TERMS STARTING WITH
black ::: a. --> Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes.
In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the heavens black with clouds.
Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness; destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked; cruel;
blackamoor ::: n. --> A negro or negress.
black and red fire,” as described in Ginzberg, The
black art ::: A collection of arcane, unpublished, and (by implication) mostly ad-hoc techniques developed for a particular application or systems area (compare black both the term black art and what it describes less common than formerly. See also voodoo programming.[Jargon File]
black art A collection of arcane, unpublished, and (by implication) mostly ad-hoc techniques developed for a particular application or systems area (compare {black magic}). VLSI design and compiler code optimisation were (in their beginnings) considered classic examples of black art; as theory developed they became {deep magic}, and once standard textbooks had been written, became merely {heavy wizardry}. The huge proliferation of formal and informal channels for spreading around new computer-related technologies during the last twenty years has made both the term "black art" and what it describes less common than formerly. See also {voodoo programming}. [{Jargon File}]
blackarts ::: Black Arts The term Black Arts refers to any Black Magick operations such as Necromancy, Sorcery, Witchcraft,Satanism etc., or any variation of such.
black art ::: --> The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic.
black-a-vised ::: a. --> Dark-visaged; swart.
blackballed ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackball
blackballing ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackball
blackball ::: n. --> A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for taking impressions of engraved work.
A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words. ::: v. t. --> To vote against, by putting a black ball into a
blackband ::: n. --> An earthy carbonate of iron containing considerable carbonaceous matter; -- valuable as an iron ore.
black bass ::: --> An edible, fresh-water fish of the United States, of the genus Micropterus. the small-mouthed kind is M. dolomiei; the large-mouthed is M. salmoides.
The sea bass. See Blackfish, 3.
blackberry ::: n. --> The fruit of several species of bramble (Rubus); also, the plant itself. Rubus fruticosus is the blackberry of England; R. villosus and R. Canadensis are the high blackberry and low blackberry of the United States. There are also other kinds.
blackbird ::: n. --> In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelaeus phoeniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle, etc. See Redwing.
blackboard ::: n. --> A broad board painted black, or any black surface on which writing, drawing, or the working of mathematical problems can be done with chalk or crayons. It is much used in schools.
blackboard system ::: An artificial intelligence approach based on the blackboard architectural model,[64][65][66][67] where a common knowledge base, the "blackboard", is iteratively updated by a diverse group of specialist knowledge sources, starting with a problem specification and ending with a solution. Each knowledge source updates the blackboard with a partial solution when its internal constraints match the blackboard state. In this way, the specialists work together to solve the problem.
black book ::: --> One of several books of a political character, published at different times and for different purposes; -- so called either from the color of the binding, or from the character of the contents.
A book compiled in the twelfth century, containing a description of the court of exchequer of England, an official statement of the revenues of the crown, etc.
A book containing details of the enormities practiced in the English monasteries and religious houses, compiled by order of
black box "jargon" An {abstraction} of a device or system in which only its externally visible behaviour is considered and not its implementation or "inner workings". See also {functional testing}. (1997-07-03)
black box ::: (jargon) An abstraction of a device or system in which only its externally visible behaviour is considered and not its implementation or inner workings.See also functional testing. (1997-07-03)
black-box testing {functional testing}
black-browed ::: a. --> Having black eyebrows. Hence: Gloomy; dismal; threatening; forbidding.
blackburnian warbler ::: --> A beautiful warbler of the United States (Dendroica Blackburniae). The male is strongly marked with orange, yellow, and black on the head and neck, and has an orange-yellow breast.
blackcap ::: n. --> A small European song bird (Sylvia atricapilla), with a black crown; the mock nightingale.
An American titmouse (Parus atricapillus); the chickadee.
An apple roasted till black, to be served in a dish of boiled custard.
The black raspberry.
blackcoat ::: n. --> A clergyman; -- familiarly so called, as a soldier is sometimes called a redcoat or a bluecoat.
blackcock ::: n. --> The male of the European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix, Linn.); -- so called by sportsmen. The female is called gray hen. See Heath grouse.
black comedy: Drama where potentially horrific situations are treated with amusement and ridicule by both the characters and the audience
black death ::: --> A pestilence which ravaged Europe and Asia in the fourteenth century.
blacked ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Black
blackened ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blacken
blackener ::: n. --> One who blackens.
blackening ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blacken
blacken ::: v. t. --> To make or render black.
To make dark; to darken; to cloud.
To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character. ::: v. i. --> To grow black or dark.
black-eyed ::: a. --> Having black eyes.
black-faced ::: a. --> Having a black, dark, or gloomy face or aspect.
blackfeet ::: n. pl. --> A tribe of North American Indians formerly inhabiting the country from the upper Missouri River to the Saskatchewan, but now much reduced in numbers.
blackfin ::: n. --> See Bluefin.
blackfish ::: n. --> A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.
The tautog of New England (Tautoga).
The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.
A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the
blackfoot ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to the Blackfeet; as, a Blackfoot Indian. ::: n. --> A Blackfoot Indian.
black friar ::: --> A friar of the Dominican order; -- called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.
blackguarded ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackguard
blackguarding ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackguard
blackguardism ::: n. --> The conduct or language of a blackguard; ruffianism.
blackguardly ::: adv. & a. --> In the manner of or resembling a blackguard; abusive; scurrilous; ruffianly.
blackguard ::: n. --> The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman&
black hat "security" Someone who uses his skills for criminal or malicious ends. Black hat activities may include, e.g., writing destructive {viruses}, launching {denial of service} attacks on websites, or stealing credit card numbers or banking data by {phishing}. (2019-03-16)
blackhead ::: n. --> The scaup duck.
black-hearted ::: a. --> Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad.
blackheart ::: n. --> A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark-colored skin.
black hole ::: 1. An expression which depends on its own value or a technique to detect such expressions. In graph reduction, when the reduction of an expression is begun, the root of the expression can be overwritten with a black hole. If the expression depends on its own value, e.g. x = x + 1 no longer required may be freed for garbage collection.Without black holes the usual result of attempting to evaluate an expression which depends on itself would be a stack overflow. If the expression is evaluated successfully then the black hole will be updated with the value.Expressions such as ones = 1 : ones reference to ones is not evaluated when evaluating ones to WHNF.2. Where an electronic mail message or news aritcle has gone if it disappears mysteriously between its origin and destination sites without returning a bounce message. Compare bit bucket.[Jargon File]
black hole 1. An expression which depends on its own value or a technique to detect such expressions. In graph reduction, when the reduction of an expression is begun, the root of the expression can be overwritten with a black hole. If the expression depends on its own value, e.g. x = x + 1 then it will try to evaluate the black hole which will usually print an error message and abort the program. A secondary effect is that, once the root of the expression has been black-holed, parts of the expression which are no longer required may be freed for garbage collection. Without black holes the usual result of attempting to evaluate an expression which depends on itself would be a stack overflow. If the expression is evaluated successfully then the black hole will be updated with the value. Expressions such as ones = 1 : ones are not black holes because the list constructor, : is lazy so the reference to ones is not evaluated when evaluating ones to WHNF. 2. Where an {electronic mail} message or {news} aritcle has gone if it disappears mysteriously between its origin and destination sites without returning a {bounce message}. Compare {bit bucket}. [{Jargon File}]
black hole ::: --> A dungeon or dark cell in a prison; a military lock-up or guardroom; -- now commonly with allusion to the cell (the Black Hole) in a fort at Calcutta, into which 146 English prisoners were thrust by the nabob Suraja Dowla on the night of June 20, 17656, and in which 123 of the prisoners died before morning from lack of air.
blacking ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Black ::: n. --> Any preparation for making things black; esp. one for giving a black luster to boots and shoes, or to stoves.
The act or process of making black.
blackish ::: a. --> Somewhat black.
black-jack ::: n. --> A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; -- called also false galena. See Blende.
Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits, ground coffee, etc.
A large leather vessel for beer, etc.
The Quercus nigra, or barren oak.
The ensign of a pirate.
black lead ::: --> Plumbago; graphite. It leaves a blackish mark somewhat like lead. See Graphite.
blacklead ::: v. t. --> To coat or to polish with black lead.
blackleg ::: n. --> A notorious gambler.
A disease among calves and sheep, characterized by a settling of gelatinous matter in the legs, and sometimes in the neck.
black-letter ::: a. --> Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript or book.
Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old books; out of date.
Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red letters as saints&
black letter ::: --> The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.
blacklist ::: v. t. --> To put in a black list as deserving of suspicion, censure, or punishment; esp. to put in a list of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, -- as tradesmen and employers do for mutual protection; as, to blacklist a workman who has been discharged. See Black list, under Black, a.
blackly ::: adv. --> In a black manner; darkly, in color; gloomily; threateningly; atrociously.
black magical conjurations, as described in the
black magic "jargon" (Or "{FM}") A technique that works, though nobody really understands why. More obscure than {voodoo programming}, which may be done by {cookbook}. Compare {black art}, {deep magic}, and {magic number}. (2001-04-30)
black magic ::: (jargon) (Or FM) A technique that works, though nobody really understands why. More obscure than voodoo programming, which may be done by cookbook.Compare black art, deep magic, and magic number.(2001-04-30)
blackmagick ::: Black Magick Magick performed with the intent to harm someone or property, or to force someone to act against his or her will. It is supposedly avoided and even spurned by Wiccans, as well as most Satanists and Ritual Magicians.
black magic manuals, repositories of curious, forbidden, and by now well-nigh forgotten lore.
black-magic rites, specifically in the conjuration of
black magic, the “laboratory of Satan.”
blackmailed ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackmail
blackmailer ::: n. --> One who extorts, or endeavors to extort, money, by black mailing.
blackmailing ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackmail ::: n. --> The act or practice of extorting money by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation.
blackmail ::: n. --> A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage.
Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest
blackmass ::: Black Mass The Black Mass was a way of lampooning the Catholic Mass, practiced occasionally by wealthy opponents of the Church in the 'Dark Ages'. 'Black Masses' used to be performed by priests to curse enemies, but this practice was condemned by the church. During the witch trials of the Spanish Inquisition, witches were accused of this practice, but it is considered highly unlikely that it was practiced by commoners. So, contrary to popular belief, it is not a standard practice in ancient or modern witchcraft. Similarly, traditional (as opposed to secular) Satanists have been accused of conducting rituals which are specifically aimed at attacking Christian beliefs and practices (particularly the Roman Catholic Church), rituals in which they recite the Lord's Prayer backwards, or desecrate and use the host and wine stolen from a cathedral! This is pure fiction which can be traced back to the Inquisition and to books written during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance periods. Examples of traditional Satanism are extremely rare, and testimonies of 'alleged former Satanists' and Satanic Ritual abuse have long since been discredited. Cleromancy, when all the dominoes have been turned face-down and shuffled, the collection/set of randomised tiles is referred to as the "boneyard". The sitter draws tiles from the boneyard to form his/her spread.
black monday ::: --> Easter Monday, so called from the severity of that day in 1360, which was so unusual that many of Edward III.&
black monk ::: --> A Benedictine monk.
blackmoor ::: n. --> See Blackamoor.
black-mouthed ::: a. --> Using foul or scurrilous language; slanderous.
blackness ::: n. --> The quality or state of being black; black color; atrociousness or enormity in wickedness.
blackpoll ::: n. --> A warbler of the United States (Dendroica striata).
black pudding ::: --> A kind of sausage made of blood, suet, etc., thickened with meal.
black rod ::: --> the usher to the Chapter of the Garter, so called from the black rod which he carries. He is of the king&
blackroot ::: n. --> See Colicroot.
blacksalter ::: n. --> One who makes crude potash, or black salts.
black salts ::: --> Crude potash.
blacksmith ::: n. --> A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils, horseshoes, etc.
A fish of the Pacific coast (Chromis, / Heliastes, punctipinnis), of a blackish color.
black snake ::: n. --> Alt. of Blacksnake
blacksnake ::: n. --> A snake of a black color, of which two species are common in the United States, the Bascanium constrictor, or racer, sometimes six feet long, and the Scotophis Alleghaniensis, seven or eight feet long.
blacks ::: n. pl. --> The name of a kind of in used in copperplate printing, prepared from the charred husks of the grape, and residue of the wine press.
Soot flying in the air.
Black garments, etc. See Black, n., 4.
blackstrap ::: n. --> A mixture of spirituous liquor (usually rum) and molasses.
