Bipinnaria 
was a distinct animal : nearly the same as 
Brachiolaria. The term is retained to designate 
such larvse or stage of development. See also 
cut under Asteroid' c. 
bipinnate, bipinnated (bi-pin'at, -a-ted), a. 
(X 6i- 2 + pinnate. Cf. bipeiinate.'] Doubly pin- 
nate, (a) In bot., applied to a pinnate leaf when its divi- 
sions are themselves again pin- 
nate. Also bifwiuiate and bipen- 
nated. (b) In zool. t having op- 
posite pinnae ; feathered on two 
opposite sides of a main or axial 
line : in entom,, specifically ap- 
plied to certain feathery forms 
of antenna). See antenna, (c) In 
atiat., having the fleshy fibers 
inserted on opposite sides of a 
tendinous intersection : said of 
a muscle. The rectus femoris 
muscle is an example. 
bipinnately (bi-pin'at-li), 
adv. In a bipinnate man- 
Bipmnate Leaf. 
ner. 
bipinnatifid, bipennatifid (bi-pi-, bi-pe-nat'i- 
fid), a. [< W-* + pinnatifid, peimatifid.] In 
bot., doubly pinnatifid; having the primary and 
secondary divisions of the leaves pinnatifid. 
bipinnatiform (bi-pi-nat'i-f6rm), a. [As bi- 
pinnate + -form.'] Doubly pinnate in form ; 
bipinnate: as, a bipinnatiform muscle. 
bipinnatipartite (bl-pi-nat-i-par'tit), a. [As 
bipinnate + "L. partitas, divided: see partition.'] 
Bipinnatifid, but having the divisions extend- 
ing to near the midrib. 
bipinnatisect, bipinnatisected (bi-pi-nat'i- 
sekt, -sek-ted), a. [As bipinnate + L. sectus, 
cut: see section."] In bot., twice divided pin- 
nately. 
The leaf is said to be bipinnatifld, bipinnatipartite, or 
bipinnatisected. Bcntley, Botany, p. 153. 
biplanar (bi-pla'nar), a. [< L. bi-, two-, + 
plamts, plane.] Lying or situated in two planes. 
biplane (bi'plan), . In math., the pair of co- 
incident planes to which the tangent cone of a 
node reduces, when that node is a binode. 
biplicate (bi'pli-kat), a. [< bi- 2 + plicate."] 
Doubly folded; twice folded together, trans- 
versely, as the cotyledons of some plants. 
Henslow. 
biplicity (bi-plis'i-ti), n. [< L. biplex (biplic-) 
(equiv. to duplex, in a glossary) (< bi-, twice, + 
plicare, fold) + -ity. Cf. duplicity."] The state 
of being biplicate or twice folded ; the quality 
of being twofold ; doubling. Roget. [Rare.] 
bipolar (bi-po'iar), a. [< bi- 2 + polar.] 1. 
Doubly polar ; having two poles. 
The best modem metaphysicians, with rare exceptions, 
are now agreed that, whatever may be the case with ulti- 
mate existences, the phenomena we deal with are bipolar, 
on the one side objective and on the other subjective ; and 
these are the twofold aspects of reality. 
G. 11. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. ii. 29. 
Specifically 2. In anat., having two process- 
es from opposite poles : said of certain nerve- 
cells. 
bipolarity (bi-po-lar'i-ti), n. [< bipolar + -ity.] 
The state of being bipolar ; double polarity. 
Bipont, Bipontine (bi'pont, bi-pon'tin), a. [< 
NL. Sipontinus, < Bipontium (a tr. of German 
Zweibrucken, F. Deux-Ponts, lit. two bridges), 
< L. bi-, two-, + pon(t-)s, bridge.] Of or per- 
taining to Bipontium (the Latin name of Zwei- 
brucken or Deux-Ponts) in Rhenish Bavaria: 
applied to editions of the classics the printing 
of which was begun there in 1779. 
biporose (bi-po'ros), a. [< L. bi-, two-, + 
porus, a pore.] Having two pores; opening 
by two pores, as the anthers in the genus Cas- 
sia and most Erieaceas. 
