. 2680. 
3. A confused or rapid succession of sounds ; 
a rattling or clattering noise. 
A bicker of musketry-fire rattled down in the valley, in- 
termingled with the wild yells and defiances of the bill- 
men, who were making a chapao or night attack on the 
camp. Arch, t'orbcx, Souvenirs of some Continents, p. 194. 
4. A short rapid run or race ; a staggering run, 
as from loss of equilibrium. [Middle Eng. and 
Scotch.] 
Leeward whiles, against my will, 
I took a bicker. 
Burnt, Death and Dr. Hornbook. 
bicker 3 (bik'er), . [Var. of beaker, q. v.] A 
bowl or dish for containing liquor, properly one 
made of wood; a drinking-cup; also, specifi- 
cally, in many parts of Scotland, a wooden dish 
made of staves and hoops, like a tub, for hold- 
ing food. [Prov. Eug. and Scotch.] 
bickerer (bik'er-er), H. One who bickers, 
engages in petty quarrels. 
or 
