blacking 
dcred charcoal, with which cores and loara- 
iiinlils are coated, to give tin- requisite smooth- 
ness to the surfaces which conic into contact 
with the incited metal. Brass blacking, 11 dead- 
blac.k uriiUllll -ntal sill-lace for I ,,11 Itrasa-Wiirk. It is 
made by pllltlKiim the hl:i - into :i mixture if ;i strong In 
liltiuli of nilr.it'- id' silver w ilh ;i solution of nitrate of cop 
pt-r. iinil heathi'.: it. nftiT Vtthdnwal, until tin- desired 
depth of color is ol.lain. d. 
blackish (lilak'ish), (i. [<Nacfc + -A1.] Some- 
what black; moderately black or dark. 
Mcuin to !,, .* i/i. ll,JI,ii,,l.\r.,,\ I'lim ri. 1:1 
black-jack (blak'jak), . 1. A capacious drink- 
ing-cup or can formerly 
made of waxed leather, 
but, now of thin metal, 
i he outside being ja- 
panned black, except 
the edge, which is left 
bright, in imitation of 
the ancient leathern 
black-jacks with silver 
rims. 
Then! 1 * a Dead-sea of 
drink in the cellar, in which 
goodly vessels lie wrecked ; 
and in the middle of this i.catbem Biack-j.icks. 
deluge appear the tops of 
Mucous and ttlark-iack*, like churches drowned in the 
marshes. Rtan. antl AV., .Scornful Lady, 11. _'. 
2. The ensign of a pirate. 3. A Cornish miners' 
term for the common ferruginous zinc sulphid, 
of which the inineralogical name is sjihalerite, 
and the common name blende. Also called false 
!/nli IKI. 4. Caramel or burnt sugar used for 
coloring spirits, vinegar, coffee, etc. 5. A 
trade-name for adulterated butter. 6. A local 
English name of the coalfish, I'ollachius virens. 
7. A common name in the United States for 
a species of oak, Quercitx niyra, and also, in the 
Gulf States, for Q. Catesbm, small trees of little 
value except for fuel. 8. The larva of a saw- 
fly, Atlnilin cciitifulia or A. spinarum, one of the 
Ti-iithrcdiniilir, destructive to turnips. Also 
called niyyer. /. <>. ll'rstirood. [Local British.] 
9. A kind of hand-weapon consisting of a 
short elastic shaft having at one end a neavy 
metal head cased in netting, leather, etc. 
black-knot (blak'not), . 1. A fast knot: op- 
posed to ruiiHiiiii-knot. 2. A species of pyre- 
nornycetous fungus, Sphteria morbosa, which at- 
tacks plum-trees and some varieties of cherry, 
forming large, black, knot-like masses upon 
the branches. 
black-lead (blak'led'), . 1. Amorphous gra- 
phite; plumbago. See graphite . (Black-leail U a 
misnomer, ;is the mineral contains no lead.) 
2. A pencil made of graphite. 
Sir, I have ben bold to note places with my black-leade, 
. . . and peradventnre some expressions may be advan- 
tageously altered at your leasure. 
Krrliin. Letter to Mr. E. Thurland. 
blacklead (blak'led'), r. f. [< Mack-lead, .] 
To cover with plumbago or black-lead; apply 
black-lead to. 
The deposit would not spread over a black-leadrd sinta. -e 
in the liquid. (J. Gore, Electro-Metall., p. 112. 
Blackleading-machlne, an apparatus for applying pow- 
ilered graphite to the surface of stereo molds previous tt> 
coiitinn them with copper. 
blackleg (blak'leg), . [< black + le ; >. The 
allusion in def. 3 is not clear; some suppose 
the term was orig. applied to racing men who 
wore black top-boots. The term black is now 
understood in an opprobrious sense ; cf. black- 
</<'</.] 1. A disease in cattle and sheep which 
affects the legs; symptomatic anthrax. See 
anthrajf. 2. A severe form of purpura. 3. 
One who systematically tries to gain money 
fraudulently in connection with races, or with 
cards, billiards, or other games; a rook; a 
swindler. The term implies the habitual frequcntim: 
of pliti r^ \\ here wafers are maile and yames of chance are 
played, anil the seeking of subsistence by dishonorable let- 
ting. but does not always imply direct cheating. Some- 
times i ontracted to /. <i. 
4. Same as Muck-nob. 
The poliee were us, ,1 t,. watch the strikers ur to protect 
the Wfi<-i--/<- : /v. as those are called who work outside the 
Union movement It. '. l/int,,n. Kill;. Had. Leaders, p. 333. 
blacklegism (blak'leg-i/.m), ii. |< Mackli-n + 
-ixiii.] The profession or practices of a black- 
leg; cheating; swindling, limtliifx Mini. 
black-letter (blak'let en, . and '. I. n. \ 
name now given to the Gothic or Old English 
letter, whicli was introduced into Kngland about 
the middle of the fourteenth century, and was 
the character generally used in manuscripts and 
in the tirst printed books. It is still, with vari- 
ous modilications. in common use in Germany. 
(Chis is blacfc-lrttiT. 
