brachiferous 
brachiferous (bra-kif'e-rus), . [< L. bntchia, 
pi. of brachium, bracchium, arm, + fcrre = E. 
bear 1 .] Bearing brachia: applied to the sub- 
umbrellar disk of Discophora (which see). 
Brachiferous disk. See extract. 
In most of the Khizostonridie, not only do the edges of 
the lips unite, but the opposite walls of the hydranth be- 
neath the umbrella are, as it were, pushed in, so as to form 
four chambers, the walls of which unite, become perforated, 
and thus give rise to a sub-umbrellar cavity, with a roof 
formed by the umbrella, and a floor, the brachiferonif disk, 
suspended by four pillars. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 125. 
Brachina (bra-ki'nji), . [NL., < L. braclmim, 
bracchium, arm, + -ina^.] A supposed larval 
stage of a starfish, as an Asteracanthion : a 
name given, like Bipiimaria and Brachiolaria, 
under the impression that the organism was a 
distinct animal. 
Brachinidse (bra-kin'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Bra- 
chinus + -ido3.] A family of adephagous bee- 
tles, typified by the genus Brachimis: now 
merged in Carabidai. Also Brachinida and 
Braehinides. 
Brachininae (brak-i-ni'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Bra- 
chinus + -/.] The bombardier-beetles as a 
subfamily of Cambidce. 
Brachinus (bra-ki'nus), n. [NL., so named in 
reference to the shortness of the wing-cases ; 
< Gr. flpaxvc, short.] A genus of adephagous 
beetles, of the family Carabidce, sometimes giv- 
ing name to a family Brachinida!. They are 
the bombardier-beetles, of which B. crepitans is 
an example. See cut under bombardier-beetle. 
brachiocephalic (brak"i-o-se-fal'ik or -sef'a- 
lik), a. [< L. brachium, 'dracchium (Gr. ppaxi- 
uv), arm, + Gr. nntycM/, head, + -ic."] In anat., 
of or pertaining both to the upper arm and to 
the head : as, the brachiocephalic (innominate) 
artery and veins. 
Brachiolaria (brak*i-o-la'ri-a), n. [NL., < L. 
brachiolmn, dim. of brachium, bracchium, arm, 
+ -aria. Cf. Brachina.] The larva of a star- 
fish : a name given by Leuekart under the erro- 
neous impression that it was a distinct animal. 
See Bipinnaria. 
Brachionichthyinae (brak // i-o-nik-thi-i'ne), n. 
pi. [NL., < Brachionichthys 4- -4nce.] In Gill's 
classification of fishes, a subfamily of Antenna- 
riidas, with the rostral spine or tentacle and two 
robust spines developed, the second dorsal well 
developed, the body oblongoclavif orm, and the 
pelvic bones short. 
brachionichthyine (brak"i-o-nik'thi-in), a. and 
n. I. a. Pertaining to or having the characters 
of the Brachionichthyince. 
II. n. A fish of the subfamily Brachionich- 
thyince. 
Brachionichthys (brayi-o-uik'this), n. [NL., 
< Gr. fipariuv, arm, + ixBvt;, fish.] A genus of 
fishes with pediculate pectorals, typical of the 
subfamily Brachionichthyinte. 
brachionid (bra-ki'o-nid), n. A rotifer of the 
family Brachionidw. 
Bractiionidae (brak-i-on'i-de), . pi. [NL. ; < 
Brachionus + -idee.] A family of rotifers, in- 
cluding the genera Brachionus, Anuraa,Not(ews, 
and Sacculus, having a broad shield-shaped lori- 
cate body and short jointed foot: in a wider 
sense also called Brachionwa. 
Brachionus (bra-M'o-nus), n. [NL., < Gr. jipa- 
Xiw, arm, shoulder: see brachium.'] A genus 
of rotifers, typical of the family Brachionidce or 
Brachionaia. B. urceolaris is an example. See 
cut under troehal. 
brachiopod, brachiopode (brak'i-6-pod, -pod), 
. and a. I. n. One of the Brachiopoda. 
