birthing 
birthing, . Sec />> i'ti/in</. 
birthland (bteth'lwid), . Tho land of one's 
birth, or where one was born. 
In tha direction of their in,tl<l,in,i. 
,/.', Sartor Resartus, p. 104. 
So may the dead return t" tln-ir Mrihlniul. 
Tl,.-<;,,t,n;i, XXVI. 47. 
birthless (berth'les), a. [< birtltl + -less."] 
Not of good or honorable birth ; of low or com- 
mon lineage. Smlt. 
birth-mark (berth'miirk), it. Some congenital 
mark or blemish on a pel-son's body; a straw- 
berry-murk; a mole ; a namis. 
M.iat |iart of tills noble lineage carried upnn tlirir bmly 
cvrii fnr a iiatiiiall birth-mark, fnmi their nmther s womb, 
a snake. North, tr. of I'lutarch, p. 17. 
birthnight (berth'nit ), M. Tho night of the ilay 
on which a person is born ; the anniversary of 
that night. 
birthplace (borth'plas), n. The place of one's 
birth; the town, city, or country where a per- 
son is born; more generally, place of origin. 
birth-rate (berth'rat), 11. "The proportion of 
births to the number of inhabitants of a town, 
district, country, etc., generally stated as so 
many per thous:in<i of tlio popul'ation. 
An increase in prosperity, as measured by the frirth- 
rate, is accompanied by a decrease in tin- ratio of Imy- 
birtbs, anil vice versa. /'/' .*>'<. .""., XXVI. :t27. 
birthright (berth'rit), n. Any right or privi- 
lege to which a person is entitled by birth, 
such as an estate descendible by law to an 
heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution; 
specifically, the right of primogeniture. 
And they sat before him, the flrst-liorn according to his 
birlhriijhl, and the youngest according to his youth. 
den. xliii. 33. 
For Titan (as ye all acknowledge must) 
Was Saturnes elder brother by birthriyht. 
ajpMW, K. IJ., VII. vl. 27. 
We were very nearly dead, . . . and my Idea of happi- 
ness was an English beefsteak and n bottle of pale ale ; 
for such a luxury I would most willingly have sold my 
birthright at that hungry moment. 
Sir N. W. Knkfr, Heart of Africa, p. 284. 
birthrqot (berth'ro't), . In hot., a name given 
to various species of Trillium, especially T. 
pendulum, the roots of which are reputed to be 
astringent, tonic, and alterative, and to have 
a special effect upon the uterus and connected 
organs. Also called birthwort, and corruptly 
betlinmt and bathwort. 
birth-Bin (berth/sin), n. Sin from birth; origi- 
nal sin. [Hare.] 
Original or liirth tin. Book of Common Prayer. 
birth-Song (berth'sdng), . A song sung at a 
birth, or in celebration of a birth or birthday. 
A joyful birth-tony. Fitz-Gtoffry, Blessed Birthday, p. 45. 
birth-Strangled (berth'strang'gld), a. Stran- 
gled or suffocated at birth. 
Finger of tirth-stranglnl babe. Shot., Macbeth, iv. 1. 
birthwort (borth'wert), n. [< birth* + icorfl."] 
In hot. : (a) The common name of the European 
species of Aristolochia, A. Clentutitis, from its 
supposed remedial powers in parturition, and 
from it transferred to some American species, 
which are more usually known as snakeroot. 
(l>) Same as birtliroot. 
bis (bin), adv. [L., twice, for *duis, < rfiio = E. 
two ; in compounds, bi- : see bi- 2 .] Twice, (a) 
In accounts, tatmlar statements, books, etc., used to de- 
note a duplicate or repetition of an item or numl>er or 
page : as, p. 10 bit. (b) In music, a term indicating that a 
passage or section is to lie repeated, (c) An exclamation, 
used like encore, as a request for the repetition of a mu- 
sical performance, etc. i./) As a prefix, twofold, twice, two : 
in this sense it generally becomes bi-. See bi--, 
bisa, biza (bG'/.iU, . [Native name. 1 A coin 
used in Pegu in British Burma, worth about 
27^ cents. 
bisaccate (bi-sak'at), a. [< W- 2 + saccate; cf. 