573 
II. a. Written or printed in black-letter: 
as, a lilnck-li tti r manuscript or book. Black- 
letter day, any da> inscribed in the ancient calendars in 
black letter t>pe. ;LS distinguished from the more im|<or 
tant, wlii' ti were entered in led letter; hence, a holy day 
of all Interim-dial ucler and dignity ; an inauspicious day, 
.i- M|I| .1 t... a - 'I l-'ll' > or anspi'-iniis day. 
black-liquor (blak'lik'or), . A crude acetate 
of iron prepared from scrap-iron and crude 
acetic acid, very generally used in dyeing as a 
mordant instead of green copperas. 
black-list (blak'list), ii. 1. A list of default- 
ers: specifically applied to printed lists of in- 
solvents and bankrupts, published officially. 
Private lists, however, of a more -can-hint; eliara. 1 
furnished by certain societies and private Individual- t 
-lib-, ribcrs.' with the view of affording protection against 
i-ad debts, frauds, etc. 
2. Any list of persons who are for any reason 
deemed objectionable by the makers or u-er> 
of the list, as for political or social miscon- 
duct, for joining in or assisting a strike, etc. 
3. Xaut., a list kept on board a man-of-war of 
delinquents to whom extra duty is assigned as 
a punishment. 
blacklist (blak'list), r. t. [< black-list, .] To 
place on a black-list, 
blackly (blak'li), a<lr. With a black or dark 
appearance; darkly; atrociously. 
l.astlj stood Warn-, in u'littcrinu arm- yclild, 
With visage grim, sterne looks, ami Harkrlii hewed. 
Sackvitlt, Ind. to Mir. for Mags. 
Deeds so blackly grim and horrid. 
FtUhavt, Resolves, II. 31. 
black-mackt, . [Early mod. E. ; < black + 
mack (uncertain).] A blackbird. 
blackmail (blak'mal), n. [Lit. black rent (cf. 
black rent, under black); < black + mail, rent: 
see mail 3 .] 1. A tribute of money, corn, cat- 
tle, or the like, anciently paid, in the north of 
England and in Scotland, to men who were al- 
lied with robbers, to secure protection from 
pillage. Blackmail was levied in the districts bordering 
the Highlands of Scotland till the middle of the eighteenth 
century. 
Hence 2. Extortion in any mode by means 
of intimidation, as the extortion of money by 
threats of accusation or exposure, or of unfa- 
vorable criticism in the press. It usually implies 
that the payment is involuntary, and the ground for de- 
manding it unlawful or pretended and fraudulent. 
3f. Kent paid in produce, or in baser money, 
in opposition to rent paid in silver. 
blackmail (blak'mal), v. t. [< blackmail, .] 
To extort money or goods from, by means of 
intimidation or threats of injury of any kind, 
as exposure of actual or supposed wrong-doing, 
etc. See the noun. 
black-match (blak'mach), . Same as amadou. 
blackmoort (blak'mor), w. Same as blacka- 
moor. Beau, and Ft. 
black-moss (blak'mos), w. The Spanish moss, 
Tillandsia mneoides, of the southern United 
States : so called from the black fiber that re- 
mains after the outer covering of the stem is 
removed. It is used as a substitute for horse- 
hair in mattresses, etc. 
blackmouth (blak'mouth), ii. A foul-mouthed 
person ; a slanderer. [Kare.] 
blackmouthed (blak'moutht), a. Slanderous; 
calumnious ; foul-mouthed. 
Whatever else the most Itlack-tuouth'tl atheists charged 
it with. KUliHybeck, Sermons, p. 118. 
black-mullet (blak'mul'et), . A local name 
about Chesapeake Bay of a sciseuoid fish, Men- 
ticirrn.t iirbulonus. See cut under kingfish. 
black-neb (blak'neb), H. 1. A name of the 
carrion-crow. 2f. A person accused of sympa- 
thy with the principles of the French Revolu- 
tion ; a democrat. [Scotch.] 
Little did I imagine tliat I was giving cause for many to 
think me an enemy to the king ami uovernment. Kilt so 
it was Many of the heritors considered me a black-nrb, 
though I knew it not. Ualt, Annals of the Parish, p. 388. 
blackness (blak'ues), n. [< black + -nenn.1 
1. The quality of beiug black; black color; 
darkness. 
His faults, in him. seem as the spots of heaven, 
More tlery by night's Matltnnu. Shale., A. amlC., i. 4. 
Illiifkiifsn as a solid wall. Tenniimn, 1'alace of Art. 
2. Moral darkness; atrocity or enormity in 
wickedness. 
n, i a world of light and beauty 
*V11 the MwftMM "f his crime. 
