bishop's-wort 
blshop's-wort (bish ' ups- \vcrt), ii. A name 
given to the do vil-in-a-busli, \i</i lln l>miitisrt mi, 
:iinl to bcliiny, Slui'lii/.i Hi tiii/i<-<i. 
bishop-weed, u. See / .//>/<'.< v/w. 
bisilicato (W-l'i-k4t), . [< hi-- + siiiaiti-. \ 
1. A salt formed by I lie union of a base anil a 
silicic acid containing two atoms of silicon. It 
may bo a bibasic or a polyliasic iiciil. 2. A 
salt of meinsilicic nci<l, HoSiOo. in which the 
ratio of oxygon atoms combined with tho base 
anil silicon respectively is as 1:2: for example, 
calcium motiisilicHtc itlie mineral wollaston- 
ite), CaSiO 3 or CaO.8iO 2 . 
bisiliquous' (M-dl'i-kwus), . [< hi-" + nili- 
i/iiniiit. ] In hot., having two noils. 
bisinuate 0>i -sin'u-at), . [< />/-- + sinuate.] 
In :<><>l., having two concave curves mooting in 
a convex curve: as, a liisiiuiuli 1 margin. 
bisinuatioil (bi-sin-u-a'shon), . [< bisiuuatc, 
nl'ler siiiiintioii.] In niliiin., the state of being 
liisinnale ; a iloublo curve on a margin. 
bisk', a. See bisque^. 
bisk-, bisque" (bisk), . [< F. bisque, odds at 
play, a fault at tennis; cf. It. liisca, a gaming- 
house; origin unknown.] Odds at tennis-play ; 
specifically, a stroke allowed to the weaker 
player to equalize the parties. 
bisk :t (bisk), . Same as liilcli. 
biskett (bis'ket), ii. A fonner spelling of bis- 
cuit. 
Biskra bouton, Biskra button. Same as Alep- 
iir> nlrrr (which see, under ulcer). 
bismar, . See bisuier%. 
Bismarck brown. See brown. 
bismet, An apheretic form of abixnie. 
bismerH, . [ME., also bismar, bisemer, etc.; < 
AS. lilxmt-r, bismor (= OS. bismer = OHG. bi- 
mnir, reproach, opprobrium, derision, abuse), 
< hi- (accented), by, + -smer, perhaps con- 
nected with MHG. SHiicrcn, smile, AH.amercian, 
E. smirk, and nit. with E. smile, hence orig. a 
laughing at, ridicule. Hence the verb bismeri- 
an,bixiiiriini, reproach, deride, abuse.] 1. Abu- 
sive speech: as, "bakbitynge and bismer," 
Piers rioirmitn (B), v. 89. 
Kill of linker, ami of ItixHfnutrt: 
1'liiiiift'i; Reeve's Tale, 1. 4f>. 
2. A person worthy of seom. 
bismer-, bismar (bis'mer, -mar), 11. [Also writ- 
ten bi/smn; bismort; sometimes bi/tsimar; < Icel. 
hisinari = OSw. bismare, Sw. bemnau = Dan. bw- 
mcr = MI). /itHi'iHii- Mljli. licnaiter, bisenter, a 
steelyard, balance ; < Lett, besmens, besmeiv, 
l.illi. beziiieiiax, HUSH, bameiiu, Pol. be-inian, a 
balance.] A balance or steelyard used in the 
northeast of Scotland, and in the Orkney and 
Shetland islands. 
bismer 3 (bis'mer), ii. [Origin uncertain.] The 
name in tho Orkney islands of the sea-stickle- 
back, Spiimehia nili/aris. 
bismerpund (bis'mer-pond), ii. [Dan., < bis- 
mrr, a steelyard, -t- pitud = E. pound.] A 
weight used in Denmark, equal to 6 kilograms 
precisely, or 13 pounds 3J ounces avoirdu- 
pois. It was formerly ono three-hundredth part 
less. 
bismillah (bis-mil'ii), iuterj. [Turk. Ar. fci- 
'sni-illah, in tho name of Allah: see Allah.] In 
God's name: an adjuration or exclamation 
common among Moslems. Sometimes written 
lii:irHnli. 
bismite (bi/.'mit), . [< bism(utli) + -i> 2 .] 