Bipositores (bi-poz-i-to'rez), n. pi. [NL., < 
L. bi-, two-, + positor, layer.] In ornith., an- 
other name for the Columbts, an order of birds 
including all the pigeons and doves : so called 
because these birds for the most part lay only 
two eggs. [Not in use.] 
biprism (bi'prizm), n. [< bi- 2 + prism."] A 
prism with two refractive edges each of small 
angle, its cross-section being an obtuse-angled 
isosceles triangle. 
bipulmonary (bl-pul'mo-na-ri), a. [< bi- 2 + 
pulmonary.] In Arachnida, having only one 
pair of pulmonary sacs : opposed to quadripul- 
monary. 
bipunctate (bl-pungk'tat), a. [< bi- 2 + punc- 
tate.] Having two punctures or spots. 
bipunctual (bi-pungk'tu-al), a. J< bi- 2 + 
/iiiiictual, in the literal sense.] Having two 
points Bipunctual coordinates. Svecmirdinntc. 
bipupillate (bi-pii'pi-lat), a. [< M-2 + pupil- 
tote.] Having a double pupil: in en turn., said 
of an eye-like spot on the wing of a butterfly 
560 
when it has within it two dots or pupils of a 
different color. 
bipyramidal (bi-pi-ram'i-dal), a. [< bi- 2 + 
pyramidal.] In crystal., having the form of 
two pyramids joined base to base, as quartz 
crystals. 
biquadrate (bi-kwod'rat), n. [< bi- 2 + quad- 
rate.] Same as biquadratic. 
biquadratic (bi-kwod-rat'ik), a. and n. [< bi- 2 
+ quadratic.] I. a. Containing or referring 
to a fourth power, or the square of a square ; 
quartic. The word quartic has now completely super- 
seded blniuidratic, except in the following phrases. Bi- 
quadratic equation, an equation with one unknown 
quantity the highest power of which contained in the 
equation is the fourth. Biquadratic equations are always 
susceptible of algebraic solution ; equations of higher 
degrees are generally capable only of numerical solution. 
Biquadratic function, involution. See the nouns. 
Biquadratic parabola, in geom., a curve line of the 
third order, having two infinite legs tending the same 
way. Biquadratic root of a number, 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 bi- 
quadratic root of 81. 
II. n. In math., 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 biquadratic of 4. 
biquarterly (bl-kwar'ter-li), a. [< bi- 2 + 
quarterly."] Properly, happening or appearing 
once every two quarters, or semi-annually, 
but sometimes used in the sense of semi-quar- 
terly, twice in each quarter. [Rare.] 
biquartz (bi'kwartz), n. [< bi- 2 + quartz.] A 
double quartz plate used in a form of saccha- 
rimeter (which see). It consists of two semicircular 
plates of quartz joined in a vertical line ; the two halves 
are so taken that they respectively deviate the plane of 
polarization of incident plane-polarized light through 90' 
in opposite directions. 
biquaternion (bi"kwa-ter'ni-on), . [< bi (see 
def.) + quaternion.] 1. In math., an imaginary 
quaternion; a quantity expressible in the form 
a + bi + cj + dk, where i, j, k are three mu- 
tually perpendicular vectors, and a, b, c, d are 
real or imaginary numbers. This is the sense in 
which Sir W. R. Hamilton used the word. He distin- 
guished such a quantity from a real quaternion, because 
the whole algebraic procedure with imaginary quaternions 
is different from and more difficult than that with real 
quaternions, instead of being essentially the same but 
more easy, as is the case with ordinary imaginary alge- 
bra as compared with real algebra. 
2. The ratio of two rotors. This meaning was given 
to the word by \V. K. Clifford, who conceived that Hamil- 
ton's biquaternions did not deserve a separate name. In 
this sense a biquaternion is the sum of two quaternions 
belonging to different systems, so that their product van- 
ishes. 
biquintile (bi-kwin'til), n. [< bi- 2 + quintile.] 