L. bimcfiitni, a saddle-bag: see bixacrin."] Hav- 
ing two little bags or pouches attached : used 
especially in botany. 
bisaccia (be-ziich'a), n. [It. bisaecia, a saddle- 
bag, < L. bisaccium, pi. bisacciii, saddle-bag, 
< bi-, two-, + saccits. a bag : see sack*."] A 
Sicilian measure of capacity, equal to 1.94 
hnshels. 
bisannualt (bis-an'u-al), a. [= F. bisannuel; < 
L. bix, twice, -f E. niiiiiinl, V.iinnucl."] Same as 
hit lltlidl. 
biscacha (bis-kach'ii). . Same as rixcarlin. 
biscalloped (bi-ekol'upt), n. [< hi-- + -,//- 
Infii-il.] Finished in or ornamented with two 
scallops ; liilolmte. 
Biscayan (bis'kii-an), n. and . [Formerly 
also Itixnin. Biskaine; < Itixnuj. Sp. \'i;citya. 
See /{.s-,/ci.| I. ,i. Pertaining to liiscay, one 
563 
of the three Basque provinces of Spain, or to its 
people. 
II. w. 1. A native or an inhabitant of Biscay. 
2. [/.<.] Milit.: (<i) A long anil heavy mus- 
ket, usually carried on a permanent pivot, for 
use on fortifications or the like. [Obsolete.] 
(6) A heavy bullet, usually of the size of an 
egg ; one of the separate balls of grape- or 
biscoctiform (bis-kok'ti-form), n. [< L. as if 
bixi-iM-tii.i, biscuit ((.bis, twice, + coctux, cooked : 
see biscuit), + forma, form.] In hot., biscuit- 
shaped : as, hixcoctiform spores. Tuckerman. 
biscornet, . Same as bictirn. 
biscotin (bis'ko-tin), n. [F., < It. hisnottino, 
dim. of bixi-ntto = F. biscuit: see biscuit."] A 
confection ma<le of flour, sugar, marmalade, 
and eggs; sweet biscuit. 
biscroma (bis'kro-ma), n. [It., < bis-, twice-, 
+ cronia, a quaver: see croma."] In music, a 
semiquaver; a sixteenth-note. 
biscuit (bis'kit), n. [Early mod. E. also bisket; 
< ME. bysket, biscute, bysquyte, besquite (= D. 
beschuit,' > Dan. brxkojt), < OF. brscoit, bcscuit, 
later biscut, F. liiscuit = Pr. bescucit = Sp. biz- 
nii'liH = Pg. biscouto = It. biscotto, lit. twice 
cooked, < L. bis, twice, + coctus, pp. of coquere, 
cook.] 1. A kind of hard, dry bread, consist- 
ing of flour, water or milk, and salt, and baked 
in thin flat cakes. The name is also extended 
to similar articles very variously made and fla- 
vored. See cracker. 
As dry as the remainder binciiit 
After a voyage. Mule., As you Like it. il. 7. 
2. A small, round, soft cake made from dough 
raised with yeast or soda, sometimes shortened 
with lard, etc. [U. S.] 3. In ceram., porce- 
lain, stoneware, or pottery after the first bak- 
ing, and before the application of the glaze. 
Formerly bisque.- Meat biscuit, a preparation con- 
sisting of the matter extracted from meat by boiling, com- 
bined with flour, and baked in the form of biscuits. 
biscuit-oven (bis'kit-uv'n), . In ceram., the 
oven used for the first baking of porcelain, 
bringing it to the state known as biscuit. 
biscuit-root (bis'kit-rot), n. A name given to 
several kinds of wild esculent roots which are 
extensively used for food by the Indians of the 
Columbia river region, especially to species of 
Camassia and Peucedanum. 
biscutate (bi-sku'tat), a. [< bi- 2 + scutate."] 