Native oxid of bismuth, or bismuth ocher. 
bismore (bis'mor), i. Same as bismer 2 . 
bismuth (bi/'muth), ii. [= P. bismuth, < G. 
bismuth, now commonly icisiinit, irismuth, orig. 
irissmiit/i : of mod. (17th century) but unknown 
origin.] Chemical symbol, Bi; atomic weight, 
208; specific gravity, 9.6 to 9.8. A metal of a 
peculiar light-reddish color, highly crystalline, 
and so brittle that it can be pulverized, its cry* 
tallinc form is rhonihohedral, closely approximating that. 
of the cube. It "rciirs native ill imperfect crystallizations, 
nliform shapes, ami disseminated particles, in the crystal- 
line rucks ; also as a stilphurct, and in coinliination with 
tellurium ami some other metals, anil in various oxidized 
comhiiiiitii.n-. Ill-' native metal and the carbonate (ln~ 
inutile) arc tlie chief important sources of the bismuth of 
commerce. I'ntil recently, almost the entire supply of 
the metal came from Scbnwberg in Saxony, when- it oc- 
cars in ronihination with ores nt colialt, arsenic, and sil- 
ver. Nearly all the liismnth of commerce contain* .it 
least a trace ot" M!\,T. iMsinnth is a remarkable metal in 
that its -pcciHc uravitj is dilninisheil, instead of In-ill^ in 
creased, by pressure. It is the most dlanugnetio of the 
iiii'taK It m-i's :it a r< miji.'irativelv low temperature 
i. and is volalili/ed at a white heat. Alloys of bis- 
muth with tin and lead fuse at a tempi ratnre consideralih 
less than that of boiling water. (See .V- /rlmi * and /,'" * 
iHftal*. under metal.) Alloys of the same mct.iK with 
the addition oi i adiiiinm fuse at still lower temperatures ; 
565 
one prepared by Llpowltz remains perfectly fluid At 140*. 
These alloys have been used to some extent for cliches and 
for atereotyphiK, but are now- of little practical iiiipm 
tancu. The chief uses o( higmntli an- as a medicine and an a 
ro- MII tic. For these pur|x>cs it is prepared in the form of 
the snbnitratc called in thcnld pharmaceutical language 
niftytKf't <">,/ i*,,itrtlii. The cosmetic, in jireparinu which 
the basic chlorid has also bci-u employeU, is known as 
pearl-powder or blanc d*Bntfne. r.ismuth haft of Inte 
years l>eeii much experimented with as a possible com po 
in-lit of useful alloys, for several of which patents have 
been Issued ; but no one of these alloys Is known to have 
rr. in., into -i ni I'.il ii-c. I'.ismiith has also been used to a 
limited extent in the manufacture of highly refractive 
Klass, and of strass (which see). It is used with antimony 
In the thermo-electric pile or battery. (Sec thermo^Ue- 
ifii-iti/.) It has also bcyini to lie used to some extent In 
the manufacture of pm vdaiii. for the purpose of fctving to 
its surface a peculiar colorless, Irised luster, which can 
also be had of various colors when other metals are u-i <! 
in combination with the bismuth. This metal is one for 
which the demand is extremely Huctiiatini;, hut on the 
whole increasing; and. as its ores have now hen- U-en dis- 
covered in large quantity, its price has been more variable 
than that of any other metal, with the possible exception 
of nickel, running between .">.'> cents and !*5 a pound. The 
total consumption of the metal Is probably between :'. ."> 
and 50 tons a year, and it comes chiefly from the i'.iv.- 
gfhirge (Iwtween Saxony anil Bohemia), France, South 
\nh rica, and New South Wales. It was called by tin al 
chemists, while in their uncertain condition of knowledge 
as to its nature, by various names, as marauila anjenlm, 
piiuubiuii '"('/. mit. gtannnin ciitfreum, etc. ; also called 
formerly in French rinin tie <ilai-r. corrupted in English 
into lin-i/lotxe. Bismuth-blende, the mineral eiilytitc 
(which see). Bismuth-glance, an ore of Iiismuth. rri* 
::,!,, h!*niiitli-<iluiu:i- is a sulphid of bismuth or bfsmuth- 
inite, and aficular liitninHi-iflnnre is the same as nfeill-' 
ore or aikinitf. Blsmutn ocher, the mineral bismite.- 
Bismuth silver. See nymtoMm nif. - Butter of bis- 
muth, an old name for the uhlorid of bismuth. Flowers 
of bismuth, a yellow-colored oxid formed by the subli- 
mation of bismuth.-- Magistery of bismuth, the snimi- 
trate or basic nitrate ofbisniuth. Telluric bismuth, 
the mineral tetradymtte. 
bismuthal (biz'muth-al), a. [< bigmuth + -al.~\ 
Pertaining to or composed of bismuth. 
bismuthic (biz'muth-ik), . [< bismuth + -ic.] 
