Bezant to Bice
Bezant
(Be*zant") n. [See Byzant.]
1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and value, usually (those current in
England) between a sovereign and a half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants. [Written
also besant, byzant, etc.]
2. (Her.) A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called bezant. Burke.
3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing circular disks lapping one upon another.
Bez-antler
(Bez`-ant"ler) n. [L. bis twice (OF. bes) + E. antler.] The second branch of a stag's horn.
Bezel
(Bez"el) n. [From an old form of F. biseau sloping edge, prob. fr. L. bis double. See Bi-.] The
rim which encompasses and fastens a jewel or other object, as the crystal of a watch, in the cavity in
which it is set.
Bézique
(Bé*zique") n. [F. bésigue.] A game at cards in which various combinations of cards in the hand,
when declared, score points.
Bezoar
(Be"zoar) n. [F. bézoard, fr. Ar. bazahr, badizahr, fr. Per. pad- zahr bezoar; pad protecting +
zahr poison; cf. Pg. & Sp. bezoar.] A calculous concretion found in the intestines of certain ruminant
animals (as the wild goat, the gazelle, and the Peruvian llama) formerly regarded as an unfailing antidote
for poison, and a certain remedy for eruptive, pestilential, or putrid diseases. Hence: Any antidote or
panacea.
Two kinds were particularly esteemed, the Bezoar orientale of India, and the Bezoar occidentale of
Peru.
Bezoar antelope. See Antelope. — Bezoar goat (Zoöl.), the wild goat — Bezoar mineral, an old
preparation of oxide of antimony. Ure.
Bezoardic
(Bez`o*ar"dic) a. [Cf. F. bézoardique, bézoartique.] Pertaining to, or compounded with, bezoar.
— n. A medicine containing bezoar.
Bezoartic
(Bez`o*ar"tic Bez`o*ar"tic*al) a. [See Bezoardic.] Having the qualities of an antidote, or of
bezoar; healing. [Obs.]
Bezonian
(Be*zo"ni*an) n. [Cf. F. besoin need, want, It bisogno.] A low fellow or scoundrel; a beggar.
Great men oft die by vile bezonians.
Shak.
Bezzle
(Bez"zle) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bezzled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bezzling ] [OF. besillier, besiler, to
maltreat, pillage; or shortened fr. embezzle. Cf. Embezzle.] To plunder; to waste in riot. [Obs.]
Bezzle
(Bez"zle), v. i. To drink to excess; to revel. [Obs.]
Bhang
(Bhang) n. [Per. bang; cf. Skr. bhanga hemp.] An astringent and narcotic drug made from
the dried leaves and seed capsules of wild hemp and chewed or smoked in the East as a means of
intoxication. See Hasheesh.
Bhunder
(||Bhun"der) n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) An Indian monkey protected by the Hindoos as sacred.
See Rhesus.
Bi-
(Bi-) [L. bis twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin to E. two. See Bis-, Two, and cf. Di-,
Dis-.]