Bad port wine; any common wine of the Mediterranean; -- so called by sailors.
blacktail ::: n. --> A fish; the ruff or pope.
The black-tailed deer (Cervus / Cariacus Columbianus) of California and Oregon; also, the mule deer of the Rocky Mountains. See Mule deer.
blackthorn ::: n. --> A spreading thorny shrub or small tree (Prunus spinosa), with blackish bark, and bearing little black plums, which are called sloes; the sloe.
A species of Crataegus or hawthorn (C. tomentosa). Both are used for hedges.
black vomit ::: --> A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever.
blackwash ::: n. --> A lotion made by mixing calomel and lime water.
A wash that blackens, as opposed to whitewash; hence, figuratively, calumny.
black wash ::: n. --> Alt. of Blackwash
blackwood ::: n. --> A name given to several dark-colored timbers. The East Indian black wood is from the tree Dalbergia latifolia.
blackwork ::: n. --> Work wrought by blacksmiths; -- so called in distinction from that wrought by whitesmiths.
Black Age. See KALI YUGA
Black Angel—in Mohammedan demonology
Black Book, The: A sacred book of the Yezidi (devil worshippers) of Kurdistan.
Black Data Processing Associates "body" (BDPA) A non-profit professional association, founded in 1975 to promote positive influence in the {information technology} (IT) industry and how it affects African Americans. The BDPA facilitates African American professional participation in local and national activities keeping up with developing IT trends. BDPA offers a forum for exchanging information and ideas about the computer industry. It provides numerous networking opportunities through monthly program meetings, seminars, and workshops and the annual national conference. Membership is open to anyone interested in IT. The Foundation provides scholarships to students who compete in an annual {Visual Basic} competition. {(http://bdpa.org/conf96)}. E-mail: "nbdpa@ix.netcom.com". Telephone: Ms. Pat Drumming, +1 (800) 727-BDPA. (1996-04-07)
Black Data Processing Associates ::: (body) (BDPA) A non-profit professional association, founded in 1975 to promote positive influence in the information technology (IT) industry and how participation in local and national activities keeping up with developing IT trends.BDPA offers a forum for exchanging information and ideas about the computer industry. It provides numerous networking opportunities through monthly program meetings, seminars, and workshops and the annual national conference. Membership is open to anyone interested in IT.The Foundation provides scholarships to students who compete in an annual Visual Basic competition. .E-mail: .Telephone: Ms. Pat Drumming, +1 (800) 727-BDPA. (1996-04-07)
Black economy I parallel economy - Unofficial economic activity. It cannot be precisely measured because it fails to go through official accounts.
Black Fire Qabbalistic term signifying absolute light-wisdom: “ ‘black’ because it is incomprehensible to our finite intellects” (TG 58).
Black fire: The Kabbalistic term for absolute wisdom, which the finite human mind cannot grasp.
Black Hats. (C. heimao 黑帽). A popular designation in both European languages and Chinese for the KARMA PA lineage of incarnate lamas in the KARMA BKA' BRGYUD subsect of the BKA' BRGYUD sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Because of his black crown, the Karma pa is sometimes called the "black hat" (zhwa nag) lama. In the nineteenth century, a Western misunderstanding of this term led to the presumption that there was a "Black Hat" sect of Tibetan Buddhism, a mistake that persists in some accounts of Tibetan Buddhism. The Western and Chinese division of major Tibetan sects into YELLOW HATS, RED HATS, and Black Hats has no corollary in Tibetan Buddhism and should be avoided.
Black Hats & Mirrorshades: Derogatory term for Technocrats and the Technocracy.
Black Hats & Mirrorshades: The Technocracy.
Black Hats
BlackIce ::: (software, security) A commercial firewall and intrusion detection system. .(2003-09-13)
BlackIce "software, security" A commercial {firewall} and {intrusion detection} system. {BlackIce Home (http://blackice.iss.net/)}. (2003-09-13)
Black Letter ::: In response to the strong restrictions on Jewish immigration to Palestine that the White Paper imposed, Chaim Weizmann, head of the Wrold Zionist Organization, put strong pressure on Great Britain to reverse its policies. Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald on February 13, 1931, sent an official letter to Weizmann wherein he nullified the White Paper and upheld a policy of Jewish national homeland through further land settlement and immigration. Arabs referred to these referrals as the Black Letter.
Black Madonna ::: Popular shrine of great national and religious significance to Poland. It is located in the city of Czestochowa in the monastery of Jasna Gora (Bright Mountain). The Black Madonna is a painting on wood that depicts the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Its origins are ancient and obscure.
Black Magic and of Pacts, p. 169, and in The Leme-
Black Magic and of Pacts, p. 178. Raum also answers
Black Magic and of Pacts.
Black Magic and of Pacts.]
Black Magicians. See MAGIC
BLACK MAGIC. ::: Occultism of the adverse powers. The occultism of the divine Powers is quite different. One is based on unity, the other on division.
Black Magic. See MAGIC
Black magic: The use or abuse of supernormal powers for selfish ends; sorcery, necromancy, the raising of the dead, etc.
Black market I parallel market - An illegal trading arrangement in which buyers and sellers do business at a price higher than the legally imposed price ceiling.
Black mass: The mass said in honor of the devil at the Witches’ Sabbath.
Black Mirror ::: An opaque mirror or piece of glass (often concave or flat) used as a tool for scrying into. Also a popular series on Netflix that deals with the potential horrors of AI and transhumanism.
Black Pullet, The. A ritual of black magic. Paris, 1740.
Black Raven, The. A Faustian manual. Lyons, 1469. See
Black Sabbath (Operation Agatha) ::: British military operation carried out in the Palestine Mandate on Saturday, June 29, 1946. Thousands of British troops were sent around the country to try and contain Jewish paramilitary development. During the operation, several underground weapons storehouses were uncovered and the Jews of the Palestine Mandate were placed under strict curfew. Additionally, close to 3,000 Jews were arrested, among them were future Israeli Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett.
Black September ::: Military confrontation between Jordan and the Palestinian guerrillas in September 1970, which lead to the expulsion of the PLO from Jordan.
Black shaman: A shaman (q.v.) who concerns himself exclusively with spirits, demons, and other evil or malignant powers.
Black Suit: Preferred and gender-neutral name for a field agent of the NWO. (See Black Hats & Mirrorshades, Boys in Black, MiB.)
Black Vernacular: A variety of English generally considered to be non-standard and commonly used by African- Americans. See African-American English.
Blackwood, 1896.
TERMS ANYWHERE
1. Touchstone; a very smooth, fine-grained, black or dark-coloured variety of quartz or jasper (also called basanite), used for testing the quality of gold and silver alloys by the colour of the streak produced by rubbing them upon it; a piece of such stone used for this purpose. 2. *fig.* That which serves to test or try the genuineness or value of anything; a test, criterion.
abaiser ::: n. --> Ivory black or animal charcoal.
acetal ::: n. --> A limpid, colorless, inflammable liquid from the slow oxidation of alcohol under the influence of platinum black.
acinus ::: n. --> One of the small grains or drupelets which make up some kinds of fruit, as the blackberry, raspberry, etc.
A grapestone.
One of the granular masses which constitute a racemose or compound gland, as the pancreas; also, one of the saccular recesses in the lobules of a racemose gland.
adiantum ::: n. --> A genus of ferns, the leaves of which shed water; maidenhair. Also, the black maidenhair, a species of spleenwort.
alamode ::: adv. & a. --> According to the fashion or prevailing mode. ::: n. --> A thin, black silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.; -- often called simply mode.
alga ::: n. --> A kind of seaweed; pl. the class of cellular cryptogamic plants which includes the black, red, and green seaweeds, as kelp, dulse, sea lettuce, also marine and fresh water confervae, etc.
allanite ::: n. --> A silicate containing a large amount of cerium. It is usually black in color, opaque, and is related to epidote in form and composition.
Amal: “Several expressions seem to be used to suggest the paradisical character of the world—‘God’s yes and no’ as said in the last line of the preceding page. ‘The mystic drake’ is one of them, with its white head and black tail.”
ambergris ::: n. --> A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly volatilized as a white vapor at 212¡ Fahrenheit, and is highly valued in perfumery.
amphibole ::: n. --> A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last name being also used as a general term for the whole species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite,
ano ::: n. --> A black bird of tropical America, the West Indies and Florida (Crotophaga ani), allied to the cuckoos, and remarkable for communistic nesting.
anthraconite ::: n. --> A coal-black marble, usually emitting a fetid smell when rubbed; -- called also stinkstone and swinestone.
appropriation ::: n. --> The act of setting apart or assigning to a particular use or person, or of taking to one&
arara ::: n. --> The palm (or great black) cockatoo, of Australia (Microglossus aterrimus).
argillite ::: n. --> Argillaceous schist or slate; clay slate. Its colors is bluish or blackish gray, sometimes greenish gray, brownish red, etc.
armozine ::: n. --> A thick plain silk, generally black, and used for clerical.
artificer ::: n. --> An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a silversmith.
One who makes or contrives; a deviser, inventor, or framer.
A cunning or artful fellow.
A military mechanic, as a blacksmith, carpenter, etc.; also, one who prepares the shells, fuses, grenades, etc., in a military
asphaltum ::: n. --> Mineral pitch, Jews&
a ::: --> The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first letter (/) of the Phoenician alphabet, the equivalent of the Hebrew Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an element of Greek articulation;
atrabiliary ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to atra bilis or black bile, a fluid formerly supposed to be produced by the kidneys.
Melancholic or hypohondriac; atrabilious; -- from the supposed predominance of black bile, to the influence of which the ancients attributed hypochondria, melancholy, and mania.
atramentaceous ::: a. --> Black, like ink; inky; atramental.
atramentous ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to ink; inky; black, like ink; as, atramental galls; atramentous spots.
atrous ::: a. --> Coal-black; very black.
augite ::: n. --> A variety of pyroxene, usually of a black or dark green color, occurring in igneous rocks, such as basalt; -- also used instead of the general term pyroxene.
a very dark black.
babingtonite ::: n. --> A mineral occurring in triclinic crystals approaching pyroxene in angle, and of a greenish black color. It is a silicate of iron, manganese, and lime.
badderlocks ::: n. --> A large black seaweed (Alaria esculenta) sometimes eaten in Europe; -- also called murlins, honeyware, and henware.
baltimore oriole ::: --> A common American bird (Icterus galbula), named after Lord Baltimore, because its colors (black and orange red) are like those of his coat of arms; -- called also golden robin.
basalt ::: n. --> A rock of igneous origin, consisting of augite and triclinic feldspar, with grains of magnetic or titanic iron, and also bottle-green particles of olivine frequently disseminated.
An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black porcelain.
basanite ::: n. --> Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left on the stone when rubbed by the metal.
bass ::: pl. --> of Bass ::: n. --> An edible, spiny-finned fish, esp. of the genera Roccus, Labrax, and related genera. There are many species.
The two American fresh-water species of black bass (genus Micropterus). See Black bass.
battering-ram ::: n. --> An engine used in ancient times to beat down the walls of besieged places.
A blacksmith&
black ::: a. --> Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of white; characterized by such a color; as, black cloth; black hair or eyes.
In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in darkness; very dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the heavens black with clouds.
Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness; destitute of moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked; cruel;
blackamoor ::: n. --> A negro or negress.
black art ::: --> The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic.
black-a-vised ::: a. --> Dark-visaged; swart.
blackballed ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackball
blackballing ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackball
blackball ::: n. --> A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for taking impressions of engraved work.
A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words. ::: v. t. --> To vote against, by putting a black ball into a
blackband ::: n. --> An earthy carbonate of iron containing considerable carbonaceous matter; -- valuable as an iron ore.
black bass ::: --> An edible, fresh-water fish of the United States, of the genus Micropterus. the small-mouthed kind is M. dolomiei; the large-mouthed is M. salmoides.
The sea bass. See Blackfish, 3.
blackberry ::: n. --> The fruit of several species of bramble (Rubus); also, the plant itself. Rubus fruticosus is the blackberry of England; R. villosus and R. Canadensis are the high blackberry and low blackberry of the United States. There are also other kinds.
blackbird ::: n. --> In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelaeus phoeniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle, etc. See Redwing.
blackboard ::: n. --> A broad board painted black, or any black surface on which writing, drawing, or the working of mathematical problems can be done with chalk or crayons. It is much used in schools.
black book ::: --> One of several books of a political character, published at different times and for different purposes; -- so called either from the color of the binding, or from the character of the contents.
