bowsprit 
stay, the jib-stay, anil the flying-jilt stay (which extend 
downward from the foretopmast-head and the foretop- 
gallantniast-heacl to the ends of the bowsprit, jib-boom, 
and flying-jib boom) are set the foretopmast-staysail, the 
jib, and the flying jib. Corruptly written boltsi>rit. Bed 
of the bowsprit. See derfi. Bowsprit-cap, the cap on 
the outer end of the bowsprit, through which the jib-boom 
traverses. See cap. Running bowsprit, a bowsprit 
that can be runout and in like a jib-buinn. Standing 
bowsprit, a permanently fixed bowsprit. 
bowssenM, *' t. Same as booze. 
bowssen 2 t, * [< Corn, beuzi, immerse, drown.] 
To duck ; immerse (especially in a holy well, 
as for the cure of madness). See extract. 
The water fell into a close walled plot ; upon this wall 
was the frantick person set, and from thence tumbled 
headlong into the pond ; where a strong fellow tossed him 
up and down, until the patient, by foregoing his strength, 
had somewhat forgot his fury ; but if there appeared small 
amendment, he was bowaened again and again, while there 
remained in him any hope of life for recovery. 
R. Carew, Survey of Cornwall. 
bowstaff (bo'staf), . ; pi. bowstaves (-stayz). 
In archery, a selected and prepared piece of tim- 
ber for a bow; the bow in a rough state. Yew 
is the timber generally preferred, and prior to the use of 
gunpowder bowstaves were an important article of com- 
merce. 
bowstring (bo' string), n. [< 6oic 3 + string; cf. 
AS. bogen (for bogan, gen. of 60170) streng.'] 
1. The string of a bow, by which it is drawn 
and the arrow discharged. Bowstrings are made 
of many materials, a very common one being rawhide, 
which does not stretch easily. Bows from western Africa 
have the strings of twisted or plaited cane ; those of the 
Hindus are frequently of silk, not twisted, but of parallel 
threads bound together at intervals. 
2. A similar string used for strangling offend- 
ers in the Ottoman empire ; hence, by meton- 
ymy, execution by strangling. 
There was no difference whatever between the polity of 
our country and that of Turkey, and ... if the king did 
not . . . send mutes with bow-ittrings to Bancroft and Hali- 
fax, this was only because His Majesty was too gracious 
to use the whole power which he derived from heaven. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. 
bowstring (bo'string), v. t. [< bowstring, .] 
1. To furnish with a bowstring. 2. To stran- 
gle with a bowstring. 
bowstring-bridge (bo'string-brij), . Abridge 
in which the horizontal thrust of the arch is 
Bowstring-bridge, Howslett, England. 
sustained by a horizontal tie attached as nearly 
as possible at the chord-line of the arch. Also 
called tension-bridge. 
bowstring-girder (bo 'string-gender), . A 
cast- or wrought-iron or built-up girder, having 
a tie-rod that forms an integral part of it : much 
used in store-fronts, etc. See boiestring-brirlge. 
bOWSy, . Same as boozy. 
bowtt, n. See bout 1 . 
bowtell (bo'tel), n. Same as boltel. 
bow-timbers (bou'tim"berz), n. pi. Naut., the 
timbers that form the bow of a ship. 
bow-window (bo'win'do), n. A window built so 
as to project from a wall ; properly, one that is 
in plan a segment of a circle. See bay-window. 
bow-wiset (bo'wiz), adv. In the form or figure 
of a bow. Trevisa. 
bow-wood (bo'wud), n. 1. Wood used for 
making bows; timber suitable for bows. 2. 
The Osage orange, Madura aurantiaca, of the 
Mississippi valley. Its very strong and elastic wood 
was much used by the Indians for their bows. See Ma- 
dura. 
bow-WOW (bou'wou'), . [Early mod. E. also 
boiigh-wougn, botvgh-wawgli, baic-icuw, etc., imi- 
tative of the repeated bark of a dog; cf. L. bau- 
bari, Gr. /3a*fv, bark: see baw%, bawl 1 , etc.] 
