| barbados | An island in the lesser antilles in the west indies. It is chiefly of coral formation with no good harbors and only small streams. It was probably discovered by the portuguese in the sixteenth century. The name was given by 16th-century spanish explorers from barbados, the plural for "bearded", with reference to the beard-like leaves or trails of moss on the trees that grew there in abundance. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| Barbados leg | <medicine> A disease of the skin, in which it become enormously thickened, and is rough, hard, and fissured, like an elephant's hide. Origin: L, fr. Gr, from, an elephant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbaloin | <chemistry> A bitter purgative principle in aloes. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbarize | 1. To become barbarous. "The Roman empire was barbarizing rapidly from the time of Trajan." (De Quincey) 2. To adopt a foreign or barbarous mode of speech. "The ill habit . . . Of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and Greek idiom, with their untutored Anglicisms." (Milton) Origin: Barbarized; Barbarizing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbary | The countries on the north coast of Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic. Hence: A Barbary horse; a barb. Also, a kind of pigeon. <zoology> Barbary ape, an ape (Macacus innus) of north Africa and Gibraltar Rock, being the only monkey inhabiting Europe. It is very commonly trained by showmen. Origin: Fr. Ar. Barbar the people of Barbary. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbastel | <zoology> A European bat (Barbastellus communis), with hairy lips. Origin: F. Barbastelle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbate | <botany> Bearded; beset with long and weak hairs. Origin: L. Barbatus, fr. Barba beard. See Barb beard. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbecue | 1. A hog, ox, or other large animal roasted or broiled whole for a feast. 2. A social entertainment, where many people assemble, usually in the open air, at which one or more large animals are roasted or broiled whole. 3. A floor, on which coffee beans are sun-dried. Origin: In the language of Indians of Guiana, a frame on which all kinds of flesh and fish are roasted or smoke-dried. 1. To dry or cure by exposure on a frame or gridiron. 2. To roast or broil whole, as an ox or hog. "Send me, gods, a whole hog barbecued." (Pope) Origin: Barbecued; Barbecuing. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbel | 1. <zoology> A slender tactile organ on the lips of certain fished. 2. <zoology> A large fresh water fish (Barbus vulgaris) found in many European rivers. Its upper jaw is furnished with four barbels. 3. Barbs or paps under the tongued of horses and cattle. See 1st Barb. Origin: OE. Barbel, F. Barbeau, dim. Of L. Barbus barbel, fr. Barba beard. See 1st Barb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barbellae | Short, straight, stiff hairs or barbs. (09 Oct 1997) |
| barbellate | Covered, usually laterally, with fine, short points or barbs. (09 Oct 1997) |
| barbellulate | <botany> Barbellate with diminutive hairs or barbs. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barber | One whose occupation it is to shave or trim the beard, and to cut and dress the hair of his patrons. Barber's itch. See Itch. Formerly the barber practiced some offices of surgery, such as letting blood and pulling teeth. Hence such terms as barber surgeon (old form barber chirurgeon), barber surgery, etc. Origin: OE. Barbour, OF. Barbeor, F. Barbier, as if fr. An assumed L. Barbator, fr. Barba beard. See 1st Barb. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barber fish | <zoology> See Surgeon fish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| barber surgeons | In the late middle ages barbers who also let blood, sold unguents, pulled teeth, applied cups, and gave enemas. They generally had the right to practice surgery. They began to acquire importance about 1100, when the monks, who required the barber's services for the tonsure, also had recourse to them for blood-letting, a practice required by ecclesiastic law. By the 18th century barbers continued to practice minor surgery and dentistry and many famous surgeons acquired their skill in the shops of barbers. (12 Dec 1998) |