‖n. [ L., fir tree. ] (Bot.) A genus of coniferous trees, properly called Fir, as the balsam fir and the silver fir. The spruces are sometimes also referred to this genus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. abies, abietis, a fir tree. ] A volatile oil distilled from the resin or balsam of the nut pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the fir tree or its products; as, abietic acid, called also sylvic acid. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ See Abietene. ] (Chem.) A resinous obtained from Strasburg turpentine or Canada balsam. It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and in ether. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A substance resembling mannite, found in the needles of the common silver fir of Europe (Abies pectinata). Eng. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Aëro- + Gr. bi`os life. ] (Biol.) Microörganisms which live in contact with the air and need oxygen for their growth; as the microbacteria which form on the surface of putrefactive fluids; aerobes. [ obsolescent ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. [ L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb- + ire to go. ] Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. “Ambient air.” Milton. “Ambient clouds.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Gr. 'an priv. + &unr_;, &unr_;, air + bi`os life. ] (Biol.) Microörganisms which do not require oxygen, but are killed by it. See obligate anaerobes under anaerobes. Sternberg. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n. (Med.) A variety of paralysis, peculiar to India and the Malabar coast; -- considered by many to be the same as beriberi in a chronic form. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. pl. [ OE. bestynge, AS. b&ymacr_;sting, fr. b&ymacr_;st, beost; akin to D. biest, OHG. biost, G. biest; of unknown origin. ] The first milk given by a cow after calving. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The thick and curdy milk . . . commonly called biestings. Newton. (1574). [ 1913 Webster ]

(Astron.) A periodic coment, discovered by Biela in 1826, which revolves around the sun in 6.6 years. The November meteors (Andromedes or Bielids) move in its orbit, and may be fragments of the comet. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A shelter. Same as Beild. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To shelter. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Astron.) See Andromede and cf. Biela's comet. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. [ L. biennalis and biennis, fr. biennium a space of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf. Annual. ] 1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial election. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years; esp. a biennial examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A plant which exists or lasts for two years. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Once in two years. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bæe, beere, AS. b&unr_;r, b&unr_;re; akin to D. baar, OHG. bāra, G. bahre, Icel barar, D&unr_; baare, L. feretrum, Gr. &unr_;, from the same &unr_;&unr_; bear to produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barrow. ] 1. A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or borne to the grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Weaving) A count of forty threads in the warp or chain of woolen cloth. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bier, and Balk, n. ] A church road (e. g., a path across fields) for funerals. [ Obs. ] Homilies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of surrounding or encompassing. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. circum- + ambient. ] Surrounding; inclosing or being on all sides; encompassing. “The circumambient heaven.” J. Armstrong. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] A large size of paper for drawings. See under Paper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Colombier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) One of the steps in which a gable wall is often finished in place of a continuous slope; -- also called crowstep. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } n.; pl. Corbies [ F. corbeau, OF. corbel, dim. fr. L. corvus raven. ] 1. (Zool.) The raven. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (her.) A raven, crow, or chough, used as a charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Corbie crow, the carrion crow. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. Manacles; handcuffs. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In “The Steel Glass” by Gascoigne, printed in 1576, occurs the line “To binde such babes in father Derbies bands.” [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dubieties [ L. dubietas, fr. dubius. See Dubious. ] Doubtfulness; uncertainty; doubt. [ R. ] Lamb. “The dubiety of his fate.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. t. [ LL. excambiare, excambire; L. ex out + cambire. See Change, and cf. Exchange. ] (Scots Law) To exchange; -- used with reference to transfers of land.

n. [ Malayan. ] (a) The inspissated juice of a plant (Uncaria Gambir) growing in Malacca. It is a powerful astringent, and, under the name of Terra Japonica, is used for chewing with the Areca nut, and is exported for tanning and dyeing. (b) Catechu. [ Written also gambeer and gambir. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. gibier. ] Wild fowl; game. [ Obs. ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. nullibi nowhere. ] The state or condition of being nowhere. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. See Rage, n. ] Same as Hydrophobia (b); canine madness. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Med.) The itch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Toby. ] A kind of inferior cigar of a long slender shape, tapered at one end. [ Local, U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } n. [ NL. ubicatio, ubietas, fr. L. ubi where. ] The quality or state of being in a place; local relation; position or location; whereness. [ R. ] Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]