Part 519

Ban*ni"tion (&?;), n. [LL. bannitio. See Banish.] The act of expulsion. [Obs.] Abp. Laud.

Ban"nock (&?;), n. [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 (&?;), n. pl. [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.

Ban"quet (b"kwt), n. [F., a feast, prop. a dim. of banc bench; cf. It. banchetto, dim. of banco a bench, counter. See Bank a bench, and cf. 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. [Obs.]

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

Ban"quet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banqueted; p. pr. & vb. n. Banqueting.] To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to feast.

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

Ban"quet, v. i. 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. [Obs.]

Where they did both sup and banquet. Cavendish.

Ban"quet*er (b"kwt*r), n. One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts.

Ban*quette" (b*kt"), n. [F. See Banquet, n.] 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. (Arch.) A narrow window seat; a raised shelf at the back or the top of a buffet or dresser.

{ Ban"shee, Ban"shie } (&?;), n. [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.

Ban"stic`kle (&?;), n. [OE. ban, bon, bone + stickle prickle, sting. See Bone, n., Stickleback.] (Zoöl.) A small fish, the three-spined stickleback.

Ban"tam (&?;), n. A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably brought from Bantam, a district of Java.

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

||Ban"teng (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The wild ox of Java (Bibos Banteng).

Ban"ter (&?;), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bantered(&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bantering.] [Prob. corrupted fr. F. badiner to joke, or perh. fr. E. bandy to beat to and fro. See Badinage, and cf. Barter fr. OF. 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. [Obs.]

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