A book compiled in the twelfth century, containing a description of the court of exchequer of England, an official statement of the revenues of the crown, etc.
A book containing details of the enormities practiced in the English monasteries and religious houses, compiled by order of
black-browed ::: a. --> Having black eyebrows. Hence: Gloomy; dismal; threatening; forbidding.
blackburnian warbler ::: --> A beautiful warbler of the United States (Dendroica Blackburniae). The male is strongly marked with orange, yellow, and black on the head and neck, and has an orange-yellow breast.
blackcap ::: n. --> A small European song bird (Sylvia atricapilla), with a black crown; the mock nightingale.
An American titmouse (Parus atricapillus); the chickadee.
An apple roasted till black, to be served in a dish of boiled custard.
The black raspberry.
blackcoat ::: n. --> A clergyman; -- familiarly so called, as a soldier is sometimes called a redcoat or a bluecoat.
blackcock ::: n. --> The male of the European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix, Linn.); -- so called by sportsmen. The female is called gray hen. See Heath grouse.
black death ::: --> A pestilence which ravaged Europe and Asia in the fourteenth century.
blacked ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Black
blackened ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blacken
blackener ::: n. --> One who blackens.
blackening ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blacken
blacken ::: v. t. --> To make or render black.
To make dark; to darken; to cloud.
To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice blackens the character. ::: v. i. --> To grow black or dark.
black-eyed ::: a. --> Having black eyes.
black-faced ::: a. --> Having a black, dark, or gloomy face or aspect.
blackfeet ::: n. pl. --> A tribe of North American Indians formerly inhabiting the country from the upper Missouri River to the Saskatchewan, but now much reduced in numbers.
blackfin ::: n. --> See Bluefin.
blackfish ::: n. --> A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.
The tautog of New England (Tautoga).
The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.
A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the
blackfoot ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to the Blackfeet; as, a Blackfoot Indian. ::: n. --> A Blackfoot Indian.
black friar ::: --> A friar of the Dominican order; -- called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.
blackguarded ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackguard
blackguarding ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackguard
blackguardism ::: n. --> The conduct or language of a blackguard; ruffianism.
blackguardly ::: adv. & a. --> In the manner of or resembling a blackguard; abusive; scurrilous; ruffianly.
blackguard ::: n. --> The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman&
blackhead ::: n. --> The scaup duck.
black-hearted ::: a. --> Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad.
blackheart ::: n. --> A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark-colored skin.
black hole ::: --> A dungeon or dark cell in a prison; a military lock-up or guardroom; -- now commonly with allusion to the cell (the Black Hole) in a fort at Calcutta, into which 146 English prisoners were thrust by the nabob Suraja Dowla on the night of June 20, 17656, and in which 123 of the prisoners died before morning from lack of air.
blacking ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Black ::: n. --> Any preparation for making things black; esp. one for giving a black luster to boots and shoes, or to stoves.
The act or process of making black.
blackish ::: a. --> Somewhat black.
black-jack ::: n. --> A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; -- called also false galena. See Blende.
Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits, ground coffee, etc.
A large leather vessel for beer, etc.
The Quercus nigra, or barren oak.
The ensign of a pirate.
black lead ::: --> Plumbago; graphite. It leaves a blackish mark somewhat like lead. See Graphite.
blacklead ::: v. t. --> To coat or to polish with black lead.
blackleg ::: n. --> A notorious gambler.
A disease among calves and sheep, characterized by a settling of gelatinous matter in the legs, and sometimes in the neck.
black-letter ::: a. --> Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript or book.
Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old books; out of date.
Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red letters as saints&
black letter ::: --> The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.
blacklist ::: v. t. --> To put in a black list as deserving of suspicion, censure, or punishment; esp. to put in a list of persons stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, -- as tradesmen and employers do for mutual protection; as, to blacklist a workman who has been discharged. See Black list, under Black, a.
blackly ::: adv. --> In a black manner; darkly, in color; gloomily; threateningly; atrociously.
blackmailed ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Blackmail
blackmailer ::: n. --> One who extorts, or endeavors to extort, money, by black mailing.
blackmailing ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Blackmail ::: n. --> The act or practice of extorting money by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation.
blackmail ::: n. --> A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage.
Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.
Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest
black monday ::: --> Easter Monday, so called from the severity of that day in 1360, which was so unusual that many of Edward III.&
black monk ::: --> A Benedictine monk.
blackmoor ::: n. --> See Blackamoor.
black-mouthed ::: a. --> Using foul or scurrilous language; slanderous.
blackness ::: n. --> The quality or state of being black; black color; atrociousness or enormity in wickedness.
blackpoll ::: n. --> A warbler of the United States (Dendroica striata).
black pudding ::: --> A kind of sausage made of blood, suet, etc., thickened with meal.
black rod ::: --> the usher to the Chapter of the Garter, so called from the black rod which he carries. He is of the king&
blackroot ::: n. --> See Colicroot.
blacksalter ::: n. --> One who makes crude potash, or black salts.
black salts ::: --> Crude potash.
blacksmith ::: n. --> A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils, horseshoes, etc.
A fish of the Pacific coast (Chromis, / Heliastes, punctipinnis), of a blackish color.
black snake ::: n. --> Alt. of Blacksnake
blacksnake ::: n. --> A snake of a black color, of which two species are common in the United States, the Bascanium constrictor, or racer, sometimes six feet long, and the Scotophis Alleghaniensis, seven or eight feet long.
blacks ::: n. pl. --> The name of a kind of in used in copperplate printing, prepared from the charred husks of the grape, and residue of the wine press.
Soot flying in the air.
Black garments, etc. See Black, n., 4.
blackstrap ::: n. --> A mixture of spirituous liquor (usually rum) and molasses.
Bad port wine; any common wine of the Mediterranean; -- so called by sailors.
blacktail ::: n. --> A fish; the ruff or pope.
The black-tailed deer (Cervus / Cariacus Columbianus) of California and Oregon; also, the mule deer of the Rocky Mountains. See Mule deer.
blackthorn ::: n. --> A spreading thorny shrub or small tree (Prunus spinosa), with blackish bark, and bearing little black plums, which are called sloes; the sloe.
A species of Crataegus or hawthorn (C. tomentosa). Both are used for hedges.
black vomit ::: --> A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever.
blackwash ::: n. --> A lotion made by mixing calomel and lime water.
A wash that blackens, as opposed to whitewash; hence, figuratively, calumny.
black wash ::: n. --> Alt. of Blackwash
blackwood ::: n. --> A name given to several dark-colored timbers. The East Indian black wood is from the tree Dalbergia latifolia.
blackwork ::: n. --> Work wrought by blacksmiths; -- so called in distinction from that wrought by whitesmiths.
beadsnake ::: n. --> A small poisonous snake of North America (Elaps fulvius), banded with yellow, red, and black.
beauseant ::: n. --> The black and white standard of the Knights Templars.
beetlehead ::: n. --> A stupid fellow; a blockhead.
The black-bellied plover, or bullhead (Squatarola helvetica). See Plover.
belladonna ::: n. --> An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade.
A species of Amaryllis (A. belladonna); the belladonna lily.
berretta ::: n. --> A square cap worn by ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic Church. A cardinal&
besmut ::: v. t. --> To blacken with smut; to foul with soot.
bilberry ::: n. --> The European whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus); also, its edible bluish black fruit.
Any similar plant or its fruit; esp., in America, the species Vaccinium myrtilloides, V. caespitosum and V. uliginosum.
bindweed ::: n. --> A plant of the genus Convolvulus; as, greater bindweed (C. Sepium); lesser bindweed (C. arvensis); the white, the blue, the Syrian, bindweed. The black bryony, or Tamus, is called black bindweed, and the Smilax aspera, rough bindweed.
biotite ::: n. --> Mica containing iron and magnesia, generally of a black or dark green color; -- a common constituent of crystalline rocks. See Mica.
birch ::: n. --> A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. lenta).
The wood or timber of the birch.
A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
A birch-bark canoe.
bird cherry ::: --> A shrub (Prunus Padus ) found in Northern and Central Europe. It bears small black cherries.
bison ::: n. --> The aurochs or European bison.
The American bison buffalo (Bison Americanus), a large, gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns, which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of North America, but is now restricted to very limited districts in the region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.
bitumen ::: n. --> Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew&
BLACK MAGIC. ::: Occultism of the adverse powers. The occultism of the divine Powers is quite different. One is based on unity, the other on division.
blek ::: v. t. --> To blacken; also, to defile.
blende ::: n. --> A mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock lead, false galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its color is usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous.
A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic luster.
boat-tail ::: n. --> A large grackle or blackbird (Quiscalus major), found in the Southern United States.
bobolink ::: n. --> An American singing bird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). The male is black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, ricebird, reedbird, and Boblincoln.
bogwood ::: n. --> The wood of trees, esp. of oaks, dug up from peat bogs. It is of a shining black or ebony color, and is largely used for making ornaments.
bohea ::: n. --> Bohea tea, an inferior kind of black tea. See under Tea.
bombazine ::: n. --> A twilled fabric for dresses, of which the warp is silk, and the weft worsted. Black bombazine has been much used for mourning garments.
boneblack ::: n. --> See Bone black, under Bone, n.
bonito ::: n. --> A large tropical fish (Orcynus pelamys) allied to the tunny. It is about three feet long, blue above, with four brown stripes on the sides. It is sometimes found on the American coast.
The skipjack (Sarda Mediterranea) of the Atlantic, an important and abundant food fish on the coast of the United States, and (S. Chilensis) of the Pacific, and other related species. They are large and active fishes, of a blue color with black oblique stripes.
The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an edible fish of the
bootblack ::: n. --> One who blacks boots.
boots ::: n. --> A servant at a hotel or elsewhere, who cleans and blacks the boots and shoes.
bosporus ::: n. --> A strait or narrow sea between two seas, or a lake and a seas; as, the Bosporus (formerly the Thracian Bosporus) or Strait of Constantinople, between the Black Sea and Sea of Marmora; the Cimmerian Bosporus, between the Black Sea and Sea of Azof.
bournonite ::: n. --> A mineral of a steel-gray to black color and metallic luster, occurring crystallized, often in twin crystals shaped like cogwheels (wheel ore), also massive. It is a sulphide of antimony, lead, and copper.
bramble ::: n. --> Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub.
The brambling or bramble finch.
branlin ::: n. --> A young salmon or parr, in the stage in which it has transverse black bands, as if burned by a gridiron.
A small red worm or larva, used as bait for small fresh-water fish; -- so called from its red color.
braunite ::: n. --> A native oxide of manganese, of dark brownish black color. It was named from a Mr. Braun of Gotha.
broadbill ::: n. --> A wild duck (Aythya, / Fuligula, marila), which appears in large numbers on the eastern coast of the United States, in autumn; -- called also bluebill, blackhead, raft duck, and scaup duck. See Scaup duck.
The shoveler. See Shoveler.
brown ::: superl. --> Of a dark color, of various shades between black and red or yellow. ::: n. --> A dark color inclining to red or yellow, resulting from the mixture of red and black, or of red, black, and yellow; a tawny, dusky hue.
brunswick black ::: --> See Japan black.
bugle ::: n. --> A sort of wild ox; a buffalo.
A horn used by hunters.
A copper instrument of the horn quality of tone, shorter and more conical that the trumpet, sometimes keyed; formerly much used in military bands, very rarely in the orchestra; now superseded by the cornet; -- called also the Kent bugle.
An elongated glass bead, of various colors, though commonly black.
bullhead ::: n. --> A fresh-water fish of many species, of the genus Uranidea, esp. U. gobio of Europe, and U. Richardsoni of the United States; -- called also miller&
calamander wood ::: --> A valuable furniture wood from India and Ceylon, of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a species of ebony, and is obtained from the Diospyros quaesita. Called also Coromandel wood.
calk ::: v. t. --> To drive tarred oakum into the seams between the planks of (a ship, boat, etc.), to prevent leaking. The calking is completed by smearing the seams with melted pitch.
To make an indentation in the edge of a metal plate, as along a seam in a steam boiler or an iron ship, to force the edge of the upper plate hard against the lower and so fill the crevice.
To copy, as a drawing, by rubbing the back of it with red or black chalk, and then passing a blunt style or needle over the
cannel coal ::: --> A kind of mineral coal of a black color, sufficiently hard and solid to be cut and polished. It burns readily, with a clear, yellow flame, and on this account has been used as a substitute for candles.
caracal ::: n. --> A lynx (Felis, or Lynx, caracal.) It is a native of Africa and Asia. Its ears are black externally, and tipped with long black hairs.
caramel ::: n. --> Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring spirits, gravies, etc.