The loud bark of a dog, or an imitation of it. 
Gone to the bow-wows, gone to rain ; utterly lost. 
[Colloci.] The bOW-WOW theory. See language. 
bowyer 1 (bo'yer), n. [Early mod. E. also bowier ; 
< ME. bowyere, bowgere, boicere, < boice, boge 
(see ftoro^, ,,.) ; + _ e ,. Ci _ er _ Th e y re p resen ts 
orig. g; so in sawyer, ult. < AS. saga, saw, and 
lawyer, ult. < AS. lagu, law. Cf. 6o?erT.] If. 
An archer; one who uses a bow: as, "the boir- 
i/er king," Dryden, Iliad, i. 648. 
They lay in earth their bowifer-chief. 
Bryant, Legend of the Delawares. 
2. One who makes bows. 
Good shooting may, perchance, be more occupied, to the 
profit of all boittyers and fletchers. Ascham, Toxophilus. 
bowyer 2 t, . Same as boyer. Skinner. 
bowze, bowzy. See booze, boozy. 
box 1 (boks), n. [< ME. box, < AS. box = D. bun 
(-boom, -tree) = OHG. MHG. Imlis (-bourn), G. 
648 
Imclis = Sw. bit* (-bom) = Dan. bux (-bom) = 
F. buis = Pr. bois = Sp. 6o.r = Pg. buxo = It. 
bosso, busso, < L. buxus = Gr. nvjof, box-trei>, 
boxwood; hence box 2 , q. v. Cf. box-tree.} A 
small evergreen tree or shrub, Buxus sempcr- 
rircns, a dwarfed variety of which is used for 
ornamental hedges, and in gardening as an 
edging for flower-beds. See Buxus and box- 
wood. African box, a name given to Myrnnr. Afrifinm. 
Marmalade box. Same as genipap. 
box 2 (boks), n. [< ME. box, < AS. box, a box, 
chest, = OHG. buhsu, MHG. biilise, G. buclise, a 
box, barrel of a gun, a gun, = MD. buise, buyse, 
a drinking-vessel (> prob. E. bouse 1 , q. v.), D. 
buis, a pipe, tube, channel, bus, a box, pot, bar- 
rel of a gun (cf. E. blunderbuss), bole, box of a 
coach, = MLG. lasse, a box, pipe, = Icel. byssa, 
a box, mod. a gun (the D., MLG., and Icel. forms 
have been affected by the F. forms : see boisfi), 
< L. buxus, buxum, anything made of boxwood 
(cf. Gr. irvi-if, a box, > E. pyx), < buxus = Gr. 
Tnfof, box-tree, boxwood: see box 1 . The forms 
in Rom. and Teut. are numerous and involved : 
see boist 1 , boost 3 , bush%, bushel, boss 2 , etc.] 1. 
A case or receptacle for articles or materials of 
any kind. When used absolutely, box usually signifies 
a rectangular case of wood with a lid or a removable 
cover, and with a clear inner space for storing or packing ; 
but for specific uses boxes are made of any adaptable ma- 
terial, and of any size or shape, or may consist of com- 
partments in a larger receptacle, with or without covers, 
or with permanent covers and top or side openings. 
Among such specific kinds are cash-boxes, bandboxes, 
pill-boxes, ballot-boxes, dice-boxes, the boxes in a print- 
ers' case, etc. For boxes known by other names, see 
chest and trunk. 
2. A money-chest, especially one in which 
money for some particular purpose is collected 
or kept : as, a poor-6ox ; a missionary^*. 
So manie moe, so everie one was used, 
That to give largely to the boxe refused. 
Spenser, Mother Hub. Tale, 1. 1224. 
