| bolometer | <physics> An instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heat, especially in different parts of the spectrum. Synonym: actinic balance, thermic balance. Origin: Gr. A stroke, ray. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| bolster | 1. A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person lying on a bed; generally laid under the pillows. "And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, This way the coverlet, another way the sheets." (Shak) 2. A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support any part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a compress. "This arm shall be a bolster for thy head." (Gay) 3. Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of mechanism, etc. 4. A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle. 5. A cushioned or a piece of soft wood covered with tarred canvas, placed on the trestletrees and against the mast, for the collars of the shrouds to rest on, to prevent chafing. Anything used to prevent chafing. 6. A plate of iron or a mass of wood under the end of a bridge girder, to keep the girder from resting directly on the abutment. 7. A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or body rests. 8. The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck. 9. <mechanics> The perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything rests when being punched. 10. That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the handle. The metallic end of a pocketknife handle. 11. The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital. 12. A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation. See: Illust. Of Gun carriage] Bolster work, members which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of certain classical styles. Origin: AS. Bolster; akin to Icel. Blstr, Sw. & Dan. Bolster, OHG. Bolstar, polstar, G. Polster; from the same root as E. Bole stem, bowl hollow vessel. Cf. Bulge, Poltroon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bolster finger | Monilial infection of the nail fold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bolter | A kind of fishing line. See Boulter. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bolthead | 1. <chemistry> A long, straightnecked, glass vessel for chemical distillations. Synonym: a matrass or receiver. 2. The head of a bolt. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Bolton | Joseph S., English neurologist, 1867-1946. See: Bolton plane, Bolton-Broadbent plane, Bolton-nasion plane, Bolton-nasion line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bolton plane | A roentgenographic cephalometric plane extending from the Bolton point to nasion. Synonym: Bolton-Broadbent plane, Bolton-nasion line, Bolton-nasion plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bolton-Broadbent plane | A roentgenographic cephalometric plane extending from the Bolton point to nasion. Synonym: Bolton-Broadbent plane, Bolton-nasion line, Bolton-nasion plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bolton-nasion line | A roentgenographic cephalometric plane extending from the Bolton point to nasion. Synonym: Bolton-Broadbent plane, Bolton-nasion line, Bolton-nasion plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bolton-nasion plane | A roentgenographic cephalometric plane extending from the Bolton point to nasion. Synonym: Bolton-Broadbent plane, Bolton-nasion line, Bolton-nasion plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| boltonite | <chemical> A granular mineral of a grayish or yellowish colour, found in Bolton, Massachusetts. It is a silicate of magnesium, belonging to the chrysolite family. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bolty | <marine biology> An edible fish of the Nile (genus Chromis). Alternative forms: bulti. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| boltzmann constant | <radiobiology> K = 1.38 x 10^-16 erg/degree. This is the ratio of the universal gas constant to Avogadro's number. It is also used to relate temperatures (Kelvin) to energies (ergs or Joules) via E = (constant of order unity) kT. (09 Oct 1997) |
| boltzmann equation | <radiobiology> Fundamental equation in kinetic theory which describes the evolution of the distribution function. (See also Vlasov equation.) The actual equation is given in most texts covering plasma kinetic theory. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bolus | A mass of chewed food. Any mass or blob travelling through a tube. (09 Oct 1997) |