A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor.
carbonado ::: n. --> Flesh, fowl, etc., cut across, seasoned, and broiled on coals; a chop.
A black variety of diamond, found in Brazil, and used for diamond drills. It occurs in irregular or rounded fragments, rarely distinctly crystallized, with a texture varying from compact to porous. ::: v. t.
carbon ::: n. --> An elementary substance, not metallic in its nature, which is present in all organic compounds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it is combustible, and forms the base of lampblack and charcoal, and enters largely into mineral coals. In its pure crystallized state it constitutes the diamond, the hardest of known substances, occuring in monometric crystals like the octahedron, etc. Another modification is graphite, or blacklead, and in this it is soft, and occurs in hexagonal prisms or tables. When united with oxygen it forms carbon dioxide,
cassiterite ::: n. --> Native tin dioxide; tin stone; a mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals of reddish brown color, and brilliant adamantine luster; also massive, sometimes in compact forms with concentric fibrous structure resembling wood (wood tin), also in rolled fragments or pebbly (Stream tin). It is the chief source of metallic tin. See Black tin, under Black.
catalytic ::: a. --> Relating to, or causing, catalysis. ::: n. --> An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.
caucasian ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to the Caucasus, a mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.
Of or pertaining to the white races of mankind, of whom the people about Mount Caucasus were formerly taken as the type. ::: n. --> A native or inhabitant of the Caucasus, esp. a
ceylanite ::: n. --> A dingy blue, or grayish black, variety of spinel. It is also called pleonaste.
chalcocite ::: n. --> Native copper sulphide, called also copper glance, and vitreous copper; a mineral of a black color and metallic luster.
chalk ::: n. --> A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone.
Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used in the same manner. See Crayon. ::: v. t.
charbon ::: n. --> A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become obliterated.
A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and cattle. See Maligmant pustule.
cherry ::: n. --> A tree or shrub of the genus Prunus (Which also includes the plum) bearing a fleshy drupe with a bony stone;
The common garden cherry (Prunus Cerasus), of which several hundred varieties are cultivated for the fruit, some of which are, the begarreau, blackheart, black Tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, May-duke (corrupted from Medoc in France).
The wild cherry; as, Prunus serotina (wild black cherry), valued for its timber; P. Virginiana (choke cherry), an American shrub
cheyennes ::: n. pl. --> A warlike tribe of indians, related to the blackfeet, formerly inhabiting the region of Wyoming, but now mostly on reservations in the Indian Territory. They are noted for their horsemanship.
chickadee ::: n. --> A small bird, the blackcap titmouse (Parus atricapillus), of North America; -- named from its note.
chough ::: n. --> A bird of the Crow family (Fregilus graculus) of Europe. It is of a black color, with a long, slender, curved bill and red legs; -- also called chauk, chauk-daw, chocard, Cornish chough, red-legged crow. The name is also applied to several allied birds, as the Alpine chough.
chromite ::: n. --> A black submetallic mineral consisting of oxide of chromium and iron; -- called also chromic iron.
A compound or salt of chromous hydroxide regarded as an acid.
chub ::: n. --> A species to fresh-water fish of the Cyprinidae or Carp family. The common European species is Leuciscus cephalus; the cheven. In America the name is applied to various fishes of the same family, of the genera Semotilus, Squalius, Ceratichthys, etc., and locally to several very different fishes, as the tautog, black bass, etc.
civet ::: n. --> A substance, of the consistence of butter or honey, taken from glands in the anal pouch of the civet (Viverra civetta). It is of clear yellowish or brownish color, of a strong, musky odor, offensive when undiluted, but agreeable when a small portion is mixed with another substance. It is used as a perfume.
The animal that produces civet (Viverra civetta); -- called also civet cat. It is carnivorous, from two to three feet long, and of a brownish gray color, with transverse black bands and spots on the
claude lorraine glass ::: --> A slightly convex mirror, commonly of black glass, used as a toy for viewing the reflected landscape.
coaita ::: n. --> The native name of certain South American monkeys of the genus Ateles, esp. A. paniscus. The black-faced coaita is Ateles ater. See Illustration in Appendix.
coal-black ::: a. --> As black as coal; jet black; very black.
coalgoose ::: n. --> The cormorant; -- so called from its black color.
coalmouse ::: n. --> A small species of titmouse, with a black head; the coletit.
coal ::: n. --> A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment from wood or other combustible substance; charcoal.
A black, or brownish black, solid, combustible substance, dug from beds or veins in the earth to be used for fuel, and consisting, like charcoal, mainly of carbon, but more compact, and often affording, when heated, a large amount of volatile matter. ::: v. t.
coal tar ::: --> A thick, black, tarry liquid, obtained by the distillation of bituminous coal in the manufacture of illuminating gas; used for making printer&
coaltit ::: n. --> A small European titmouse (Parus ater), so named from its black color; -- called also coalmouse and colemouse.
cockatoo ::: n. --> A bird of the Parrot family, of the subfamily Cacatuinae, having a short, strong, and much curved beak, and the head ornamented with a crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. There are several genera and many species; as the broad-crested (Plictolophus, / Cacatua, cristatus), the sulphur-crested (P. galeritus), etc. The palm or great black cockatoo of Australia is Microglossus aterrimus.
cockle ::: n. --> A bivalve mollusk, with radiating ribs, of the genus Cardium, especially C. edule, used in Europe for food; -- sometimes applied to similar shells of other genera.
A cockleshell.
The mineral black tourmaline or schorl; -- so called by the Cornish miners.
The fire chamber of a furnace.
A hop-drying kiln; an oast.
coleperch ::: n. --> A kind of small black perch.
colicroot ::: n. --> A bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with the leaves all radical, and the small yellow or white flowers in a long spike (Aletris farinosa and A. aurea). Called sometimes star grass, blackroot, blazing star, and unicorn root.
colly ::: n. --> The black grime or soot of coal.
A kind of dog. See Collie. ::: v. t. --> To render black or dark, as of with coal smut; to begrime.
colorado beetle ::: --> A yellowish beetle (Doryphora decemlineata), with ten longitudinal, black, dorsal stripes. It has migrated eastwards from its original habitat in Colorado, and is very destructive to the potato plant; -- called also potato beetle and potato bug. See Potato beetle.
coloradoite ::: n. --> Mercury telluride, an iron-black metallic mineral, found in Colorado.
colored ::: imp. & p. p. --> of Color ::: a. --> Having color; tinged; dyed; painted; stained.
Specious; plausible; adorned so as to appear well; as, a highly colored description.
Of some other color than black or white.
color ::: n. --> A property depending on the relations of light to the eye, by which individual and specific differences in the hues and tints of objects are apprehended in vision; as, gay colors; sad colors, etc.
Any hue distinguished from white or black.
The hue or color characteristic of good health and spirits; ruddy complexion.
That which is used to give color; a paint; a pigment; as, oil colors or water colors.
columbite ::: n. --> A mineral of a black color, submetallic luster, and high specific specific gravity. It is a niobate (or columbate) of iron and manganese, containing tantalate of iron; -- first found in New England.
comedo ::: n. --> A small nodule or cystic tumor, common on the nose, etc., which on pressure allows the escape of a yellow wormlike mass of retained oily secretion, with a black head (dirt).
congo ::: n. --> Black tea, of higher grade (finer leaf and less dusty) than the present bohea. See Tea.
copperas ::: n. --> Green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; a green crystalline substance, of an astringent taste, used in making ink, in dyeing black, as a tonic in medicine, etc. It is made on a large scale by the oxidation of iron pyrites. Called also ferrous sulphate.
cormorant ::: n. --> Any species of Phalacrocorax, a genus of sea birds having a sac under the beak; the shag. Cormorants devour fish voraciously, and have become the emblem of gluttony. They are generally black, and hence are called sea ravens, and coalgeese.
A voracious eater; a glutton, or gluttonous servant.
cowbird ::: n. --> The cow blackbird (Molothrus ater), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; -- so called because frequently associated with cattle.
cowwheat ::: n. --> A weed of the genus Melampyrum, with black seeds, found on European wheatfields.
crape ::: n. --> A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments, also for the dress of some clergymen.
To form into ringlets; to curl; to crimp; to friz; as, to crape the hair; to crape silk.
creeper ::: n. --> One who, or that which, creeps; any creeping thing.
A plant that clings by rootlets, or by tendrils, to the ground, or to trees, etc.; as, the Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia).
A small bird of the genus Certhia, allied to the wrens. The brown or common European creeper is C. familiaris, a variety of which (var. Americana) inhabits America; -- called also tree creeper and creeptree. The American black and white creeper is Mniotilta varia.
crock ::: n. --> The loose black particles collected from combustion, as on pots and kettles, or in a chimney; soot; smut; also, coloring matter which rubs off from cloth.
A low stool.
Any piece of crockery, especially of coarse earthenware; an earthen pot or pitcher. ::: v. t.
crowberry ::: n. --> A heathlike plant of the genus Empetrum, and its fruit, a black, scarcely edible berry; -- also called crakeberry.
crow ::: v. i. --> To make the shrill sound characteristic of a cock, either in joy, gayety, or defiance.
To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
To utter a sound expressive of joy or pleasure.
A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles. It has a harsh, croaking note. See Caw.
A bar of iron with a beak, crook, or claw; a bar of iron
curari ::: n. --> A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison.
dark ::: a. --> Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion.
Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; hidden.
Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual darkness; unrefined; ignorant.
dark ::: adj. 1. Lacking or having very little light. 2. Concealed or secret; mysterious. 3. Difficult to understand; obscure. 4. Characterized by gloom; dismal. 5. Fig. Sinister; evil; absent moral or spiritual values. 6. (used of color) Having a dark hue; almost black. 7. Showing a brooding ill humor. 8. Having a complexion that is not fair; swarthy. darker, darkest, dark-browed, dark-robed.* n. 9. Absence of light; dark state or condition; darkness, esp. that of night. 10. A dark place: a place of darkness. 11. The condition of being hidden from view, obscure, or unknown; obscurity. *in the dark: in concealment or secrecy.
darken ::: a. --> To make dark or black; to deprive of light; to obscure; as, a darkened room.
To render dim; to deprive of vision.
To cloud, obscure, or perplex; to render less clear or intelligible.
To cast a gloom upon.
To make foul; to sully; to tarnish.
darkness ::: n. --> The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom.
A state of privacy; secrecy.
A state of ignorance or error, especially on moral or religious subjects; hence, wickedness; impurity.
Want of clearness or perspicuity; obscurity; as, the darkness of a subject, or of a discussion.
A state of distress or trouble.
darr ::: n. --> The European black tern.
“death’s black eagles …”
deductor ::: n. --> The pilot whale or blackfish.
demonomagy ::: n. --> Magic in which the aid of demons is invoked; black or infernal magic.
denigrate ::: v. t. --> To blacken thoroughly; to make very black.
Fig.: To blacken or sully; to defame.
denigration ::: n. --> The act of making black.
Fig.: A blackening; defamation.
denigrator ::: n. --> One who, or that which, blackens.
dewberry ::: n. --> The fruit of certain species of bramble (Rubus); in England, the fruit of R. caesius, which has a glaucous bloom; in America, that of R. canadensis and R. hispidus, species of low blackberries.
The plant which bears the fruit.
dickcissel ::: n. --> The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).
dopplerite ::: n. --> A brownish black native hydrocarbon occurring in elastic or jellylike masses.
dragon ::: “the black dragon of the Inconscience sustains with its vast wings and its back of darkness the whole structure of the material universe; its energies unroll the flux of things, its obscure intimations seem to be the starting-point of consciousness itself and the source of all life-impulse.” The Life Divine
drongo ::: n. --> A passerine bird of the family Dicruridae. They are usually black with a deeply forked tail. They are natives of Asia, Africa, and Australia; -- called also drongo shrikes.
drupelet ::: n. --> A small drupe, as one of the pulpy grains of the blackberry.
dufrenite ::: n. --> A mineral of a blackish green color, commonly massive or in nodules. It is a hydrous phosphate of iron.
dusk ::: a. --> Tending to darkness or blackness; moderately dark or black; dusky. ::: n. --> Imperfect obscurity; a middle degree between light and darkness; twilight; as, the dusk of the evening.
A darkish color.
dusky ::: a. --> Partially dark or obscure; not luminous; dusk; as, a dusky valley.
Tending to blackness in color; partially black; dark-colored; not bright; as, a dusky brown.