Of bismuth: as, bijoniithif oxid and biftiniitltic 
acid. 
bismuthid (biz'muth-id), n. [< bismuth + -iV/ 2 .] 
An alloy of bismuth with another metal. 
bismuttiiferous (biz-muth-if'e-rus), . [< bis- 
muth + -i-feroHS.'] Containing bismuth. 
Bitnml hifcriMs calcium carlwuatc yields only a violet 
fluorescence, differing little from that produced without 
the bismuth. Sci. Amrr. Supp., XXII. MSI. 
bismuthin, bismuthine (biz'muth-in), . [< 
bixiinith + -in a , -lnA] See bismiitliiiiilc. 
bismuthinite (bix,-muth'i-nit), w. [< bismutlt- 
In + -i7<> 2 .] Native bismuth sulphid, a mine- 
ral of a lead-gray color and metallic luster oc- 
curring in acicular crystals, also massive, with 
a foliated or fibrous structure. It resembles 
stibnite, with which it is isomorphous. 
bismuthite, . See bismutite. 
bismuthous (biz'muth-us), a. [< bismuth + 
-OH.] In client., combined with bismuth as a 
triad: as, biswuthou.i oxid, Bi 2 Oa. 
bismutite, bismuthite (biz'mut-it, -muth-it), 
n. [< bismuth + -/7<- 2 .] A hydrous carbonate 
of bismuth. 
bismutosphaerite (biz'mut-o-sfe'rit), . [< bix- 
mitth + (Jr. o-^a/)o, sphere, +'-if 2 .] Anhydrous 
bismuth carbonate (Bi 2 Cp5), sometimes occur- 
ring in spherical forms with radiated structure. 
bisogniot, bisognot (bi-so'nyo), n. [Also writ- 
ten besognio, bfssnync, bessogno, bczoian, etc. ; 
< It. bixogno, need, a needy fellow, beggar.] A 
person of low rank ; a beggar. 
Spurn'il out by grooms like a Iwse Umann. 
CAff;>ma, Widow's Tears, i. 4. 
Heat the />.>*'//.> that Ho hid in the carriages, finnnr. 
He that would refuse to swallow a dozen healths on 
such an evening, is a base besomtin, and a puckfoist, and 
shall swallow six inches of my dagger. 
Xi-i-tt. Kcnilworth, I. xviil. 
bison (bi'son), . [=r D. bison = G. bison = Sw. 
bison = Dan. biaon (-oxc), < F. bison = Pr. l>i:oii 
= Sp. bisoiite = Pg. bisSo = It. binsonte, < L. 
bison(t-) (first in Pliny and Seneca), > Gr. 
ftiaiM (in Pausanias) ; prob. from OTeut. : cf. 
OHG. irisHiit, irixinit. iiixiiit, MHG. G. irixmt 
= Icel. (perhaps borrowed) risuntlr, bison, = 
AS. ircxeiHl, a wild ox; origin uncertain.] 1. 
The aurochs, or bonasus, a European wild ox : 
hence applied to several similar animals, re- 
cent and extinct. 2. Biaon or Bos americiiniix. 
improperly called the buffalo, an animal which 
formerly ranged over most of the United States 
and much of British America in countless num- 
bers, now reduced to probably a few thousands, 
and apparently soon to become extinct as a wild 
animal. It formerly extended into some of the Atlantic 
States, as Virginia : the contraction of the area of its habi- 
tat and the reduction of its numbers have pine on steadily 
with tlft advance of Knropeau occupation ; the construc- 
tion of the Union racinc railroad cut the great herd In 
bissextile 
two, leaving a wnithern r Texan hcnl, rhlefly In tho re- 
I the Stftki-il I'liHH-.. ;niil .1 n'.rllnTii nr VfllowKtnnr 
Ml- "irinkatrllruitii lirnf. in tin- iT-jntl '( tllf ll]i|HT MlMOllri 
:iinl nnrttiwitnl. 'I'll* 1 ;miin;il r< MnUH tfat ftBKNdW (wU< I' 
M-I-), hut i* r..Mi<lrr:il>!y 'in:ill i : (In- hump in very hiuli 
and large; the himt piartci's an- Mylit ; the tail f-* atN>ut 
--fife 
American Blww ( RtrfM ttmtricnnw). 
