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Bregma

The point of junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures of the skull.

Brehon

An ancient Irish or Scotch judge.

Brelan

A French gambling game somewhat like poker. In French games, a pair royal, or triplet.

Breloque

A seal or charm for a watch chain.

Breme

Fierce; sharp; severe; cruel.

Brennage

A tribute which tenants paid to their lord, in lieu of bran, which they were obliged to furnish for his hounds.

brenschluss

the time at which the engines of a rocket stop firing; the termination of the firing of the rocket engines, whether due to intentional shutdown of the engines or exhaustion of the fuel. This term was used mostly in the early days of rocketry when only one firing sequence occurred for rockets, which were used as ballistic missiles or for experiments in rocketry or atmospheric science.

Breton

Of or relating to Brittany, or Bretagne, in France. A native or inhabitant of Brittany, or Bretagne, in France; also, the ancient language of Brittany; Armorican.

Brettice

The wooden boarding used in supporting the roofs and walls of coal mines. See Brattice.

Bretwalda

The official title applied to that one of the Anglo-Saxon chieftains who was chosen by the other chiefs to lead them in their warfare against the British tribes.

Breve

A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure (as thus: / ), but is now made oval, with a line perpendicular to the staff on each of its sides; -- formerly much used for choir service.

Brevet

Taking or conferring rank by brevet; as, a brevet colonel; a brevet commission.

Brevetcy

The rank or condition of a brevet officer.

Breviary

An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary.

Brevier

A size of type between bourgeois and minion.

Breviped

Having short legs. A breviped bird.

Brevipennate

Short-winged; -- applied to birds which can not fly, owing to their short wings, as the ostrich, cassowary, and emu.

Brevity

Shortness of duration; briefness of time; as, the brevity of human life.

Brevoortia

a genus of fishes consisting of the menhaden.

Brew

The mixture formed by brewing; that which is brewed.

Brewer

One who brews; one whose occupation is to prepare malt liquors.

Brewery

A brewhouse; the building and apparatus where brewing is carried on.

Brewhouse

A house or building appropriated to brewing; a brewery.

Brewing

The act or process of preparing liquors which are brewed, as beer and ale.

Brewsterite

A rare zeolitic mineral occurring in white monoclinic crystals with pearly luster. It is a hydrous silicate of aluminia, baryta, and strontia.

Briar Brier

A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax.

briard

an old French breed of large strong usually black dogs having a long tail and long wavy and slightly stiff coat.

Briarean

Pertaining to, or resembling, Briareus, a giant fabled to have a hundred hands; hence, hundred-handed or many-handed.

briarroot

the hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea.

briarwood

wood from the hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea; used to make tobacco pipes.

briary

having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns etc.; -- of plants or animals.

Bribe

To commit robbery or theft.

Bribeless

Incapable of being bribed; free from bribes.

Bric-a brac

Miscellaneous curiosities and works of decorative art, considered collectively.

Brick

To lay or pave with bricks; to surround, line, or construct with bricks.

Brickbat

A piece or fragment of a brick. See 1st Bat, n. 4.

Brickellia

genus of herbs of SW America having usually creamy florets followed by one-seeded fruits in a prominent bristly sheath.

Brickfielder

Orig., at Sydney, a cold and violent south or southwest wind, rising suddenly, and regularly preceded by a hot wind from the north; -- now usually called southerly buster. It blew across the Brickfields, formerly so called, a district of Sydney, and carried clouds of dust into the city.

Brickkiln

A kiln, or furnace, in which bricks are baked or burnt; or a pile of green bricks, laid loose, with arches underneath to receive the wood or fuel for burning them.

Bricklayer

One whose occupation is to build with bricks.

Bricklaying

The art of building with bricks, or of uniting them by cement or mortar into various forms; the act or occupation of laying bricks.

Bricky

Full of bricks; formed of bricks; resembling bricks or brick dust.

Brickyard

A place where bricks are made, especially an inclosed place.

Bricole

A kind of traces with hooks and rings, with which men drag and maneuver guns where horses can not be used.

Bridal

A nuptial festival or ceremony; a marriage.

Bridalty

Celebration of the nuptial feast.

bridalwreath

a shrub (Spiraea prunifolia) having copious small white flowers in spring.

Bride-ale

A rustic wedding feast; a bridal. See Ale.

Bridecake

Rich or highly ornamented cake, to be distributed to the guests at a wedding, or sent to friends after the wedding.

Bridegroom

A man newly married, or just about to be married.

Brideknot

A knot of ribbons worn by a guest at a wedding; a wedding favor.

Bridesmaid

A female friend who attends on a bride at her wedding.

Bridesman

A male friend who attends upon a bridegroom and bride at their marriage; the /best man./

Bridestake

A stake or post set in the ground, for guests at a wedding to dance round.

Bridewell

A house of correction for the confinement of disorderly persons; -- so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St. Bride's (or Bridget's) well, in London, which was subsequently a penal workhouse.

Bridge

A card game resembling whist.

Bridge-ward

A bridge keeper; a warden or a guard for a bridge.

bridgeable

capable of being connected by a bridge or as if by a bridge.

Bridgeboard

A notched board to which the treads and risers of the steps of wooden stairs are fastened.

bridged-T

a circuit consisting of a T-network with an additional arm bridging the two series arms.

Bridgehead

A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge, and prevent the enemy from crossing; a t/te-de-pont.

Bridgeing

The system of bracing used between floor or other timbers to distribute the weight.

Bridgepot

The adjustable socket, or step, of a millstone spindle.

Bridgetown

The capital city of Barbados. Population (2000) = 6,700.

Bridgetree

The beam which supports the spindle socket of the runner in a grinding mill.

Bridle

To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of pride, scorn, or resentment; to assume a lofty manner; -- usually with up.

Bridler

One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a bridle.

Bridoon

The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. It is used in connection with a curb bit, which has its own rein.

Brie

same as Brie cheese.

Brief

To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.

briefcase

a small suitcase with a handle; it is used for carrying papers or files or books.

briefing

giving detailed instructions, as for a military operation.

Briefless

Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister.

Briefness

The quality of being brief; brevity; conciseness in discourse or writing.

Brier

the white heath Erica arborea.

brierwood

wood from the hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea; it is used to make tobacco pipes. See also 2nd brier and brier root.

Briery

A place where briers grow.

Brig

On a United States man-of-war, the prison or place of confinement for offenders.

Brigade

To form into a brigade, or into brigades.

Brigand

A light-armed, irregular foot soldier.

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