In most Brachiopods, the oral area is narrowed to a 
mere groove, and is produced on each side of the mouth 
into a long spirally-coiled arm, fringed with tentacles ; 
whence the name of Brachiopoda, applied to the group. 
Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 397. 
Ae of brachiopods, the Silurian period. 
II. a. Same as brachiopodous. 
Brachiopoda (brak-i-op'o-da), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. ftpavfui>i arm, + ir&f (*<%-) = E./oo.] A 
class of mollusk-like animals distinguished by 
the development of two 
labial (generally called 
brachial) appendages, di- 
verging from either side 
of the mouth. The animal is 
invested in a mantle which ex- 
tends laterally and forward, is 
highly vascular, and secretes a 
shell composed of dorsal and 
ventral valves opening aborally ; 
it is without foot or branchiae, 
respiration being effected by the 
branchial mantle. By the old- 
er naturalists the species were 
regarded as bivalve shells, or 
652 
at least as true mollnsks ; but by later writers they have 
been separated as representing (alone or with Polyzoa) a 
peculiar branch or subkingdom Mvllitscoidea, and approxi- 
mated to or associated with the worms, Venues. The class 
is generally divided into two subclasses or orders, Arthro- 
pomata or CHstcnterata, and Lyopomata or Tretenterata. 
The families of the inarticulate or lyopomatous brachio- 
pods are the LinguKua, CraniidiK, and Discinidce, all of 
which have living representatives. The families of the 
articulate or arthropomatous brachiopods are the Terebra- 
tulidie, Ithynchonellidie, Theeiida', Spin/frit lie, Kimincki- 
nidce, Pentameridte, Strophmnemdce, Orthidce, and Pro- 
ductidoe. The species are very numerous, nearly 4,000 hav- 
ing been described ; theyare mostly extinct, and all marine. 
They flourished especially during the Silurian period, and 
some Silurian genera, as Lingula, are still extant. See cut 
under Linyulince. Many of the species, especially of the 
family Terebratulidee, are known as lampshells. 
brachiopode (brak'i-o-pod), . and a. See 
brachiopod. 
brachiopodous (brak-i-op'o-dus), a. [As Bra- 
chiopoda + -ous.] Belonging to the class Bra- 
chiopoda. Also brachiopod. 
brachiplex (brak'i-pleks), . [< L. brachium, 
bracchium, arm, + NL. plexus.] The brachial 
plexus of nerves. See brachial plexus, under 
brachial. 
brachiplexal (brak-i-plek'sal), a. [< brachi- 
plex + -(.] Of or pertaining to the brachi- 
plex. 
brachistocephali (bra - kis - to - sef ' a - li), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. fip&xiGToc,, superl. of flpaxi'S, short, 
+ /cE0a/>4, head.] Those persons or races of 
men who are brachistocephalic. 
brachistocephalic (bra-kis"to-se-farik or-sef- 
a-lik), a. [As brachistocephali + -ic.] In ethnol., 
Having or pertaining to a head whose transverse 
diameter is to its length about as .85 to 1. 
brachistochrone (bra-kis'to-krpn), n. [Word 
invented by John Bernoulli in 1694; < Gr. 
ppdxtoTo;, superl. of (jpax'vs, short, + xp^"ft 
time: see chronic.] The curve upon which a 
body moves in the least possible time from one 
given point to another. According to the nature of 
the forces that are supposed to act upon the body, and 
the constraints to which it may be subject, the brachisto- 
chrone takes various geometrical forms, mostly spiral or 
consisting of branches united by cusps, like the cycloid, 
which is the brachistochrone for a body moving under a 
constant force and subject to no condition except that de- 
fining the brachistochrone. Until recently always spelled 
brachystochrone. 
brachium (bra'ki- or brak'i-um), n. ; pi. brachia 
(-a). [L,, prop, bracchium, the arm, > ult. E. 
