Chapter Bringer to Broad gauge of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Britannia
(Bri*tan"ni*a) n. [From L. Britannia Great Britain.] A white-metal alloy of tin, antimony, bismuth, copper, etc. It somewhat resembles silver, and is used for table ware. Called also Britannia metal.

Britannic
(Bri*tan"nic) a. [L. Britannicus, fr. Britannia Great Britain.] Of or pertaining to Great Britain; British; as, her Britannic Majesty.

Brite
(Brite, Bright) v. t. To be or become overripe, as wheat, barley, or hops. [Prov. Eng.]

Briticism
(Brit"i*cism) n. A word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to Great Britain; any manner of using a word or words that is peculiar to Great Britain.

British
(Brit"ish) a. [AS. Brittisc, Bryttisc.] Of or pertaining to Great Britain or to its inhabitants; — sometimes restricted to the original inhabitants.

British gum, a brownish substance, very soluble in cold water, formed by heating dry starch at a temperature of about 600° Fahr. It corresponds, in its properties, to dextrin, and is used, in solution, as a substitute for gum in stiffering goods. — British lion, the national emblem of Great Britain. — British seas, the four seas which surround Great Britain.

British
(Brit"ish), n. pl. People of Great Britain.

Britisher
(Brit"ish*er), n. An Englishman; a subject or inhabitant of Great Britain, esp. one in the British military or naval service. [Now used jocosely]

Briton
(Brit"on) a. [AS. bryten Britain.] British. [Obs.] Spenser. — n. A native of Great Britain.

Brittle
(Brit"tle) a. [OE. britel, brutel, AS. bryttian to dispense, fr. breótan to break; akin to Icel. brytja, Sw. bryta, Dan. bryde. Cf. Brickle.] Easily broken; apt to break; fragile; not tough or tenacious.

Farewell, thou pretty, brittle piece
Of fine-cut crystal.
Cotton.

Brittle silver ore, the mineral stephanite.

Brittlely
(Brit"tle*ly), adv. In a brittle manner. Sherwood.

Brittleness
(Brit"tle*ness), n. Aptness to break; fragility.

Brittle star
(Brit"tle star`) (Zoöl.) Any species of ophiuran starfishes. See Ophiuroidea.

Britzska
(Britz"ska) n. [Russ. britshka; cf. Pol. bryczka, dim. of bryka freight wagon.] A long carriage, with a calash top, so constructed as to give space for reclining at night, when used on a journey.

Brize
(Brize) n. The breeze fly. See Breeze. Shak.

Broach
(Broach) n. [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. Brooch.]

1. A spit. [Obs.]

He turned a broach that had worn a crown.
Bacon.

2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.

3. (Mech.) (a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form, with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun barrels is commonly square and without taper. (b)