Wltittier, Slave Ship. 
black-nob iblak'nob). ii. An opprobrious name 
given in Kiighind by trades-unionists to a work- 
man who is not a member of a trades-union; a 
knobstick. Also called blackleg. 
black-snake 
Report* Were sill. milled tr-im III'- \arioll* workfl, which 
slio. d that all tbe men einpl"\ed h\ UK iron companies 
were on strike, with the -\' .],(!- i ' not/*. 
newspaper). 
black-peopled iblak'pe'pld). . Inhabited by 
black person*: as. lilm-l. -/. o/iWempire,' 1 .San- 
</./.-. Christ's I'jission. 
black-pigment (Mak' pi^' merit j. ,/. A fine, 
light, carlionacenii* substance, or lampblack, 
prepared idi ielly fort he manufacture of print ers' 
ink. It is obtained by burning common coal-tar. 
black-plate (bUk'pwt), . siieet-inm plate 
before it is tinned. 
black-pot (blak'pot), . It. A beer-mug; 
hence, a toper. 2. The name given in Knu'- 
to a variety of crockery made in Denmark. 
It la exposed while burning to a \ery i>troii({ and dense 
smoke, which penetrates its substance and answer* the 
purpose of ghi/.ing. Such pots are cheap and wholeiome 
cooking-vessels, having none of the Inconveniences of 
Kad-i;la/ed u:i|e. 
black-pudding (blak'piid'ing), H. A kind of 
sausage made of blood ami suet, seasoned with 
salt, pepper, onions, etc., sometimes with the 
addition of a little oatmeal. Also called blooil- 
IIKtltlilll/. 
black-quarter (blak'kwar'ter), H. [< black + 
quarter, the shoulder.] A disease in animals; 
symptomatic anthrax. See anthrax. 
black-rpd (blak'rod), . In England, the usher 
belonging to the order of the Garter, more 
fully styled gentleman usher of the black rod: 
so called from the black rod which he carries. 
He U of the king's chamber and usher of Parliament. His 
deputy is styled the yeoman usher. They are the otllcial 
messengers of the House of Lords ; and either the gentle. 
man or the yeoman usher summons the Commons to tin- 
House of Lords when the royal assent is given to Mils, 
and also executes orders for the commitment of persons 
guilty of breach of privilege and contempt. The name is 
also given to similar functionaries In the legislatures of 
the Dominion of Canada and other British colonies. 
black-root (blak'rdt), n. 1. Culver's root or 
Culver's physic, feronica Viryimca. 2. Pterii- 
caulon pycnostachyum, a perennial herbaceous 
composite plant of the pine-barrens of the 
southern United States. 
black-salter (blak'sal'ter), N. One who makes 
black-salts. 
black-salts (blak'salts), w. )il. Wood-ashes 
after they have been lixiviated and the so- 
lution has been evaporated until the mass has 
become black. [U. S.] 
black-sampson (blak'samp'son), M. A popu- 
lar name in the United States for the species 
of Echinacea, the thick black roots of which 
were formerly supposed to have powerful me- 
dicinal virtues. 
blackseed (blak'sed), ti. The nonesuch, J/frfi- 
eayit lupulina : so called from its black, seed- 
like pods. 
black-shell (blak'shel), w. A univalve shell 
of the family Haliotidte, inhabiting the Pacific 
ocean. See extract. 
The black-thill ... is so called localise, when polished, 
it throws out a very dark shade, full, however, of beauti- 
ful rainbow tints exquisitely blended. 
M. S. LauxM, British Edible Mollusca, p. 182. 
blacksize (blak'siz), r. t.; pret. and pp. blaet- 
sizcd, ppr. blacknizi>uj. In leatttcr-tcorking, to 
cover with a coat of stiff size and tallow. The 
size is laid ou with a soft brush or sjHmge, ami the leather 
is then well rubbed with a glass slicker, after which it 
receives a final gloss from a little thhi size applied with a 
blacksmith (blak'smith), . [< late ME. black- 
smith, < Mark (in ref. to iron or black metal) 
+ smith. Cf. whitesmith.] 1. A smith who 
works in iron and makes iron utensils ; an 
ironsmith ; especially, in the United States, one 
who makes horseshoes and shoes horses. 2. 
[A translation of a native name.] In ornith., 
a name of the bare-necked bell-bird of Bra- 
zil, Ckagmorhynchux iiuilicullis. 3. In iclith., a 
pomacentroid fish, Chromis i>iini-tiiiiiini.t. hav- 
ing conical teeth in two or more rows in each 
jaw, a blackish color with violet luster above 
relieved by greenish edgings of some of the 
scales, and bluish-black tins with small brown 
spots. It is not uncommon along the southern 
coast <>f California. 
blacksmithing (blak'smith'ing), H. [< black- 
xiu ith + -'.</'. ] The trade or process of work- 
ing in iron. 
black-snake (blak'snak'), w. 1. A name of 
various serpents of a more or less black color. 
The most noteworthy are: <u) \ s.-l|K-nt. /,W.<.-<imV,,i IIIM- 
>tii,-t,,f.tif the (amih C,iti>lifi,l,r,t,t black color, not \cn 
onions, but attaining a larire si/e. and |*issessini: ureat 
strength and agilit). M> that it is capable of exerting much 
..... istnetm- force. It climlis trets ca-ih. i> oiu-n I! feet 
ill length, and is common in the I idled States east of the 
\li--i--ip pi si.me other relate. I spe, ies receive the same 
name. ((/) A colubroid snake, Cvlubtr obtolettu, differing 