In hot., resembling two shields or bucklers 
placed side by side ; having parts 
of such a character. 
bisdiapason (bis*di-a-pa'zon), n. 
[< bis + diapason."] "In music, an 
interval of two octaves, or a fif- 
teenth. 
bise (bez), n. [F. : see Wee.] A 
dry cold north and northeast 
wind, prevailing especially in 
Provence and the Rhdne valley, 
and very destructive to vegeta- 
tion, so that " to bo struck by the 
bise" has become a proverb in 
Provence, meaning to be over- 
taken by misfortune: nearly the 
same as mistral. 
bisect (bi-sekf), v. t. [< L. bi-, 
two-, T sectus, pp. of secare, cut : 
see section."] To cut or divide into two parts; 
specifically, in geom., to cut or divide into two 
equal parts. One line bisectt another when it crosses 
it, leaving an equal part of the line on each side of the 
point of intersection. 
He exactly bisects the effect of our proposal. Gladttone. 
An inevitable dualism bisect* nature, so that each thing 
is a half, and suggests another thing to make it whole : as, 
spirit, matter ; man, woman. Emerson, Compensation. 
Bisecting dividers. See divider.- Bisecting gage. 
See gage. 
bisection (bi-sek'shpn), n. [< bisect, after sec- 
tion.} 1. The act of bisecting, or cutting or 
dividing into two parts ; specifically, the act of 
cutting into two equal parts ; the division of 
any line, angle, figure, or quantity into two equal 
parts. 2. One of two sections composing any- 
thing, or into which it may be divided: as, 
" one whole bisection of literature," De Quincey, 
Herodotus Bisection of the eccentricity, in at- 
tr<in.. a contrivance of the Ptolemaic system of astronomy 
by which tile center of the orliit of every superior planet 
and of Venus is placed midway between the earth and the 
center uf the eqnailt, 
bisectional (bi-sek'shon-al), a. Pertaining to 
or of the nature of bisection. 
bisectionally (bi-sek'shon-al-i), adr. By bisec- 
tion ; so as to bisect, or divide into two parts, 
especially equal parts. 
Biscutate Leaf 
( Diotiaa musfi- 
bishop 
bisector (W-sok'tor), . [M,., < L. W-, two-. 
+ victor (see xrrtiir): 1). us if < biicct 4- -r.j 
A line drawn through the vertex of a triangle 
so as to bisect 
either the oppo- 
site side (lnx-- 
tor of tin- xitlr) 
or the angle (bi- 
sector of till' Illl- 
i/li-, or in tit mil 
bisector), or to 
bisect the exter- 
nal angle form- 
ed by the adja- 
cent sides (<v- 
ternal hisiclur). 
Thus, In the figure, 
AT.r being the triangle, AD is the bisector of the side 
111- ; Ai: is the internal bisector, and AK the external bi- 
sector, of the angle A. 
bisectrix (bi-sek'triks), n.; pi. bisectrices (bl- 
sek-tri'sez). [NL., fern, of bisector : see bisec- 
tor."] 1. In crystal., the line which bisects the 
angle of the optic axes. That bisecting the acute 
angle is called the acute, bitei-trij-. tin- I'thrr is the obtu*e 
biwctrix. These are also called the jit-nt mean tine (or me- 
dian line) and the necond mean line respectively. The 
bisectrix, or mean line, is said to lie jmnitire or nrqatire, 
according to the character of the double refraction. Sen 
refraction. 