2fi inches loin:, ending in a wisp of hairs of aliout 6 Inches 
additional ; the horns, .-]. cially in the male, are short, 
thick, and much curved ; the head is carried very low; the 
long shaggy hair of the fore parts sometimes sweeps the 
ground ; the -olor is blackish in fresh pelages, more brown 
or gray in worn ones and In aged individuals; the calves 
are reddish. Formerly the hair-covered skins were much 
used as rolies. but only the cows were killed for them. 
the hides of the hulls being not easily manageable. In 
summer, after shedding its hair, the animal is nearly 
naked. 
3. [cap.} [NL.] A genus or subgenus of the 
family Jioridtr, including the aurochs, R. botia- 
sus (see cut under aurochs), the American bi- 
son, B. amcricanus, and several related fossil 
species, as B. Intifrons. 
bisonant (bi'so-nant), n. [< bi-" + sonant. Cf. 
LL. bisoiiHs, sounding twice.] Having two 
sounds, as an alphabetical letter. 
bisontine (bi'son-tin), n. [< NL. bisontinus, < L. 
bison(t-), bispii.] Bison-like; related to or re- 
sembling a bison ; belonging to the genus Bison. 
bispherical (bi-sfer'i-kal), a. [< 6t- 2 + spheri- 
cal.] Composed of two spheres. 
The second form (of Schizoptiyttv] is bixpherical: the 
spherical cell has grown and become contracted, or In- 
dented in the middle, forming two united granules. 
ftfirnrt. III. 157. 
bispinose (bi-spi'nos), a, [< fci- 2 + spinose.] 
In zool. and bot., having two spines. Bispinose 
elytra, in rnlnni., those having each two apical, spine-like 
processes. 
bispinous (bi-spi'nus), a. [< W- 2 + sjriiiotis.] 
Same as bispinosf. 
bispiral (bi-spi'ral), a. [< 6i- 2 + siriral.] Con- 
taining two spiral fibers ; doubly spiral : ap- 
plied to the elaters of some Hepaliete. 
bispore (bi'spor), . [< bi- 2 + spore.] One of 
a pair of spores formed by the division of a 
vegetative cell in red alga?, F/oritlea'. It is the 
same as a tetraspore, except as regards num- 
ber. See tetraspore. 
bisporous (bi-spo'rus), a. [< bi-- + spot-aits.] 
Containing or bearing two spores. 
bisque 1 (bisk), w. [See biscuit.'] In ceram.: (a) 
Formerly, same as biscuit, 3. (b) A variety of 
unglazed white porcelain used for statuettes 
and other small figures. 
bisque 2 (bisk), . [F., crawfish soup; origin 
unknown.] In cookery, a soup made of meat or 
fish slowly stewed until all the strength is ex- 
tracted, and thickened with finely minced or 
shredded forcemeat ; specifically, such a soup 
made from crabs, crawfish, shrimps, and the 
like. Also spelled bisk. 
bisque-*, . See 6iA- 2 . 
bissabol (bis'a-bol), n. Same as besahol. 
bisse 1 (bis), ii. [< OF. bisse, aii adder.] In 
her., a snake borne as a charge. 
bisse 2 (bis), . [E. Ind.] A weight used in 
Pondicherry, a French possession in India. It 
is exactly '2'j French pounds, or about 3 pounds 
2 ounces avoirdupois. 
bisselt, ' A variant of bez;le. 
bissemaret, . An unusual Middle English 
form of buimcrl. 
bissett, n. Same as biwttf. [Scotch.] 
bissez (bis'seks). ii. [< L. bis, twice, + ser = 
E. six.] A musical instrument of the guitar 
kind having twelve strings, the pitch of the up- 
per six of which could be altered by stopping 
on frets. It was invented in 1770, but never 
extensively used. 
bisseitt, . [< ME. bisext, < L. bisrjctus. 
tn.t (se. ilie, day), an intercalary day, <W-, bis, 
twice, + sextus = E. sixth : so called because 
the sixth day before the calends of March was 
reckoned tirice in every fourth year. See bis- 
sistux.] The intercalary day in leap-year. 
bisseztile (bi-seks'til), . and . [<'ML. bif- 
su-tiliit, bisextitin (sc. annus, year), leap-year, < 
L. bisextus, bissextiis : see bissext.] I. a. Con- 
taining the bissextus or intercalary day: ap- 