3. The quantity that a box contains. 4. A 
receptacle under the driver's seat on a carriage ; 
hence, the seat itself. 
Where would you like to sit? In or out? Back to the 
horses or the front? Get you the box, if you like. 
Disraeli, The Young Duke. 
6. A package or case of presents, especially 
Christmas presents. ' 
Such a box as our prentices beg before Christmas. 
Cotgrave. 
6. A compartment or place shut or railed off for 
the accommodation of a small number of peo- 
ple in a public place, (a) A compartment in the 
common room of a tavern or other house of refreshment. 
(6) A seated compartment in a theater or other place of 
amusement: as, "the boxes and the pit," Dryden. (e) In 
courts of justice, the seats set apart for jurymen and the 
stand for witnesses. 
The whole machinery of the state, all the apparatus of 
the system, and its varied workings, end in simply bring- 
ing twelve good men into a box. 
Brougham, Present State of the Law, Feb. 7, 1828. 
(d) A separate compartment or a roomy stall for a horse 
in a stable or railroad-car. 
7. A place of shelter for one or two men en- 
gaged in the performance of certain duties: 
as, a sentry-box; a signalman's box. 8. A 
snug house ; a small country-house for tempo- 
rary use during the continuance of some sport, 
as of hunting : as, a shooting-6o.r. 
Let me keep a brace of hunters a cozy box a bit of 
land to it, and a girl after my own heart, and I'll cry quits 
with you. Bulwer, Pelham, Ixxvii. 
9. In mach. : (a) A cylindrical hollow iron in a 
wheel, in which the axle runs. (6) In a pump : 
(1) The cap covering the top of the pump. (2) 
A pump-bucket. (3) A hollow plunger with a 
lifting-valve. (4) A casing about a valve, (c) 
The pulley-case in a draw-loom on which rest 
the rollers that conduct the tail-cords, (d) 
The receptacle for a shuttle at the end of the 
lathe of a loom, (e) The socket for the screw 
in a screw-vise. (/) The opening into which 
the end of a rib-saw is wedged. 10. In carp., 
a trough for cutting miters. See miter-box. 
11. Naut., the space between the back-board 
and the stern-post of a boat, where the coxswain 
sits. 12. In. founding, the flask orframe which 
holds the sand. 13. The keeper into which 
the bolt of a lock enters in locking. Also called 
. the staple of the lock. 14. In a printers' case, 
the compartment for a single character: as, 
the n-box is empty; the comma-6or. 15. A 
battery for wild-fowl shooting; a sink-box. 
Antifriction box. See antifriction. Aquatic box. 
See<?rt(i'c. Hot box, a journal-box heated by the fric- 
tion of a rapidly revolving axle or arbor, as in a locomo- 
tive or railroad-car. 
A real American is not comfortable without a hot box 
occasionally in the course of a long journey. 
C. D. Warner, Roundabout Journey, p. 8. 
box-coil 
In a box, In a tight box, in a perplexing or embarrass- 
ing situation ; in a difficulty. In the (or a) wrong box, 
in an awkward situation ; mistaken. 
"Sir," quoth I, "if you will hear how St. Augustine ex- 
pounded that place, you shall perceive that you are in n 
iprony box." Ridley, Works, p. 163(1554). 
I perceive that you and I are in a wrong box. 
J. Udall, Diotrephes, p. 31. 
He'd soon rind himself in the wrong tuts with Surah Jane 
D , I warrant. G. A. Sala, The late Mr. D . 
Omnibus-box. See omnibus. Salting-box (milif..), a 
small box containing mealed powder which is sprinkled 
upon the fuses of shells that they may take flre from the 
blast of the powder in the chamber. 
box 2 (boks), v. t. [< btix'*, (.] 1. To place in 
a box; inclose as in a box ; confine ; hoard. 
Saving never ceased 
Till he had box'd up twelve score pounds at least. 
Crabbe, The Borough. 