brace!, n., q. v.] 1. The upper arm, from the 
shoulder to the elbow, coinciding in extent 
with the humerus; the arm proper, as distin- 
fnished from the antebrachium or forearm. 2. 
he humerus. [Rare.] 3. An arm-like process 
of the brain. See phrases below. 4. An arm- 
like part of a body. Specifically (a) In crinoids, 
one of the rays or arms given off from the calyx, and to 
which the pinnuloj may be attached. See cut under Crt- 
noidea. (b) In cephalopods, one of the long arms or ten- 
tacles which bear, in the Acetabidifera, the rows of suckers. 
See cut under JHbranchiata. (c) One of the subumbrellar 
tentacular processes upon the brachiferous disk of a dis- 
cophorous hydrozoan. See cut under Discophora. 
The long tentacles which terminate each brachium [of 
Cephea] are blue. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 127, note. 
5. In bot., an arm-like process or appendage : 
applied by Bentham to the projecting processes 
at the summit of the column in some orchids. 
Brachia conjunctiva, two rounded white tracts in the 
brain passing forward, one, the brachium conjunctivum an- 
teriutt, from the nates, and the other, the brachium conjunc- 
tivum pogterim, from the testis, on the outer side of the 
mesencephalon. Also called brachia corporum quadri- 
//eminorum, brachia of the optic lobes. Brachia con- 
junctorla or copulativa, the superior peduncles of the 
cerebellum. Brachia of the optic lobes. See brachia 
conjunctiva. Brachium pontis, the middle peduncle of 
the cerebellum, a median mass of fibrous nerve-tissue 
connecting the pons Varolii with the cerebellum, over- 
hung and concealed by the lateral lobe of the cerebellum. 
See pontibrachium. 
Brachmant, n. Same as Brahman. 
brachy-. [NL. brachy-, < Gr. (ipaxvf, short.] 
An element in some words of Greek origin, 
meaning short. 
brachycatalectic (brak-i-kat-a-lek'tik), a. and 
n. [< L. brachycataUcticmn, prop, brachycata- 
lectum (sc. metrum, meter), < Gr. ppaxvuaTaAt;- 
KTOV (so. uirpov, meter), < ppaxi'f, short, + */tara- 
ATIKTOC,, verbal adj. of Kara'Arryeiv, leave off, stop; 
cf. KaTaA7iKTtK6f, deficient: see catalectic.] I. 
a. In pros., wanting the last foot of the last 
dipody: as, a brachycatalectic verse or line. This 
term is properly applied only to lines measured by dipo- 
dies, such as trochaics and iambics. The ordinary Eng- 
lish heroic line, as, for example, 
Of man's first dis ] obedience and | the fruit, 
is an iambic trimeter brachycatalectic, as contrasted with 
the corresponding acatalectic trimeter, as, 
See how he lies | at random, care | lessly dlffus'd. 
II. ii. A verse wanting the last foot of the 
last dipody. 
brachyelytrous 
brachycephali (brak-i-sef'a-H), n. pi. [NL., 
pi. of brachycephulus : see brachycephalous.] In 
ethnol., those people whose cephalic index 
(see cephalic) is 80 and upward, and who con- 
sequently have short skulls or are brachyce- 
phalic. 
brachycephalic (brak"i-se-fal'ik or -sef'a-lik), 
a. [Aabrachyci')ilial-oiu + -ic.] Short-headed: 
applied, in ethnol., to heads whose diameter 
from side to side is not much less than that 
from front to back, their ratio being as 80 to 
100, as those of the Mongolian type; and also 
to races or individuals having such heads: op- 
posed to dolichocephalic. There are two sections of 
this group, brachistocephalic and eurycephalic. It is sup- 
posed that a braehycephalic race inhabited Europe before 
the Celts. Also brachycephalous, brachykephalic, brachy- 
kephalous. 