In astrol., an aspect of the planets when they 
are distant from each other by twice the fifth 
yart of a great circle, that is, 144 or twice 72. 
biradiate, biradiated (bi-ra'di-at, -a-ted), a. 
[< bi- 2 + radiate.] Having two rays: as, a bi- 
radiate fin. 
birambi (bi-ram'bi), n. [Native name.] The 
fruit of the Averrhoa Bilimbi, a plant of British 
Guiana, from which an excellent preserve is 
made. 
biramose (bi-ra'mos), a. Same as biramous. 
Six pairs of powerful biramose natatory feet. 
Encyc. Brit., VI. 652. 
biramOUS (bi-ra'mus), a. [< L. bi-, two-, + 
ramus, a branch.] Possessing or consisting of 
two branches j dividing into two branches, as 
the limbs of cirripeds. H. A. Nicholson. 
birch (berch), n. [= Sc. and North. E. birk, < 
ME. birch, bireJte, birke, < AS. birce, bierce, 
byrce (= OHG. bircha, piricha, MHG. G. birke), 
weak fern., parallel with berc, beorc (= MD. 
berck, D. berk (berken-boom) = Icel. ojork (in 
comp. birki-) = Sw. bjork = Dan. birk), strong 
fern., = OBulg. brcza = Russ. bere:a = Lith. 
berzhas, birch, = Skt. bhurja, a kind of birch. 
Root unknown ; connected by some with AS. 
beorht, OHG. beraht, etc., bright, white, shin- 
ing, in allusion to the color of the bark. Not 
connected with L. betula, birch: see Betula."] 
1. A tree or shrub belonging to the genus Be- 
tula (which see). The birches have smooth, lami- 
nated outer bark and close-grained wood, which in some 
species is hard and tough, taking a flue polish, and is used 
in the manufacture of furniture and for many other pur- 
poses. The white, gray, or poplar birch, Betula alba, the 
principal European species, is a small tree, but is put 
to many uses, especially iu the old world. The bark is 
used for tanning and thatching, and yields an oil which 
is said to be used to give .Russia leather its peculiar odor; 
spruce-oil is also used for this purpose. The leaves, as 
well as the sap and oil, are used in the treatment of vari- 
ous chronic diseases, and the wood is used for fuel and 
many other purposes. Several varieties of this species, as 
the weeping, cut-leafed, and purple birches, are much 
cultivated for ornament. The cauoe- or paper-birch of 
bird 
North America, B. papyrtfera, is a large tree with a very 
tough, durable bark, which is largely used by the Indiana 
in the manufacture of canoes and teute. The timber is 
valuable. The yellow or ^ray birch, B. lutca, is one of 
the most important deciduous trees of the northern At- 
lantic forests, growing to a very large size; its wood is 
heavy, very strong, and hard. The black, sweet, cherry-, 
or mahogany-birch, B. lenta, has a very spicy, aromatic 
bark, yielding a volatile oil identical with oil of winter- 
green, and its heavy, dark-colored wood is largely used 
for making furniture and in ship-building. Other promi- 
nent species are the red or river-birch, B. niyra, of the 
Southern States, and the black birch, B. occidental!*, of 
the Rocky Mountains and westward. Several shrubby 
species are widely distributed in mountainous and arctic 
regions, reaching a higher latitude than any other decidu- 
ous tree, as the alpine birch (B. nana), the low or dwarf 
birch (B. pumila), and the scrub birch (B. glandulom). 
2. A birch rod, or a number of birch-twigs 
bound together, sometimes used for punishing 
children. 3. A birch-bark canoe. Lowell. 
Jamaica or West Indian birch, or gumbo-limbo, a 
species of Bttrsera, B. tjuntmifem, a small tree with ex- 
ceedingly soft, light, and spongy wood, yielding a kind of 
gum elemi, which is used as a remedy for goutand as the 
chief ingredient of a valuable varnish. 
birch (berch), v. t. [< birch, n.] To beat or 
punish with a birch rod; flog. 