2. To furnish with a box, as a wheel. 3. To 
make a hole or cut (in a tree) for the sap to col- 
lect : as, to box a maple. 4. Naut., to cause (a 
vessel) to turn short round on her heel by bra- 
cing the head-yards aback : sometimes followed 
by off : as, to box off a vessel. See haul. 5. 
To form into a box 'or the shape of a box: as, 
to box the scenes on a stage TO box the com- 
pass, to name the point* of the compass in their order ; 
nem'e, figuratively, to make a complete turn or round. 
box 3 (boks), n. [< ME. box, a blow, buffet 
(the verb is not found in ME.); supposed to 
be of Scand. origin: Dan. bask, a slap, blow, 
baske, strike, slap, thwack, but this is repre- 
sented in E. by bash^, q. v., while Sw. basa, beat, 
whip, flog, bas, a beating, is represented by 
baste 1 , q. v. Cf. MD. boke, early mod. D. beuk, 
MHG. hue, a blow, connected with the verb, 
MD. boken, MHG. bochen, strike, slap : see buck*. 
None of these forms suits the case; and it is 
most probable that the sense has originated in 
some particular use of 6ox 2 , n. or v."] If. A 
blow of any kind. 
The kyng castes up his schelde, and covers hym faire, 
And with his burlyche brande a box he hyme reaches. 
Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1111. 
2. A blow ; specifically, a blow on the head 
with the fist, or on the ear with the open hand. 
Give him a box, hard, hard, on his left ear. 
B. Jontson, Magnetick Lady, iii. 4. 
He represented to him very warmly that no gentleman 
could take a box on the ear. ..." I know that ; but this 
was not a box on the ear, it was only a slap o' the face." 
Lady M. W. Montagu, Letters, Jne 22, 1759. 
box 3 (boks), . [< bo* 3 , . Cf. F. boxer = D. 
boksen = LG. baaksen = Icel. byxa = Norw. 
baksa = Sw. baxa = Dan. baxe = G. baxen, boxen, 
all < E. boxZ.~\ I. trans. To beat; thrash; 
strike with the fist or hand ; especially, to strike 
on the ear or side of the head : as, " they 600; her 
about the ears," North, tr. of Plutarch, p. 115. 
By heaven ! a little thing would make me box you. 
Chapman, Gentleman Usher, iii. 1. 
II. intrans. To fight with the fists, whether 
bare or incased in boxing-gloves; combat with 
or as with the hands or fists. 
A leopard is like a cat, he boxes with his fore feet. 
iV. Grew. 
box-and-tap (boks'and-tap'), . An apparatus 
for cutting the wooden screws used for carpen- 
ters' benches, etc. 
box-barrow (boks'bar''6), . A large four- 
sided wheelbarrow for carrying bulky loads. 
box-beam (boks'bem), n. A hollow beam hav- 
ing sides of plate-iron united by angle-irons. 
box-bed (boks'bed), n. A boxed-in bed, or a 
bed that folds up in the form of a box. 
boxberry (boks'ber''i), . ; pi. boxberries (-iz). 
The wintergreen or checkerberry of North 
America, Ganltheria procumbeiis. 
box-car (boks'kar), H. An inclosed and cov- 
ered freight-car. 
box-coat (boks'kot), . 1. A heavy overcoat 
worn by coachmen. 2. Early in the present 
century, an overcoat with a cape, approximately 
of the ' form of the coachman's great-coat : in- 
tended originally for travelers on the outside of 
coaches. 
I shall believe it 
. . . when 1 shall 
see the traveller for 
some rich trades- 
man part with his 
admired box-coa-t, to 
spread it over the 
defenceless shoul- 
ders of the poor wo- 
man, etc. 
I. '/>i<l>. Modem 
IGallantry. 
box-coil (boks'- 
koil), n. A steam-heating apparatus consist- 
ing of a series of straight tubes connected by 
Box-coil with return bends. 
