Bachelor's button to Backlog
Bachelor's button
(Bach"e*lor's but"ton) (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several
species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and globe amaranth
Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers "from 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.
Bachelorship
(Bach"e*lor*ship), n. The state of being a bachelor.
Bachelry
(Bach"el*ry) n. [OF. bachelerie.] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Bacillar
(Ba*cil"lar) a. [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.) Shaped like a rod or staff.
Bacillariæ
(||Bac"il*la`ri*æ) n. pl. [NL., fr.L. bacillum, dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.) See Diatom.
Bacillary
(Bac"il*la*ry) a. Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped.
Bacilliform
(Ba*cil"li*form) a. [L. bacillum little staff + -form.] Rod-shaped.
Bacillus
(Ba*cil"lus) n.; pl. Bacilli [NL., for L. bacillum. See Bacillarle.] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a
microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism.
Back
(Back) n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bag, bak a bark, D. 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
(Back) n. [AS. bæc, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj
to turn, OSlav. begu flight. Cf. Bacon.]
1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end of the spine; in other
animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the
back 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 backs and 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 back 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.
