Baleen
(Ba*leen") n. [F. baleine whale and whalebone, L. balaena a whale; cf. Gr. fa`laina.] (Zoöl. &
Com.) Plates or blades of "whalebone," from two to twelve feet long, and sometimes a foot wide, which
in certain whales (Balænoidea) are attached side by side along the upper jaw, and form a fringelike sieve
by which the food is retained in the mouth.
Balefire
(Bale"fire`) n. [AS. b&aemacrlfyr the fire of the funeral pile; b&aemacrl fire, flame (akin to Icel.
bal, OSlav. belu, white, Gr. falo`s bright, white, Skr. bhala brightness) + fyr, E. fire.] A signal fire; an
alarm fire.
Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide
The glaring balefires blaze no more.
Sir W. Scott.
Baleful
(Bale"ful) a. [AS. bealoful. See Bale misery.]
1. Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. "Baleful enemies." Shak.
Four infernal rivers that disgorge
Into the burning lake their baleful streams.
Milton.
2. Full of grief or sorrow; woeful; sad. [Archaic]
Balefully
(Bale"ful*ly), adv. In a baleful manner; perniciously.
Balefulness
(Bale"ful*ness), n. The quality or state of being baleful.
Balisaur
(||Bal"i*sa`ur) n. [Hind.] (Zoöl.) A badgerlike animal of India
Balister
(Bal"is*ter) (bal"is*ter or ba*lis"ter), n. [OF. balestre. See Ballista.] A crossbow. [Obs.] Blount.
Balistoid
(Bal"is*toid) a. (Zoöl.) Like a fish of the genus Balistes; of the family Balistidæ. See Filefish.
Balistraria
(||Bal`is*tra"ri*a) n. [LL.] (Anc. Fort.) A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows
might be discharged. Parker.
Balize
(||Ba*lize") n. [F. balise; cf. Sp. balisa.] A pole or a frame raised as a sea beacon or a landmark.
Balk
(Balk) n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. balkr partition, bjalki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf.
Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. Balcony, Balk, v. t., 3d Bulk.]