Gloomy; sad; melancholy.
Intellectually clouded.
dwale ::: a. --> The deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), having stupefying qualities.
The tincture sable or black when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.
A sleeping potion; an opiate.
earcockle ::: n. --> A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.
ebon ::: a. --> Consisting of ebony.
Like ebony, especially in color; black; dark. ::: n. --> Ebony.
ebonite ::: n. --> A hard, black variety of vulcanite. It may be cut and polished, and is used for many small articles, as combs and buttons, and for insulating material in electric apparatus.
ebonize ::: v. t. --> To make black, or stain black, in imitation of ebony; as, to ebonize wood.
ebony ::: a deep, lustrous black (after the wood of the same colour).
ebony ::: n. --> A hard, heavy, and durable wood, which admits of a fine polish or gloss. The usual color is black, but it also occurs red or green. ::: a. --> Made of ebony, or resembling ebony; black; as, an ebony countenance.
ecchymosis ::: n. --> A livid or black and blue spot, produced by the extravasation or effusion of blood into the areolar tissue from a contusion.
elaterite ::: n. --> A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft, flexible masses; -- called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic bitumen.
enargite ::: n. --> An iron-black mineral of metallic luster, occurring in small orthorhombic crystals, also massive. It contains sulphur, arsenic, copper, and often silver.
ergot ::: n. --> A diseased condition of rye and other cereals, in which the grains become black, and often spur-shaped. It is caused by a parasitic fungus, Claviceps purpurea.
The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest bleeding.
A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut,
ermine ::: n. --> A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M. erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black.
The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc., by having the tips of the tails, which are black, arranged at regular intervals throughout the white.
ethiopian ::: n. --> A native or inhabitant of Ethiopia; also, in a general sense, a negro or black man. ::: a. --> Alt. of Ethiopic
ethiops ::: n. --> A black substance; -- formerly applied to various preparations of a black or very dark color.
euxenite ::: n. --> A brownish black mineral with a metallic luster, found in Norway. It contains niobium, titanium, yttrium, and uranium, with some other metals.
fathead ::: n. --> A cyprinoid fish of the Mississippi valley (Pimephales promelas); -- called also black-headed minnow.
A labroid food fish of California; the redfish.
fayalite ::: n. --> A black, greenish, or brownish mineral of the chrysolite group. It is a silicate of iron.
fergusonite ::: n. --> A mineral of a brownish black color, essentially a tantalo-niobate of yttrium, erbium, and cerium; -- so called after Robert Ferguson.
fisher ::: n. --> One who fishes.
A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela Canadensis); the pekan; the "black cat."
fitch ::: n. --> A vetch.
A word found in the Authorized Version of the Bible, representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27, it means the black aromatic seeds of Nigella sativa, still used as a flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads spelt.
The European polecat; also, its fur.
flint ::: n. --> A massive, somewhat impure variety of quartz, in color usually of a gray to brown or nearly black, breaking with a conchoidal fracture and sharp edge. It is very hard, and strikes fire with steel.
A piece of flint for striking fire; -- formerly much used, esp. in the hammers of gun locks.
Anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding, like flint.
foin ::: n. --> The beech marten (Mustela foina). See Marten.
A kind of fur, black at the top on a whitish ground, taken from the ferret or weasel of the same name.
A pass in fencing; a lunge. ::: v. i. --> To thrust with a sword or spear; to lunge.
forblack ::: a. --> Very black.
frankfort black ::: --> A black pigment used in copperplate printing, prepared by burning vine twigs, the lees of wine, etc.
friar ::: n. --> A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz: (a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans. (b) Augustines. (c) Dominicans or Black Friars. (d) White Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
A white or pale patch on a printed page.
An American fish; the silversides.
fucoid ::: a. --> Properly, belonging to an order of alga: (Fucoideae) which are blackish in color, and produce oospores which are not fertilized until they have escaped from the conceptacle. The common rockweeds and the gulfweed (Sargassum) are fucoid in character.
In a vague sense, resembling seaweeds, or of the nature of seaweeds. ::: n.
fuscous ::: a. --> Brown or grayish black; darkish.
gadolinite ::: n. --> A mineral of a nearly black color and vitreous luster, and consisting principally of the silicates of yttrium, cerium, and iron.
gazel ::: n. --> The black currant; also, the wild plum.
See Gazelle.
gnat ::: n. --> A blood-sucking dipterous fly, of the genus Culex, undergoing a metamorphosis in water. The females have a proboscis armed with needlelike organs for penetrating the skin of animals. These are wanting in the males. In America they are generally called mosquitoes. See Mosquito.
Any fly resembling a Culex in form or habits; esp., in America, a small biting fly of the genus Simulium and allies, as the buffalo gnat, the black fly, etc.
godwit ::: n. --> One of several species of long-billed, wading birds of the genus Limosa, and family Tringidae. The European black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), the American marbled godwit (L. fedoa), the Hudsonian godwit (L. haemastica), and others, are valued as game birds. Called also godwin.
goethite ::: n. --> A hydrous oxide of iron, occurring in prismatic crystals, also massive, with a fibrous, reniform, or stalactitic structure. The color varies from yellowish to blackish brown.
golden Child ::: Sri Aurobindo: "I suppose the golden child is the Truth-Soul which follows after the silver light of the spiritual. When it plunges into the black waters of the subconscient, it releases from it the spiritual light and the sevenfold streams of the Divine Energy and, clearing itself of the stains of the subconscient, it prepares its flight towards the supreme Divine (the Mother).” (Reply to a question in the chapter Visions and Symbols.) Letters on Yoga
goldfinch ::: n. --> A beautiful bright-colored European finch (Carduelis elegans). The name refers to the large patch of yellow on the wings. The front of the head and throat are bright red; the nape, with part of the wings and tail, black; -- called also goldspink, goldie, fool&
gome ::: n. --> A man.
The black grease on the axle of a cart or wagon wheel; -- called also gorm. See Gorm.
gomuti ::: n. --> A black, fibrous substance resembling horsehair, obtained from the leafstalks of two kinds of palms, Metroxylon Sagu, and Arenga saccharifera, of the Indian islands. It is used for making cordage. Called also ejoo.
gondola ::: n. --> A long, narrow boat with a high prow and stern, used in the canals of Venice. A gondola is usually propelled by one or two oarsmen who stand facing the prow, or by poling. A gondola for passengers has a small open cabin amidships, for their protection against the sun or rain. A sumptuary law of Venice required that gondolas should be painted black, and they are customarily so painted now.
A flat-bottomed boat for freight.
grackle ::: n. --> One of several American blackbirds, of the family Icteridae; as, the rusty grackle (Scolecophagus Carolinus); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle (Quiscalus quiscula, or Q. versicolor). See Crow blackbird, under Crow.
An Asiatic bird of the genus Gracula. See Myna.
graphite ::: n. --> Native carbon in hexagonal crystals, also foliated or granular massive, of black color and metallic luster, and so soft as to leave a trace on paper. It is used for pencils (improperly called lead pencils), for crucibles, and as a lubricator, etc. Often called plumbago or black lead.
grass tree ::: --> An Australian plant of the genus Xanthorrhoea, having a thick trunk crowned with a dense tuft of pendulous, grasslike leaves, from the center of which arises a long stem, bearing at its summit a dense flower spike looking somewhat like a large cat-tail. These plants are often called "blackboys" from the large trunks denuded and blackened by fire. They yield two kinds of fragrant resin, called Botany-bay gum, and Gum Acaroides.
A similar Australian plant (Kingia australis).
gray ::: superl. --> White mixed with black, as the color of pepper and salt, or of ashes, or of hair whitened by age; sometimes, a dark mixed color; as, the soft gray eye of a dove.
Gray-haired; gray-headed; of a gray color; hoary.
Old; mature; as, gray experience. Ames. ::: n.
grey ::: 1. A neutral tone, intermediate between black and white, that has no hue and reflects and transmits only a little light. 2.* Fig. Dismal or dark, esp. from lack of light; gloomy. 3. Dull, dreary or monotonous. 4. Used often in reference to twilight or a gloomy or an overcast day. greyer, grey-eyed, grey-hued, silver-grey. n. *greyness.
grime ::: n. --> Foul matter; dirt, rubbed in; sullying blackness, deeply ingrained. ::: v. t. --> To sully or soil deeply; to dirt.
grimme ::: n. --> A West African antelope (Cephalophus rufilotus) of a deep bay color, with a broad dorsal stripe of black; -- called also conquetoon.
griseous ::: a. --> Of a light color, or white, mottled with black or brown; grizzled or grizzly.
grison ::: n. --> A South American animal of the family Mustelidae (Galictis vittata). It is about two feet long, exclusive of the tail. Its under parts are black. Also called South American glutton.
A South American monkey (Lagothrix infumatus), said to be gluttonous.
grivet ::: n. --> A monkey of the upper Nile and Abyssinia (Cercopithecus griseo-viridis), having the upper parts dull green, the lower parts white, the hands, ears, and face black. It was known to the ancient Egyptians. Called also tota.
grizzled ::: a. --> Gray; grayish; sprinkled or mixed with gray; of a mixed white and black.
grizzle ::: n. --> Gray; a gray color; a mixture of white and black.
grouper ::: n. --> One of several species of valuable food fishes of the genus Epinephelus, of the family Serranidae, as the red grouper, or brown snapper (E. morio), and the black grouper, or warsaw (E. nigritus), both from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
The tripletail (Lobotes).
In California, the name is often applied to the rockfishes.
growler ::: n. --> One who growls.
The large-mouthed black bass.
A four-wheeled cab.
grunt ::: v. t. --> To make a deep, short noise, as a hog; to utter a short groan or a deep guttural sound. ::: n. --> A deep, guttural sound, as of a hog.
Any one of several species of American food fishes, of the genus Haemulon, allied to the snappers, as, the black grunt (A.
guereza ::: n. --> A beautiful Abyssinian monkey (Colobus guereza), having the body black, with a fringe of long, silky, white hair along the sides, and a tuft of the same at the end of the tail. The frontal band, cheeks, and chin are white.
gunpowder ::: n. --> A black, granular, explosive substance, consisting of an intimate mechanical mixture of niter, charcoal, and sulphur. It is used in gunnery and blasting.
gyrfalcon ::: n. --> One of several species and varieties of large Arctic falcons, esp. Falco rusticolus and the white species F. Islandicus, both of which are circumpolar. The black and the gray are varieties of the former. See Illust. of Accipiter.
haddock ::: n. --> A marine food fish (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), allied to the cod, inhabiting the northern coasts of Europe and America. It has a dark lateral line and a black spot on each side of the body, just back of the gills. Galled also haddie, and dickie.
hagdon ::: n. --> One of several species of sea birds of the genus Puffinus; esp., P. major, the greater shearwarter, and P. Stricklandi, the black hagdon or sooty shearwater; -- called also hagdown, haglin, and hag. See Shearwater.
half-moon ::: n. --> The moon at the quarters, when half its disk appears illuminated.
The shape of a half-moon; a crescent.
An outwork composed of two faces, forming a salient angle whose gorge resembles a half-moon; -- now called a ravelin.
A marine, sparoid, food fish of California (Caesiosoma Californiense). The body is ovate, blackish above, blue or gray below. Called also medialuna.
hartbeest ::: n. --> A large South African antelope (Alcelaphus caama), formerly much more abundant than it is now. The face and legs are marked with black, the rump with white.
hatband ::: n. --> A band round the crown of a hat; sometimes, a band of black cloth, crape, etc., worn as a badge of mourning.
hauerite ::: n. --> Native sulphide of manganese a reddish brown or brownish black mineral.
hausen ::: n. --> A large sturgeon (Acipenser huso) from the region of the Black Sea. It is sometimes twelve feet long.
haybird ::: n. --> The European spotted flycatcher.
The European blackcap.
heelball ::: n. --> A composition of wax and lampblack, used by shoemakers for polishing, and by antiquaries in copying inscriptions.
heliconia ::: n. --> One of numerous species of Heliconius, a genus of tropical American butterflies. The wings are usually black, marked with green, crimson, and white.
hellebore ::: n. --> A genus of perennial herbs (Helleborus) of the Crowfoot family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and even poisonous qualities. H. niger is the European black hellebore, or Christmas rose, blossoming in winter or earliest spring. H. officinalis was the officinal hellebore of the ancients.
Any plant of several species of the poisonous liliaceous genus Veratrum, especially V. album and V. viride, both called white hellebore.
hematin ::: n. --> Hematoxylin.
