Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages). Noah Webster
has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.
W.Irving.
2. An unmarried woman. [Obs.]
B.Jonson.
<—p. 110—>
3. A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a bachelorÿof arts.
4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [Obs.]
6. (Zo”l.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States.
Bach¶eÏlorÏdom (?), n. The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors.
Bach¶eÏlorÏhood (?), n. The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship.
Bach¶eÏlorÏism (?), n. Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors.
W.Irving.
Bach¶eÏlor's but¶ton (?), (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (ÿCentaures cyanus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena).
µ Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers ½from their similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this kingdom¸, according to Johnson's Gerarde, p.472(1633); but by other writers ascribed to " a habit of country fellows to carry them in their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts.¸
Dr.Prior.
Bach¶eÏlorÏship , n. The state of being a bachelor.
Bach¶elÏry (?), n. [OF. bachelerie.] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BaÏcil¶lar (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.) Shaped like a rod or staff.
ØBac¶ilÏla·riÏ‘ (?), n. pl. [ NL., fr.L. bacillum, dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.) See ÿDiatom.
Bac¶ilÏlaÏry (?), a. Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped.
BaÏcil¶liÏform (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff + Ïform.] Rod-shaped.
BaÏcil¶lus (?), n.; pl. Bacilli (?). [NL., for L. bacillum. See Bacillarle.] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism.
Back (?), n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bak tray, bowl.] 1. A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.
Hop back, Jack back, the cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper.- Wash back, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form wash. - Water back, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is heated.
2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1
Back (?), n. [As b‘c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b?g? flight. Cf. Bacon.] 1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end o the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the ÿback of a horse, fish, or lobster.
2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds.
Milton.
3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back of a hand rail.
Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the ÿbacksÿand palms to kiss.
Donne.
4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing; as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the ÿback of a chimney.
5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or resource in reserve.
This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof.
Shak.
8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
A bak to walken inne by daylight.
Chaucer.
Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge;as, to ridicule a person behind his back. - Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed behind those in the front line. - To be or lie on one's back, to be helpless. - To put, or get, one's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked.). [Colloq.] - To see the back of, to get rid of. - To turn the back, to go away; to flee. - To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.
Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
Back charges, charges brought forward after an account has been made up. - Back filling (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling up the space between two walls, or between the inner and outer faces of a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or vault. - Back pressure. (Steam Engine) See under Pressure.ÿ- Back rest, a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and placed in contact with the work, to steady it in turning.- Back slang, a kind of slang in which every word is written or pronounced backwards; as, nam for ÿman. - Back stairs, stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Also used adjectively. See ÿBack stairs, Backstairs, and Backstair, in the Vocabulary. - Back step (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front. - Back stream, a current running against the main current of a stream; an eddy. - To take the back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat. [Colloq.]
Back (?), v.i.ÿ[imp. & p.p. Backed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]
1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
I will back him [a horse] straight.
Shak.
2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me.
Shak.
3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
A garden … with a vineyard backed.
Shak.
The chalk cliffs which back the beach.
Huxley.
6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to backÿ a friend. ½Parliament would be backed by the people.¸
Macaulay.
Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards