Banking Bank"ing noun The business of a bank or of a banker.

Banking house , an establishment or office in which, or a firm by whom, banking is done.

Bankrupt Bank"rupt noun [ French banqueroute , from Italian bancarotta bankruptcy; banca bank (fr. Old High German banch , German bank , bench) + rotta broken, from Latin ruptus , past participle of rumpere to break. At Florence, it is said, the bankrupt had his bench ( i.e., money table) broken. See 1st Bank , and Rupture , noun ] 1. (Old Eng. Low) A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts tending to defraud his creditors. Blackstone.

2. A trader who becomes unable to pay his debts; an insolvent trader; popularly, any person who is unable to pay his debts; an insolvent person. M...Culloch.

3. (Law) A person who, in accordance with the terms of a law relating to bankruptcy, has been judicially declared to be unable to meet his liabilities.

» In England, until the year 1861 none but a "trader" could be made a bankrupt; a non-trader failing to meet his liabilities being an "insolvent". But this distinction was abolished by the Bankruptcy Act of 1861. The laws of 1841 and 1867 of the United States relating to bankruptcy applied this designation bankrupt to others besides those engaged in trade.

Bankrupt Bank"rupt adjective 1. Being a bankrupt or in a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay, or legally discharged from paying, one's debts; as, a bankrupt merchant.

2. Depleted of money; not having the means of meeting pecuniary liabilities; as, a bankrupt treasury.

3. Relating to bankrupts and bankruptcy.

4. Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once possessed, or something one should possess). " Bankrupt in gratitude." Sheridan.

Bankrupt law , a law by which the property of a person who is unable or unwilling to pay his debts may be taken and distributed to his creditors, and by which a person who has made a full surrender of his property, and is free from fraud, may be discharged from the legal obligation of his debts. See Insolvent , adjective

Bankrupt Bank"rupt transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Bankrupted ; present participle & verbal noun Bankrupting .] To make bankrupt; to bring financial ruin upon; to impoverish.

Bankruptcy Bank"rupt·cy noun ; plural Bankruptcies 1. The state of being actually or legally bankrupt.

2. The act or process of becoming a bankrupt.

3. Complete loss; -- followed by of .

Bankside Bank"side` noun The slope of a bank, especially of the bank of a steam.

Banlieue Ban"li·eue` noun [ French, from Late Latin bannum leucae , banleuca ; bannum jurisdiction + leuca league.] The territory without the walls, but within the legal limits, of a town or city. Brande & C.

Banner Ban"ner noun [ Middle English banere , Old French baniere , French bannière , bandière , from Late Latin baniera , banderia , from bandum banner, from Old High German bant band, strip of cloth; confer bindan to bind, Goth. bandwa , bandwo , a sign. See Band , noun ] 1. A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and used by a chief as his standard in battle.

Hang out our banners on the outward walls.
Shak.

2. A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or motto, extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a procession, or suspended in some conspicuous place.

3. Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner .

Banner fish (Zoology) , a large fish of the genus Histiophorus , of the Swordfish family, having a broad bannerlike dorsal fin; the sailfish. One species ( H. Americanus ) inhabits the North Atlantic.

Bannered Ban"nered adjective Furnished with, or bearing, banners. "A bannered host." Milton.

Banneret Ban"ner·et noun [ Middle English baneret , Old French baneret , French banneret ; properly a dim. of Old French baniere . See Banner .]

1. Originally, a knight who led his vassals into the field under his own banner; -- commonly used as a title of rank.

2. A title of rank, conferred for heroic deeds, and hence, an order of knighthood; also, the person bearing such title or rank.

» The usual mode of conferring the rank on the field of battle was by cutting or tearing off the point of the pennon or pointed flag on the spear of the candidate, thereby making it a banner.

3. A civil officer in some Swiss cantons.

4. A small banner. Shak.

Bannerol Ban"ner·ol noun A banderole; esp. a banner displayed at a funeral procession and set over the tomb. See Banderole .

Bannition Ban·ni"tion noun [ Late Latin bannitio . See Banish .] The act of expulsion. [ Obsolete] Abp. Laud.

Bannock Ban"nock noun [ Gael. bonnach .] A kind of cake or bread, in shape flat and roundish, commonly made of oatmeal or barley meal and baked on an iron plate, or griddle; -- used in Scotland and the northern counties of England. Jamieson.

Bannock fluke , the turbot. [ Scot.]

Banns Banns noun plural [ See Ban .] Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in a church, or other place prescribed by law, in order that any person may object, if he knows of just cause why the marriage should not take place.

Banquet Ban"quet (băn"kwĕt) noun [ French, a feast, prop. a dim. of banc bench; confer Italian banchetto , dim. of banco a bench, counter. See Bank a bench, and confer Banquette .] 1. A feast; a sumptuous entertainment of eating and drinking; often, a complimentary or ceremonious feast, followed by speeches.

2. A dessert; a course of sweetmeats; a sweetmeat or sweetmeats. [ Obsolete]

We'll dine in the great room, but let the music
And banquet be prepared here.
Massinger.

Banquet Ban"quet transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Banqueted ; present participle & verbal noun Banqueting .] To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to feast.

Just in time to banquet
The illustrious company assembled there.
Coleridge.

Banquet Ban"quet intransitive verb 1. To regale one's self with good eating and drinking; to feast.

Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets ,
I would not taste thy treasonous offer.
Milton.

2. To partake of a dessert after a feast. [ Obsolete]

Where they did both sup and banquet .
Cavendish.

Banqueter Ban"quet·er (băn"kwĕt*ẽr) noun One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts.

Banquette Ban·quette" (băn*kĕt") noun [ French See Banquet , noun ] 1. (Fort.) A raised way or foot bank, running along the inside of a parapet, on which musketeers stand to fire upon the enemy.

2. (Architecture) A narrow window seat; a raised shelf at the back or the top of a buffet or dresser.

Banquette Ban·quette" noun A bench or seat for passengers on the top of a diligence or other public vehicle.

My brother-in-law . . . took refuge in the banquette .

Mrs. Howe.

Banshee, Banshie Ban"shee, Ban"shie noun [ Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir. bean woman + Gael. sith fairy.] A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry to warn a family of the speedy death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the house.

Bansshee, Banshie Bans"shee, Ban"shie noun [ Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir. bean woman + Gael. sith fairy.] (Celtic Folklore) A supernatural being supposed to warn a family of the approaching death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a mournful voice.

Banstickle Ban"stic`kle noun [ Middle English ban , bon , bone + stickle prickle, sting. See Bone , noun , Stickleback .] (Zoology) A small fish, the three-spined stickleback.

Bantam Ban"tam noun A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably brought from Bantam, a district of Java.

Bantam work Ban"tam work` Carved and painted work in imitation of Japan ware.

Banteng Ban"teng noun (Zoology) The wild ox of Java ( Bibos Banteng ).

Banter Ban"ter transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Bantered ; present participle & verbal noun Bantering .] [ Prob. corrupted from French badiner to joke, or perhaps from English bandy to beat to and fro. See Badinage , and confer Barter from Old French barater .]

1. To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity.

Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on
my haggard looks the next day.
W. Irving.

2. To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit, characteristic, and the like. [ Archaic]

If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them.
Chatham.

3. To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest. [ Obsolete]

We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars
with hopes of being at least his lordship's chaplain.
De Foe.

4. To challenge or defy to a match. [ Colloq. Southern and Western U.S.]

Banter Ban"ter noun The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good-humored raillery; pleasantry.

Part banter , part affection.
Tennyson.

Banterer Ban"ter·er noun One who banters or rallies.

Bantingism Ban"ting·ism noun A method of reducing corpulence by avoiding food containing much farinaceous, saccharine, or oily matter; -- so called from William Banting of London.

Bantling Bant"ling noun [ Prob. for bandling , from band , and meaning a child wrapped in swaddling bands; or confer German bäntling a bastard, from bank bench. Confer Bastard , noun ] A young or small child; an infant. [ Slightly contemptuous or depreciatory.]

In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings .
W. Irving.

Bantu Ban"tu noun A member of one of the great family of Negroid tribes occupying equatorial and southern Africa. These tribes include, as important divisions, the Kafirs, Damaras, Bechuanas, and many tribes whose names begin with Aba - , Ama -, Ba -, Ma -, Wa -, variants of the Bantu plural personal prefix Aba -, as in Ba-ntu , or Aba-ntu , itself a combination of this prefix with the syllable -ntu , a person. -- Ban"tu , adjective

Banxring Banx"ring noun (Zoology) An East Indian insectivorous mammal of the genus Tupaia .

Banyan Ban"yan noun [ See Banian .] (Botany) A tree of the same genus as the common fig, and called the Indian fig ( Ficus Indica ), whose branches send shoots to the ground, which take root and become additional trunks, until it may be the tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of men.

Banzai Ban"zai" interj. [ Jap. banzai , banzei , ten thousand years, forever.] Lit., May you live ten thousand years; -- used in salutation of the emperor and as a battle cry. [ Japan]

Baobab Ba"o·bab noun [ The native name.] (Botany) A gigantic African tree ( Adansonia digitata ), also naturalized in India. See Adansonia .

Baphomet Baph"o·met noun [ A corruption of Mahomet or Mohammed , the Arabian prophet: confer Pr. Bafomet , OSp. Mafomat , OPg. Mafameda .] An idol or symbolical figure which the Templars were accused of using in their mysterious rites.

Baptism Bap"tism noun [ Middle English baptim , baptem , Middle English baptesme , batisme , French baptême , Latin baptisma , from Greek ... , from ... to baptize, from ... to dip in water, akin to ... deep, Sanskrit gāh to dip, bathe, intransitive verb ] The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

Baptismal Bap·tis"mal adjective [ Confer French baptismal .] Pertaining to baptism; as, baptismal vows.

Baptismal name , the Christian name, which is given at baptism.

Baptismally Bap·tis"mal·ly adverb In a baptismal manner.

Baptist Bap"tist noun [ Latin baptista , German ... ]

1. One who administers baptism; -- specifically applied to John, the forerunner of Christ. Milton.

2. One of a denomination of Christians who deny the validity of infant baptism and of sprinkling, and maintain that baptism should be administered to believers alone, and should be by immersion. See Anabaptist .

In doctrine the Baptists of this country [ the United States] are Calvinistic, but with much freedom and moderation. Amer. Cyc.

Freewill Baptists , a sect of Baptists who are Arminian in doctrine, and practice open communion. -- Seventh- day Baptists , a sect of Baptists who keep the seventh day of the week, or Saturday, as the Sabbath. See Sabbatarian . The Dunkers and Campbellites are also Baptists.

Baptistery, Baptistry Bap"tis·ter·y, Bap"tis·try noun ; plural Baptisteries -tries [ Latin baptisterium , Greek ... : confer French baptistère .] (Architecture) (a) In early times, a separate building, usually polygonal, used for baptismal services. Small churches were often changed into baptisteries when larger churches were built near. (b) A part of a church containing a font and used for baptismal services.

Baptistic Bap·tis"tic adjective [ Greek ... ] Of or for baptism; baptismal.

Baptistical Bap·tis"tic·al adjective Baptistic. [ R.]

Baptizable Bap·tiz"a·ble adjective Capable of being baptized; fit to be baptized. Baxter.

Baptization Bap`ti·za"tion noun Baptism. [ Obsolete]

Their baptizations were null.
Jer. Taylor.

Baptize Bap·tize" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Baptized ; present participle & verbal noun Baptizing .] [ French baptiser , Latin baptizare , from Greek ... . See Baptism .] 1. To administer the sacrament of baptism to.

2. To christen ( because a name is given to infants at their baptism); to give a name to; to name.

I'll be new baptized ;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Shak.

3. To sanctify; to consecrate.

Baptizement Bap·tize"ment noun The act of baptizing. [ R.]

Baptizer Bap·tiz"er noun One who baptizes.

Bar Bar (bär) noun [ Middle English barre , French barre , from Late Latin barra , W. bar the branch of a tree, bar, baren branch, Gael. & Ir. barra bar. √91.] 1. A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening; as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.

Thou shalt make bars of shittim wood.
Ex. xxvi. 26.

2. An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of lead; a bar of soap.

3. Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a barrier.

Must I new bars to my own joy create?
Dryden.

4. A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.

5. Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly, in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as, the bar of the House of Commons.

6. (Law) (a) The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court signifies in open court . (b) The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment, trial, or sentence. (c) The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the legal profession. (d) A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's action.

7. Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.

8. A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where liquors for sale are kept.

9. (Her.) An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth part of the field.

10. A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of color.

11. (Mus.) A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures .

» A double bar marks the end of a strain or main division of a movement, or of a whole piece of music; in psalmody, it marks the end of a line of poetry. The term bar is very often loosely used for measure , i.e., for such length of music, or of silence, as is included between one bar and the next; as, a passage of eight bars ; two bars' rest.

12. (Far.) plural (a) The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a horse, in which the bit is placed. (b) The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the center of the sole.

13. (Mining) (a) A drilling or tamping rod. (b) A vein or dike crossing a lode.

14. (Architecture) (a) A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town. (b) A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a window; a sash bar.

Bar shoe (Far.) , a kind of horseshoe having a bar across the usual opening at the heel, to protect a tender frog from injury. -- Bar shot , a double headed shot, consisting of a bar, with a ball or half ball at each end; -- formerly used for destroying the masts or rigging in naval combat. -- Bar sinister (Her.) , a term popularly but erroneously used for baton , a mark of illegitimacy. See Baton . -- Bar tracery (Architecture) , ornamental stonework resembling bars of iron twisted into the forms required. -- Blank bar (Law) . See Blank . -- Case at bar (Law) , a case presently before the court; a case under argument. -- In bar of , as a sufficient reason against; to prevent. -- Matter in bar , or Defence in bar , any matter which is a final defense in an action. -- Plea in bar , a plea which goes to bar or defeat the plaintiff's action absolutely and entirely. -- Trial at bar (Eng. Law) , a trial before all the judges of one the superior courts of Westminster, or before a quorum representing the full court.

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