From the child sentenced to be birched, to the assassin 
doomed to lose his life. Higyinmn, Eng. Statesmen, p.270. 
There I was birched, there I was bred, 
There like a little Adam fed 
From Learning's woeful tree '. 
Hood, Clapham Academy. 
birch-broom (berch'brom'), H. Acoarse broom 
made of the twigs and small branches of the 
birch-tree, used for sweeping stables, streets, 
etc. 
birch-Camphor (berch'kam'for), n. A resin- 
ous substance obtained from the bark of the 
black birch. 
birchen (ber'chen), a. [= Sc. birken, birkin, < 
ME. birchen, birkin, < AS. *bircen (Somner) (= 
D. LG. berken = OHG. Urchin, MHG. G. birken), 
< birce, birch : see birch.] Of or pertaining to 
birch; consisting or made of birch: as, "birchen 
brooms," Beau, and fl., Loyal Subject. 
We say of a wanton child, ... he must be annoynted 
with byrchin salve. 
Tyndale, Works (1573), p. 166. (N. E. D.) 
His beaver'd brow a birchen garland wears. 
Pope, Dunciad, iv. 141. 
birch-oil (berch'oil), n. An oil extracted from 
birch-bark, said to be used in preparing Russia 
leather. 
birch-water (berch'wa*ter), n. The sap of the 
birch. See birch-wine. 
birch-wine (berch 'win), n. A fermented li- 
quor made from the sap of the birch-tree, which 
is collected in the spring throughout the moun- 
tainous and wooded districts of Germany and 
Scandinavia. It is called by names which signify birch- 
water or birch-wine in the different languages. It is said 
to be possessed of diuretic and antiscorbutic properties. 
bird 1 (berd), n. [< ME. bird, herd, byrde, a me- 
tathesis of the usual form brid, bred, bryd, pi. 
briddes, a bird, also, as orig., the young of any 
bird, < AS. brid, pi. briddas (ONorth. bird, birit- 
as), the young of any bird. Origin unknown; it 
can hardly be connected with brood, as usually 
stated. Possibly the form bird is the more 
orig. form, standing for "byrd, < boren, born, 
p. of beran, bear; cf. byrde, (well-) born, ge- 
yrd, birth, of same origin : see birthl. For the 
metathesis, cf. that of bird 2 . For the devel- 
opment of sense, cf . the history of pullet and 
pigeon. The common Teut. word for ' bird ' 
(def. 2) is fowl, now restricted iu English: see 
fowl.] If. The young of any fowl. 
Being fed by us, you used us so 
As that ungentle gull the cuckoo's bird 
Useth the sparrow. Shak., I Hen. IV., v. 1. 
2. A feathered vertebrate animal of the class 
Aves, frequently included with reptiles in a su- 
perclass Sauropsida, but distinguished by hav- 
ing warm blood, by being covered with fea- 
thers, and by having the fore limbs so modified 
as to form wings. See Aves. 3. Any small 
feathered game, as a partridge, quail, snipe, or 
woodcock, as distinguished from water-fowl, 
etc Aerial birds. See aerial. A little bird told 
me, I heard in a way I will not reveal. 
Imagine any one explaining the trivial saying, "A little 
bird told tne," without knowing of the old belief in the 
language of birds and beasts. 
E. B. Tylor, Prim. Culture, I. i. 
Aquatic birds. See airuatic. Arabian bird, the fab- 
ulous phenix. sw A rabiini. Baltimore bird, see uri- 
ole. Bird-conjurer. See conjurer. StrA of freedom. 
the American bald eagle. [An Americanism.] Bird Ot 
Jove, the eagle. Bird of Juno, the peacock. -Bird of 
Minerva, tb. owl. Bird of night, the owl. Bird of 
Paradise, (a) One of the ParoafceuftB, oscim- passi-rim- 
birds, ivlatol to the corvine and stumoid passerines, 
cnntiiit'd to the I'upuan ri-^inn. ami lon^ famous lor mag- 
nificence of plumage and for the extraordinary devel- 
pp 
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