A bluish black, amorphous substance containing iron and obtained from blood. It exists the red blood corpuscles united with globulin, and the form of hemoglobin or oxyhemoglobin gives to the blood its red color.
henware ::: n. --> A coarse, blackish seaweed. See Badderlocks.
hisingerite ::: n. --> A soft black, iron ore, nearly earthy, a hydrous silicate of iron.
hoolock ::: n. --> A small black gibbon (Hylobates hoolock), found in the mountains of Assam.
hornblende ::: n. --> The common black, or dark green or brown, variety of amphibole. (See Amphibole.) It belongs to the aluminous division of the species, and is also characterized by its containing considerable iron. Also used as a general term to include the whole species.
hornsnake ::: n. --> A harmless snake (Farancia abacura), found in the Southern United States. The color is bluish black above, red below.
hubner ::: n. --> A mineral of brownish black color, occurring in columnar or foliated masses. It is native manganese tungstate.
huckleberry ::: n. --> The edible black or dark blue fruit of several species of the American genus Gaylussacia, shrubs nearly related to the blueberries (Vaccinium), and formerly confused with them. The commonest huckelberry comes from G. resinosa.
The shrub that bears the berries. Called also whortleberry.
huso ::: n. --> A large European sturgeon (Acipenser huso), inhabiting the region of the Black and Caspian Seas. It sometimes attains a length of more than twelve feet, and a weight of two thousand pounds. Called also hausen.
The huchen, a large salmon.
hyoscyamus ::: n. --> A genus of poisonous plants of the Nightshade family; henbane.
The leaves of the black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), used in neuralgic and pectorial troubles.
hypersthene ::: n. --> An orthorhombic mineral of the pyroxene group, of a grayish or greenish black color, often with a peculiar bronzelike luster (schiller) on the cleavage surface.
ilvaite ::: n. --> A silicate of iron and lime occurring in black prismatic crystals and columnar masses.
imbue ::: v. t. --> To tinge deeply; to dye; to cause to absorb; as, clothes thoroughly imbued with black.
To tincture deply; to cause to become impressed or penetrated; as, to imbue the minds of youth with good principles.
induline ::: n. --> Any one of a large series of aniline dyes, colored blue or violet, and represented by aniline violet.
A dark green amorphous dyestuff, produced by the oxidation of aniline in the presence of copper or vanadium salts; -- called also aniline black.
infuscated ::: a. --> Darkened with a blackish tinge.
infuscate ::: v. t. --> To darken; to make black; to obscure.
inkiness ::: n. --> The state or quality of being inky; blackness.
ink ::: n. --> The step, or socket, in which the lower end of a millstone spindle runs.
A fluid, or a viscous material or preparation of various kinds (commonly black or colored), used in writing or printing.
A pigment. See India ink, under India. ::: v. t.
inky ::: a. --> Consisting of, or resembling, ink; soiled with ink; black.
inky ::: resembling ink, esp. in colour; dark or black.
intuition ::: n. --> A looking after; a regard to.
Direct apprehension or cognition; immediate knowledge, as in perception or consciousness; -- distinguished from "mediate" knowledge, as in reasoning; as, the mind knows by intuition that black is not white, that a circle is not a square, that three are more than two, etc.; quick or ready insight or apprehension.
Any object or truth discerned by direct cognition; especially, a first or primary truth.
ipecacuanha ::: n. --> The root of a Brazilian rubiaceous herb (Cephaelis Ipecacuanha), largely employed as an emetic; also, the plant itself; also, a medicinal extract of the root. Many other plants are used as a substitutes; among them are the black or Peruvian ipecac (Psychotria emetica), the white ipecac (Ionidium Ipecacuanha), the bastard or wild ipecac (Asclepias Curassavica), and the undulated ipecac (Richardsonia scabra).
ironsmith ::: n. --> A worker in iron; one who makes and repairs utensils of iron; a blacksmith.
An East Indian barbet (Megalaima faber), inhabiting the Island of Hainan. The name alludes to its note, which resembles the sounds made by a smith.
isabella moth ::: --> A common American moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), of an isabella color. The larva, called woolly bear and hedgehog caterpillar, is densely covered with hairs, which are black at each end of the body, and red in the middle part.
“I suppose the golden child is the Truth-Soul which follows after the silver light of the spiritual. When it plunges into the black waters of the subconscient, it releases from it the spiritual light and the sevenfold streams of the Divine Energy and, clearing itself of the stains of the subconscient, it prepares its flight towards the supreme Divine (the Mother).” (Reply to a question in the chapter Visions and Symbols.) Letters on Yoga
ivory-bill ::: n. --> A large, handsome, North American woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), having a large, sharp, ivory-colored beak. Its general color is glossy black, with white secondaries, and a white dorsal stripe. The male has a large, scarlet crest. It is now rare, and found only in the Gulf States.
ivy ::: n. --> A plant of the genus Hedera (H. helix), common in Europe. Its leaves are evergreen, dark, smooth, shining, and mostly five-pointed; the flowers yellowish and small; the berries black or yellow. The stem clings to walls and trees by rootlike fibers.
jaguarondi ::: n. --> A South American wild cat (Felis jaguarondi), having a long, slim body and very short legs. Its color is grayish brown, varied with a blackish hue. It is arboreal in its habits and feeds mostly on birds.
japanner ::: n. --> One who varnishes in the manner of the Japanese, or one skilled in the art.
A bootblack.
jararaca ::: n. --> A poisonous serpent of Brazil (Bothrops jararaca), about eighteen inches long, and of a dusky, brownish color, variegated with red and black spots.
jet-black ::: a. --> Black as jet; deep black. html{color:
jet ::: n. --> Same as 2d Get.
A variety of lignite, of a very compact texture and velvet black color, susceptible of a good polish, and often wrought into mourning jewelry, toys, buttons, etc. Formerly called also black amber.
A shooting forth; a spouting; a spurt; a sudden rush or gush, as of water from a pipe, or of flame from an orifice; also, that which issues in a jet.
Drift; scope; range, as of an argument.
jettiness ::: n. --> The state of being jetty; blackness.
jewfish ::: n. --> A very large serranoid fish (Promicrops itaiara) of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It often reaches the weight of five hundred pounds. Its color is olivaceous or yellowish, with numerous brown spots. Called also guasa, and warsaw.
A similar gigantic fish (Stereolepis gigas) of Southern California, valued as a food fish.
The black grouper of Florida and Texas.
A large herringlike fish; the tarpum.
Jhumur: “ I think Amal and many others have talked about it. Sri Aurobindo is talking about the mind. Two powers and yet it is the same bird. At a certain level of our mental approach we perceive by opposites, we only see half the truth and only understand this half in relation only to the other. If this is white, this has to be black. And yet, it is one bird. It is fundamentally one truth, that is the mystic truth. Beyond the opposition there is the wholeness which sometimes we don’t perceive. We are so busy looking at the black head or the white tail and finding opposites.”
Jhumur: “Mother speaks of the four great asuras who seem to have taken over the world. The earth becomes the fulcrum or territory of these forces. The Kaliyuga is exactly the world that has been taken over by the dark forces. And iron is that which doesn’t like to change or to reflect light. It is not transparent so there is a sense of resistance, of hardness, of darkness. The Indian word Kala, which is ‘time’ is also one of the names of death. From that you have also Kali. It is darkness, associated with blackness and yet it is also time, mortality.”
juglandin ::: n. --> An extractive matter contained in the juice of the green shucks of the walnut (Juglans regia). It is used medicinally as an alterative, and also as a black hair dye.
juglans ::: n. --> A genus of valuable trees, including the true walnut of Europe, and the America black walnut, and butternut.
kagu ::: n. --> A singular, crested, grallatorial bird (Rhinochetos jubatus), native of New Caledonia. It is gray above, paler beneath, and the feathers of the wings and tail are handsomely barred with brown, black, and gray. It is allied to the sun bittern.
kali ::: n. --> The last and worst of the four ages of the world; -- considered to have begun B. C. 3102, and to last 432,000 years.
The black, destroying goddess; -- called also Doorga, Anna Purna.
The glasswort (Salsola Kali).
keelivine ::: n. --> A pencil of black or red lead; -- called also keelyvine pen.
keilhau-ite ::: n. --> A mineral of a brownish black color, related to titanite in form. It consists chiefly of silica, titanium dioxide, lime, and yttria.
keitloa ::: n. --> A black, two-horned, African rhinoceros (Atelodus keitloa). It has the posterior horn about as long as the anterior one, or even longer.
kelp ::: n. --> The calcined ashes of seaweed, -- formerly much used in the manufacture of glass, now used in the manufacture of iodine.
Any large blackish seaweed.
kelt ::: n. --> See Kilt, n.
Cloth with the nap, generally of native black wool.
A salmon after spawning.
Same as Celt, one of Celtic race.
kestrel ::: n. --> A small, slender European hawk (Falco alaudarius), allied to the sparrow hawk. Its color is reddish fawn, streaked and spotted with white and black. Also called windhover and stannel. The name is also applied to other allied species.
killifish ::: n. --> Any one of several small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus and allied genera. They live equally well in fresh and brackish water, or even in the sea. They are usually striped or barred with black. Called also minnow, and brook fish. See Minnow.
killow ::: n. --> An earth of a blackish or deep blue color.
kingbird ::: n. --> A small American bird (Tyrannus tyrannus, or T. Carolinensis), noted for its courage in attacking larger birds, even hawks and eagles, especially when they approach its nest in the breeding season. It is a typical tyrant flycatcher, taking various insects upon the wing. It is dark ash above, and blackish on the head and tail. The quills and wing coverts are whitish at the edges. It is white beneath, with a white terminal band on the tail. The feathers on the head of the adults show a bright orange basal spot when erected.
king charles spaniel ::: --> A variety of small pet dogs, having, drooping ears, a high, dome-shaped forehead, pug nose, large, prominent eyes, and long, wavy hair. The color is usually black and tan.
kingstone ::: n. --> The black angel fish. See Angel fish, under Angel.
kirschwasser ::: n. --> An alcoholic liquor, obtained by distilling the fermented juice of the small black cherry.
kirumbo ::: n. --> A bird of Madagascar (Leptosomus discolor), the only living type of a family allied to the rollers. It has a pair of loral plumes. The male is glossy green above, with metallic reflections; the female is spotted with brown and black.
kittiwake ::: n. --> A northern gull (Rissa tridactyla), inhabiting the coasts of Europe and America. It is white, with black tips to the wings, and has but three toes.
knapweed ::: n. --> The black centaury (Centaurea nigra); -- so called from the knoblike heads of flowers. Called also bullweed.
kobellite ::: n. --> A blackish gray mineral, a sulphide of antimony, bismuth, and lead.
konze ::: n. --> A large African antelope (Alcelaphus Lichtensteini), allied to the hartbeest, but having shorter and flatter horns, and lacking a black patch on the face.
korrigum ::: n. --> A West African antelope (Damalis Senegalensis), allied to the sassaby. It is reddish gray, with a black face, and a black stripe on the outside of the legs above the knees.
krait ::: n. --> A very venomous snake of India (Bungarus coeruleus), allied to the cobra. Its upper parts are bluish or brownish black, often with narrow white streaks; the belly is whitish.
kra ::: n. --> A long-tailed ape (Macacus cynomolgus) of India and Sumatra. It is reddish olive, spotted with black, and has a black tail.
lammergeier ::: n. --> A very large vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), which inhabits the mountains of Southern Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. When full-grown it is nine or ten feet in extent of wings. It is brownish black above, with the under parts and neck rusty yellow; the forehead and crown white; the sides of the head and beard black. It feeds partly on carrion and partly on small animals, which it kills. It has the habit of carrying tortoises and marrow bones to a great height, and dropping them on stones to obtain the contents, and is therefore
lampblack ::: n. --> The fine impalpable soot obtained from the smoke of carbonaceous substances which have been only partly burnt, as in the flame of a smoking lamp. It consists of finely divided carbon, with sometimes a very small proportion of various impurities. It is used as an ingredient of printers&
lawyer ::: n. --> One versed in the laws, or a practitioner of law; one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients, or to advise as to prosecution or defence of lawsuits, or as to legal rights and obligations in other matters. It is a general term, comprehending attorneys, counselors, solicitors, barristers, sergeants, and advocates.
The black-necked stilt. See Stilt.