For the extremes of these varieties [of cranial form], 
Ketzius proposed the names of brachy-kephalic or short- 
headed, and dolicho-kephalic or long-headed, which have 
come into general use. Dawxon, Origin of World, p. 427. 
Brachycephalidae (brak"i-se-fal'i-de), . pi. 
[NL., < Brachycephalus + -idee.] A family of 
oxydactyl opisthoglossate anurous batrachians. 
Giinther. 
Brachycephalina (brak-i-sef-a-.H'nfi,), . pi. 
[NL., < Brachycephalus + -id 2 .] A super- 
family group of frogs, including the families 
Phruniscidai and Brachycephalidce. 
brachycephalism (brak-i-sef'a-lizm), n. [< 
brachycephal-ic + -ism.] In ethnol., the quality, 
state, or condition of being brachycephalic. 
Also brachyl-ephaUsm, brachycephaly. 
brachycephalous (brak-i-sef'a-lus), a. [< NL. 
brachycephalus, < Gr. /Jpo^-u/ce^a/lof, short-head- 
ed, < flpaxbf, short, + iteipa?.!/, head.] Same as 
brachycephalic. Also written brachykephalous. 
The prevailing form of the negro head is dolichocepha- 
lous ; that of civilized races is mesocephalous and brachy- 
cephalotu. Pop. Sci. Mo., XIII. 500. 
Brachycephalus (brak-i-sef'a-lus), n. [NL. : 
see brachycephalous.] The typical genus of 
the family Brachycephalkke. By recent herpetolo- 
Brazilian Toad {BrachycephalHs tfhifpiutn). 
gists it is referred to the family Engystomidoe (in an en- 
larged sense) or Phryniscid(K. B. ephippium is a small 
bright-yellow Brazilian toad, with a bony plate saddled on 
the back. 
brachycephaly (brai-i-sef'a-li), n. [< brachy- 
cephal-ie + -)/.] Same as brachycephalism. 
Brachycera (bra-kis'e-ra), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of brachycerus, lit. short-horned: see bra- 
chycerous.] A suborder of Diptera, including 
those dipterous or two-winged flies which have 
short antennse, apparently not more than three- 
jointed, one- or two-jointed palpi, and larvas 
developed from the egg. They are aquatic or ter- 
restrial, feeding on vegetable or animal food, or parasitic, 
the perfect insect feeding on the juices of plants or ani- 
mals. The great majority of dipterous insects, including 
all the ordinary flies, belong to this suborder. The fam- 
ilies are variously grouped ; by some they are classed as 
Dicluxtce, Tetrachcetce, and llexachtetie, according to the 
number of pieces composing the proboscis. Another di- 
vision is into two tribes, Muscaria and Tanystomata. 
brachycerpus (bra-kis'e-rus), a. [< NL. bra- 
chycerus, lit. short-horned, < Gr. ftpaxi'f, short, + 
Kcpac, horn.] In en torn. , having short antenna? ; 
specifically, of or pertaining to the Brachycera. 
brachydiagonal (brak"i-dl-ag'o-nal), . and n. 
[< Gr. fipaxt l <;, short, + diagonal.] I. a. Short 
and diagonal : as, the brachydiagonal axis, the 
shorter lateral axis in an orthorhombic crystal. 
II. n. The shorter of the diagonals in a 
rhombic prism. 
brachydomatic (brak"i-dp-mat'ik), a. [< bra- 
chydome + -atic 2 .] Pertaining to or resembling 
a brachydome. 
brachydome (brak'i-dorn), n. [< Gr. ppaxw, 
short, + Sofia (Aa/iar-), a house, chamber.] In 
crystal., a name given to planes in the ortho- 
rhombic system which are parallel to the shorter 
lateral (or brachydiagonal) axis while inter- 
secting the other two axes. See dome\ 5. 
Brachyelytra (brak-i-el'i-tra), n. pi. Same as 
Bracheli/tra. 
brachyelytrous (brak-i-el'i-tms), a. Same as 
brachelytroun. 