2. In geom., same as bisector Dispersion of 
the bisectrices. See dujierrion. 
bisegment (bi-seg'ment), n. [< 6i- 2 + sen- 
mint.'} One of the parts of a line which has 
been bisected, or divided into two equal parts. 
bisegmental (bi-seg-men'tal), a. [< W- 2 + 
xegment + -al.] Consisting of two segments. 
The btiettmcntal constitution of the region in question. 
Ji. tf. WiMrr. 
biseptate (bi-sep'tat), a. [< li- 2 + septum + 
-afei.] Having two septa or partitions. 
biserial (bl-se'ri-al), a. [< 6i-2 + serial.} Con- 
sisting of or arranged in two series or rows ; bi- 
farious ; distichous. Also biscriate. 
Thus we are led to the bixerial arrangement of the 
chain l>ers, which is characteristic of the Textularian group. 
W. R. Carpenter, Micros., { 457. 
Blaerial perianth, in but., a perianth consisting of both 
calyx and corolla. 
biserially (bi-se'ri-al-i), adv. In a biserial 
manner or order; in a double row. Also bi- 
scriatcly. 
The chambers are arranged biterialli/ along a straight 
axis. H . B. Carpenter, Slicros., 4S2. 
biseriate (bi-se'ri-at), a. [< W-2 + seriate."] 
Same as biserial. 
biseriately (bl-se'ri-at-li), adv. Same as 61- 
serially. 
The anterior tarsi of the males arc dilated and Wwri- 
ately sqiiamulose. Horn. 
biserrate (bi-ser'at), a. [< ^ W- 2 + serrate.'] 1. 
In bot., doubly serrate: said of leaves the ser- 
ratures of which are themselves serrate. 2. 
In / ntiim., having two small triangular teeth 
placed close together, like the teeth of a saw. 
[Rare.] Biserrate antennae, antennae in which the 
joints are compressed and triangular, each attached to the 
center of the base of the preceding one by one of iU points, 
so that both sides of the organ present a serrate outline. 
bisetigerous (bi-se-tii'e-rus), . [< W- 2 + se- 
tigeroux."] In entom., having two terminal setto 
or bristles ; bisetose. 
bisetose (bi-se'tos), a. [< W- 2 + setose."] In 
zool. and hot., furnished with two setas or bris- 
tle-like appendages. 
hisetous (bi-se'tus), a. Same as bisetose. 
bisette (bi-zef), n. [F. (cf. rnasc. biset, a rock- 
dove), coarse brown stuff, dim. of OF. bise, 
dark-brown or gray.] A narrow French lace. 
bisexed (bi'sekst), a. [< 6i- 2 + sex + -^d 2 .] 
Same as bisexual. 
bisexoust (bi-sek'sus), a. [< L. W-, two-, + 
seius, sex. Cf. bisexual."] Same as bisexual. 
Thus may we also concede that hares have been of both 
sexes, and some have ocularly confirmed it, but that the 
whole species or kind should Iw bitexou* we cannot af- 
firm. Sir T. Broirtte, Vulg. Err., ill. 17. 
bisexual (bi-sek'su-al\ a. [< W- 2 + sexual."] 
Having the organs of both sexes in one indi- 
vidual: of two sexes; hermaphrodite, in 6o<., 
said of nowers which contain l <th stamen and pistil with- 
in the same perianth, and of mosses having antheridia 
and archegonia in the same involucre ; syncecious. Also 
Mm*. 
bish, bishma (bish, bish'ma.). w. Same as bikh. 
bishop (bish'up), n. [< ME. bishop, bisshop, 
Inschop, oishtip, byshop, etc., < AS. biscop, btg- 
ceop = OFries. biskop = OS. biskop = D. his- 
t/chop = OHG. biscof, MHO. G. bischof= Icel. 
bixkup = Sw. bixko/i = Dan. biskop, bittp = It. 
recor = Sp. obix/m = 1'g. bisjiii = F'r. n'ukes = 
OF. cn-xi/iti; ri.ii/ in-, F. iri'ijin = (iael. nixbuig 