The bowfin (Amia calva).
leipoa ::: n. --> A genus of Australian gallinaceous birds including but a single species (Leipoa ocellata), about the size of a turkey. Its color is variegated, brown, black, white, and gray. Called also native pheasant.
leopard ::: n. --> A large, savage, carnivorous mammal (Felis leopardus). It is of a yellow or fawn color, with rings or roselike clusters of black spots along the back and sides. It is found in Southern Asia and Africa. By some the panther (Felis pardus) is regarded as a variety of leopard.
lepidomelane ::: n. --> An iron-potash mica, of a raven-black color, usually found in granitic rocks in small six-sided tables, or as an aggregation of minute opaque scales. See Mica.
letterwood ::: n. --> The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus Brosimum (B. Aubletii), found in Guiana; -- so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much used for bows and for walking sticks.
leucoethiopic ::: a. --> White and black; -- said of a white animal of a black species, or the albino of the negro race.
leucopathy ::: n. --> The state of an albino, or of a white child of black parents.
linsang ::: n. --> Any viverrine mammal of the genus Prionodon, inhabiting the East Indies and Southern Asia. The common East Indian linsang (P. gracilis) is white, crossed by broad, black bands. The Guinea linsang (Porana Richardsonii) is brown with black spots.
lion ::: n. --> A large carnivorous feline mammal (Felis leo), found in Southern Asia and in most parts of Africa, distinct varieties occurring in the different countries. The adult male, in most varieties, has a thick mane of long shaggy hair that adds to his apparent size, which is less than that of the largest tigers. The length, however, is sometimes eleven feet to the base of the tail. The color is a tawny yellow or yellowish brown; the mane is darker, and the terminal tuft of the tail is black. In one variety, called the maneless lion, the male has only a
livid ::: a. --> Black and blue; grayish blue; of a lead color; discolored, as flesh by contusion.
loutou ::: n. --> A crested black monkey (Semnopithecus maurus) of Java.
lucullite ::: n. --> A variety of black limestone, often polished for ornamental purposes.
ludwigite ::: n. --> A borate of iron and magnesia, occurring in fibrous masses of a blackish green color.
lyrated ::: a. --> Lyre-shaped, or spatulate and oblong, with small lobes toward the base; as, a lyrate leaf.
Shaped like a lyre, as the tail of the blackcock, or that of the lyre bird.
macrocystis ::: n. --> An immensely long blackish seaweed of the Pacific (Macrocystis pyrifera), having numerous almond-shaped air vessels.
magician ::: n. --> One skilled in magic; one who practices the black art; an enchanter; a necromancer; a sorcerer or sorceress; a conjurer.
magnase black ::: --> A black pigment which dries rapidly when mixed with oil, and is of intense body.
magnetite ::: n. --> An oxide of iron (Fe3O4) occurring in isometric crystals, also massive, of a black color and metallic luster. It is readily attracted by a magnet and sometimes possesses polarity, being then called loadstone. It is an important iron ore. Called also magnetic iron.
maharif ::: n. --> An African antelope (Hippotragus Bakeri). Its face is striped with black and white.
mamgabey ::: n. --> Any one of several African monkeys of the genus Cercocebus, as the sooty mangabey (C. fuliginosus), which is sooty black.
Man alive, your proposed emendations are an admirable exposition of the art of bringing a line down the steps till my poor "slow miraculous” above-mind line meant to give or begin the concrete portrayal of an act of some hidden Godhead finally becomes a mere metaphor thrown out from its more facile mint by a brilliantly imaginative poetic intelligence. First of all, you shift my "dimly” out of the way and transfer it to something to which it does not inwardly belongs make it an epithet of the gesture or an adverb qualifying its epithet instead of something that qualifies the atmosphere in which the act of the Godhead takes place. That is a preliminary havoc which destroys what is very important to the action, its atmosphere. I never intended the gesture to be dim, it is a luminous gesture, but forcing its way through the black quietude it comes dimly. Then again the bald phrase "a gesture came” without anything to psychicise it becomes simply something that "happened”, "came” being a poetic equivalent for "happened”, instead of the expression of the slow coming of the gesture. The words "slow” and "dimly” assure this sense of motion and this concreteness to the word"s sense here. Remove one or both whether entirely or elsewhere and you ruin the vision and change altogether its character. That is at least what happens wholly in your penultimate version and as for the last its "came” gets another meaning and one feels that somebody very slowly decided to let out the gesture from himself and it was quite a miracle that it came out at all! "Dimly miraculous” means what precisely or what "miraculously dim” — it was miraculous that it managed to be so dim or there was something vaguely miraculous about it after all? No doubt they try to mean something else — but these interpretations come in their way and trip them over. The only thing that can stand is the first version which is no doubt fine poetry, but the trouble is that it does not give the effect I wanted to give, the effect which is necessary for the dawn"s inner significance. Moreover, what becomes of the slow lingering rhythm of my line which is absolutely indispensable? Letters on Savitri
Man alive, your proposed emendations are an admirable exposition of the art of bringing a line down the steps till my poor”slow miraculous” above-mind line meant to give or begin the concrete portrayal of an act of some hidden Godhead finally becomes a mere metaphor thrown out from its more facile mint by a brilliantly imaginative poetic intelligence. First of all, you shift my”dimly” out of the way and transfer it to something to which it does not inwardly belongs make it an epithet of the gesture or an adverb qualifying its epithet instead of something that qualifies the atmosphere in which the act of the Godhead takes place. That is a preliminary havoc which destroys what is very important to the action, its atmosphere. I never intended the gesture to be dim, it is a luminous gesture, but forcing its way through the black quietude it comes dimly. Then again the bald phrase”a gesture came” without anything to psychicise it becomes simply something that”happened”,”came” being a poetic equivalent for”happened”, instead of the expression of the slow coming of the gesture. The words”slow” and”dimly” assure this sense of motion and this concreteness to the word’s sense here. Remove one or both whether entirely or elsewhere and you ruin the vision and change altogether its character. That is at least what happens wholly in your penultimate version and as for the last its”came” gets another meaning and one feels that somebody very slowly decided to let out the gesture from himself and it was quite a miracle that it came out at all!”Dimly miraculous” means what precisely or what”miraculously dim”—it was miraculous that it managed to be so dim or there was something vaguely miraculous about it after all? No doubt they try to mean something else—but these interpretations come in their way and trip them over. The only thing that can stand is the first version which is no doubt fine poetry, but the trouble is that it does not give the effect I wanted to give, the effect which is necessary for the dawn’s inner significance. Moreover, what becomes of the slow lingering rhythm of my line which is absolutely indispensable? Letters on Savitri
manganite ::: n. --> One of the oxides of manganese; -- called also gray manganese ore. It occurs in brilliant steel-gray or iron-black crystals, also massive.
A compound of manganese dioxide with a metallic oxide; so called as though derived from the hypothetical manganous acid.
marble ::: n. --> A massive, compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being polished and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The color varies from white to black, being sometimes yellow, red, and green, and frequently beautifully veined or clouded. The name is also given to other rocks of like use and appearance, as serpentine or verd antique marble, and less properly to polished porphyry, granite, etc.
A thing made of, or resembling, marble, as a work of art, or record, in marble; or, in the plural, a collection of such works;
margay ::: n. --> An American wild cat (Felis tigrina), ranging from Mexico to Brazil. It is spotted with black. Called also long-tailed cat.
marmatite ::: n. --> A ferruginous variety of shalerite or zinc blende, nearly black in color.
massasauga ::: n. --> The black rattlesnake (Crotalus, / Caudisona, tergemina), found in the Mississippi Valley.
matador ::: n. --> The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights.
In the game of quadrille or omber, the three principal trumps, the ace of spades being the first, the ace of clubs the third, and the second being the deuce of a black trump or the seven of a red one.
matrix ::: n. --> The womb.
Hence, that which gives form or origin to anything
The cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die; a mold, as for the face of a type.
The earthy or stony substance in which metallic ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue.
The five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed.
matte ::: n. --> A partly reduced copper sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse metal, fine metal, etc., according to the grade of fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh surface is yellow or bronzy in color.
A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is purposely deprived of gloss.
mazard ::: n. --> A kind of small black cherry.
The jaw; the head or skull. ::: v. t. --> To knock on the head.
medic ::: n. --> A leguminous plant of the genus Medicago. The black medic is the Medicago lupulina; the purple medic, or lucern, is M. sativa. ::: a. --> Medical.
melaconite ::: n. --> An earthy black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other ores.
melaena ::: n. --> A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of altered blood.
melampode ::: n. --> The black hellebore.
melanaemia ::: n. --> A morbid condition in which the blood contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood corpuscles.
melanagogue ::: n. --> A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler.
melanic ::: a. --> Melanotic.
Of or pertaining to the black-haired races.
melanin ::: n. --> A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.
melanism ::: n. --> An undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of albinism.
A disease; black jaundice. See Mel/na.
melanite ::: n. --> A black variety of garnet.
melanocomous ::: a. --> Having very dark or black hair; black-haired.
melanorrhoea ::: n. --> An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrh/a usitatissima is the lignum-vitae of Pegu, and yelds a valuable black varnish.
melanoscope ::: n. --> An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.
melanosis ::: --> The morbid deposition of black matter, often of a malignant character, causing pigmented tumors.
melanosperm ::: n. --> An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp.
melanotype ::: n. --> A positive picture produced with sensitized collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture.
melastoma ::: n. --> A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.
menaccanite ::: n. --> An iron-black or steel-gray mineral, consisting chiefly of the oxides of iron and titanium. It is commonly massive, but occurs also in rhombohedral crystals. Called also titanic iron ore, and ilmenite.
merle ::: n. --> The European blackbird. See Blackbird.
mesh ::: 1. Any of the open spaces in a net or network; an interstice. 2. The cords, threads, or wires surrounding these spaces. Often used in the plural. meshes, black-meshed.
metacinnabarite ::: n. --> Sulphide of mercury in isometric form and black in color.
miargyrite ::: n. --> A mineral of an iron-black color, and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and silver.
mica ::: n. --> The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer.
mink ::: n. --> A carnivorous mammal of the genus Putorius, allied to the weasel. The European mink is Putorius lutreola. The common American mink (P. vison) varies from yellowish brown to black. Its fur is highly valued. Called also minx, nurik, and vison.
mino bird ::: --> An Asiatic bird (Gracula musica), allied to the starlings. It is black, with a white spot on the wings, and a pair of flat yellow wattles on the head. It is often tamed and taught to pronounce words.
miscegenation ::: n. --> A mixing of races; amalgamation, as by intermarriage of black and white.
moccasin ::: n. --> A shoe made of deerskin, or other soft leather, the sole and upper part being one piece. It is the customary shoe worn by the American Indians.
A poisonous snake of the Southern United States. The water moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus) is usually found in or near water. Above, it is olive brown, barred with black; beneath, it is brownish yellow, mottled with darker. The upland moccasin is Ancistrodon atrofuscus. They resemble rattlesnakes, but are without
moly ::: n. --> A fabulous herb of occult power, having a black root and white blossoms, said by Homer to have been given by Hermes to Ulysses to counteract the spells of Circe.
A kind of garlic (Allium Moly) with large yellow flowers; -- called also golden garlic.
monarch ::: n. --> A sole or supreme ruler; a sovereign; the highest ruler; an emperor, king, queen, prince, or chief.
One superior to all others of the same kind; as, an oak is called the monarch of the forest.
A patron deity or presiding genius.
A very large red and black butterfly (Danais Plexippus); -- called also milkweed butterfly.
mono ::: n. --> The black howler of Central America (Mycetes villosus).
mooruk ::: n. --> A species of cassowary (Casuarius Bennetti) found in New Britain, and noted for its agility in running and leaping. It is smaller and has stouter legs than the common cassowary. Its crest is biloted; the neck and breast are black; the back, rufous mixed with black; and the naked skin of the neck, blue.
morello ::: n. --> A kind of nearly black cherry with dark red flesh and juice, -- used chiefly for preserving.
morel ::: n. --> An edible fungus (Morchella esculenta), the upper part of which is covered with a reticulated and pitted hymenium. It is used as food, and for flavoring sauces.
Nightshade; -- so called from its blackish purple berries.
A kind of cherry. See Morello.
morone ::: n. --> Maroon; the color of an unripe black mulberry.
mourning ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Mourn ::: n. --> The act of sorrowing or expressing grief; lamentation; sorrow.
Garb, drapery, or emblems indicative of grief, esp. clothing or a badge of somber black.
mulberry ::: n. --> The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus; also, the tree itself. See Morus.
A dark pure color, like the hue of a black mulberry.
musquaw ::: n. --> The American black bear. See Bear.
mustard ::: n. --> The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica (formerly Sinapis), as white mustard (B. alba), black mustard (B. Nigra), wild mustard or charlock (B. Sinapistrum).
A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large doses is emetic.
myrtle ::: n. --> A species of the genus Myrtus, especially Myrtus communis. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.
nagyagite ::: n. --> A mineral of blackish lead-gray color and metallic luster, generally of a foliated massive structure; foliated tellurium. It is a telluride of lead and gold.
nandine ::: n. --> An African carnivore (Nandinia binotata), allied to the civets. It is spotted with black.
necromancy ::: n. --> The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art.
negress ::: n. --> A black woman; a female negro.
negrita ::: n. --> A blackish fish (Hypoplectrus nigricans), of the Sea-bass family. It is a native of the West Indies and Florida.
negro ::: n. --> A black man; especially, one of a race of black or very dark persons who inhabit the greater part of tropical Africa, and are distinguished by crisped or curly hair, flat noses, and thick protruding lips; also, any black person of unmixed African blood, wherever found. ::: a.
niello ::: n. --> A metallic alloy of a deep black color.
The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised designs filled with the black alloy.
A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.
An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.
nightshade ::: n. --> A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous.
nigraniline ::: n. --> The complex, nitrogenous, organic base and dyestuff called also aniline black.
nigrescent ::: a. --> Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness.
nigrification ::: n. --> The act or process of making black.
nigritude ::: n. --> Blackness; the state of being black.
nylgau ::: n. --> A large Asiatic antelope (Boselaphus, / Portax, tragocamelus), found in Northern India. It has short horns, a black mane, and a bunch of long hair on the throat. The general color is grayish brown.
obsidian ::: n. --> A kind of glass produced by volcanoes. It is usually of a black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters.
ocelot ::: n. --> An American feline carnivore (Felis pardalis). It ranges from the Southwestern United States to Patagonia. It is covered with blackish ocellated spots and blotches, which are variously arranged. The ground color varies from reddish gray to tawny yellow.
oolong ::: n. --> A fragrant variety of black tea having somewhat the flavor of green tea.
oopak ::: n. --> A kind of black tea.
oregon grape ::: --> An evergreen species of barberry (Berberis Aquifolium), of Oregon and California; also, its roundish, blue-black berries.
oriole ::: n. --> Any one of various species of Old World singing birds of the family Oriolidae. They are usually conspicuously colored with yellow and black. The European or golden oriole (Oriolus galbula, or O. oriolus) has a very musical flutelike note.
In America, any one of several species of the genus Icterus, belonging to the family Icteridae. See Baltimore oriole, and Orchard oriole, under Orchard.
ortolan ::: n. --> A European singing bird (Emberiza hortulana), about the size of the lark, with black wings. It is esteemed delicious food when fattened. Called also bunting.
In England, the wheatear (Saxicola oenanthe).
In America, the sora, or Carolina rail (Porzana Carolina). See Sora.
oscillaria ::: n. --> A genus of dark green, or purplish black, filamentous, fresh-water algae, the threads of which have an automatic swaying or crawling motion. Called also Oscillatoria.
oso-berry ::: n. --> The small, blueblack, drupelike fruit of the Nuttallia cerasiformis, a shrub of Oregon and California, belonging to the Cherry tribe of Rosaceae.
ousel ::: n. --> One of several species of European thrushes, especially the blackbird (Merula merula, or Turdus merula), and the mountain or ring ousel (Turdus torquatus).
oxbiter ::: n. --> The cow blackbird.
oxheart ::: n. --> A large heart-shaped cherry, either black, red, or white.
paca ::: n. --> A small South American rodent (Coelogenys paca), having blackish brown fur, with four parallel rows of white spots along its sides; the spotted cavy. It is nearly allied to the agouti and the Guinea pig.
pallah ::: n. --> A large South African antelope (Aepyceros melampus). The male has long lyrate and annulated horns. The general color is bay, with a black crescent on the croup. Called also roodebok.
pall ::: n. --> Same as Pawl.
An outer garment; a cloak mantle.
A kind of rich stuff used for garments in the Middle Ages.
Same as Pallium.
A figure resembling the Roman Catholic pallium, or pall, and having the form of the letter Y.
A large cloth, esp., a heavy black cloth, thrown over a coffin at a funeral; sometimes, also, over a tomb.
palmyra ::: n. --> A species of palm (Borassus flabelliformis) having a straight, black, upright trunk, with palmate leaves. It is found native along the entire northern shores of the Indian Ocean, from the mouth of the Tigris to New Guinea. More than eight hundred uses to which it is put are enumerated by native writers. Its wood is largely used for building purposes; its fruit and roots serve for food, its sap for making toddy, and its leaves for thatching huts.
papuars ::: n. pl. --> The native black race of Papua or New Guinea, and the adjacent islands.
paracyanogen ::: n. --> A polymeric modification of cyanogen, obtained as a brown or black amorphous residue by heating mercuric cyanide.
pastor ::: n. --> A shepherd; one who has the care of flocks and herds.
A guardian; a keeper; specifically (Eccl.), a minister having the charge of a church and parish.
A species of starling (Pastor roseus), native of the plains of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Its head is crested and glossy greenish black, and its back is rosy. It feeds largely upon locusts.
patch ::: n. --> A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp. upon an old garment to cover a hole.
A small piece of anything used to repair a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.
A small piece of black silk stuck on the face, or neck, to hide a defect, or to heighten beauty.
A piece of greased cloth or leather used as wrapping for a
peele ::: n. --> A graceful and swift South African antelope (Pelea capreola). The hair is woolly, and ash-gray on the back and sides. The horns are black, long, slender, straight, nearly smooth, and very sharp. Called also rheeboc, and rehboc.
pekoe ::: n. --> A kind of black tea.
penciling ::: p. pr. & vb. n. --> of Pencil ::: n. --> The work of the pencil or bruch; as, delicate penciling in a picture.
Lines of white or black paint drawn along a mortar joint in a brick wall.
pencil ::: n. --> A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors.
A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite.
Hence, figuratively, an artist&
peppercorn ::: n. --> A dried berry of the black pepper (Piper nigrum).
Anything insignificant; a particle.
petal ::: n. --> One of the leaves of the corolla, or the colored leaves of a flower. See Corolla, and Illust. of Flower.
One of the expanded ambulacra which form a rosette on the black of certain Echini.
pewit ::: n. --> The lapwing.
The European black-headed, or laughing, gull (Xema ridibundus). See under Laughing.
The pewee.
phaeton ::: n. --> A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses.
See Phaethon.
A handsome American butterfly (Euphydryas, / Melitaea, Phaeton). The upper side of the wings is black, with orange-red spots and marginal crescents, and several rows of cream-colored spots; -- called also Baltimore.
phainopepla ::: n. --> A small crested passerine bird (Phainopepla nitens), native of Mexico and the Southern United States. The adult male is of a uniform glossy blue-black; the female is brownish. Called also black flycatcher.
phantasmagoria ::: n. --> An optical effect produced by a magic lantern. The figures are painted in transparent colors, and all the rest of the glass is opaque black. The screen is between the spectators and the instrument, and the figures are often made to appear as in motion, or to merge into one another.
The apparatus by which such an effect is produced.
Fig.: A medley of figures; illusive images.
phylactery ::: n. --> Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.
A small square box, made either of parchment or of black calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which are written the scriptural passages Exodus xiii. 2-10, and 11-17, Deut. vi. 4-9, 13-22. They are worn by Jews on the head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time of prayer.
Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the
picea ::: n. --> A genus of coniferous trees of the northen hemisphere, including the Norway spruce and the American black and white spruces. These trees have pendent cones, which do not readily fall to pieces, in this and other respects differing from the firs.
pickmire ::: n. --> The pewit, or black-headed gull.
piebald ::: a. --> Having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled; pied.
Fig.: Mixed.
pigfoot ::: n. --> A marine fish (Scorpaena porcus), native of Europe. It is reddish brown, mottled with dark brown and black.
piperine ::: n. --> A white crystalline compound of piperidine and piperic acid. It is obtained from the black pepper (Piper nigrum) and other species.
pipra ::: n. --> Any one of numerous species of small clamatorial birds belonging to Pipra and allied genera, of the family Pipridae. The male is usually glossy black, varied with scarlet, yellow, or sky blue. They chiefly inhabit South America.
pissasphalt ::: n. --> Earth pitch; a soft, black bitumen of the consistence of tar, and of a strong smell. It is inflammable, and intermediate between petroleum and asphalt.
pitch-black ::: a. --> Black as pitch or tar.
pitchblende ::: n. --> A pitch-black mineral consisting chiefly of the oxide of uranium; uraninite. See Uraninite.
pitch-dark ::: a. --> Dark as a pitch; pitch-black.
pitchiness ::: n. --> Blackness, as of pitch; darkness.
pitch ::: n. --> A thick, black, lustrous, and sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar. It is used in calking the seams of ships; also in coating rope, canvas, wood, ironwork, etc., to preserve them.
See Pitchstone.
To cover over or smear with pitch.
Fig.: To darken; to blacken; to obscure.
A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand; as, a good pitch in quoits.
pitchy ::: a. --> Partaking of the qualities of pitch; resembling pitch.
Smeared with pitch.
Black; pitch-dark; dismal.
pitta ::: n. --> Any one of a large group of bright-colored clamatorial birds belonging to Pitta, and allied genera of the family Pittidae. Most of the species are varied with three or more colors, such as blue, green, crimson, yellow, purple, and black. They are called also ground thrushes, and Old World ant thrushes; but they are not related to the true thrushes.
plagionite ::: n. --> A sulphide of lead and antimony, of a blackish lead-gray color and metallic luster.
plaid ::: n. --> A rectangular garment or piece of cloth, usually made of the checkered material called tartan, but sometimes of plain gray, or gray with black stripes. It is worn by both sexes in Scotland.
Goods of any quality or material of the pattern of a plaid or tartan; a checkered cloth or pattern. ::: a.
platinotype ::: n. --> A permanent photographic picture or print in platinum black.
The process by which such pictures are produced.
pleonaste ::: n. --> A black variety of spinel.
polybasite ::: n. --> An iron-black ore of silver, consisting of silver, sulphur, and antimony, with some copper and arsenic.
polymnite ::: n. --> A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.
pompillion ::: n. --> An ointment or pomatum made of black poplar buds.
pontic ::: a. --> Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Euxine, or Black Sea.
porpoise ::: n. --> Any small cetacean of the genus Phocaena, especially P. communis, or P. phocaena, of Europe, and the closely allied American species (P. Americana). The color is dusky or blackish above, paler beneath. They are closely allied to the dolphins, but have a shorter snout. Called also harbor porpoise, herring hag, puffing pig, and snuffer.
A true dolphin (Delphinus); -- often so called by sailors.
press ::: n. --> An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.
To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.
A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.
An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is
pritchel ::: n. --> A tool employed by blacksmiths for punching or enlarging the nail holes in a horseshoe.
progne ::: n. --> A swallow.
A genus of swallows including the purple martin. See Martin.
An American butterfly (Polygonia, / Vanessa, Progne). It is orange and black above, grayish beneath, with an L-shaped silver mark on the hind wings. Called also gray comma.
prunello ::: n. --> A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes; a kind of lasting; -- formerly used also for clergymen&
psilomelane ::: n. --> A hydrous oxide of manganese, occurring in smooth, botryoidal forms, and massive, and having an iron-black or steel-gray color.
pupil ::: n. --> The aperture in the iris; the sight, apple, or black of the eye. See the Note under Eye, and Iris.
A youth or scholar of either sex under the care of an instructor or tutor.
A person under a guardian; a ward.
A boy or a girl under the age of puberty, that is, under fourteen if a male, and under twelve if a female.
pyrargyrite ::: n. --> Ruby silver; dark red silver ore. It is a sulphide of antimony and silver, occurring in rhombohedral crystals or massive, and is of a dark red or black color with a metallic adamantine luster.
quercitron ::: n. --> The yellow inner bark of the Quercus tinctoria, the American black oak, yellow oak, dyer&
raccoon ::: n. --> A North American nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) allied to the bears, but much smaller, and having a long, full tail, banded with black and gray. Its body is gray, varied with black and white. Called also coon, and mapach.
racer ::: n. --> One who, or that which, races, or contends in a race; esp., a race horse.
The common American black snake.
One of the circular iron or steel rails on which the chassis of a heavy gun is turned.