Part 556

Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay. Dryden.

The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts. I. Taylor

Bay, v. t. [Cf. OE. bæwen to bathe, and G. bähen to foment.] To bathe. [Obs.] Spenser.

Bay, n. A bank or dam to keep back water.

Bay, v. t. To dam, as water; -- with up or back.

||Ba"ya (&?;), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The East Indian weaver bird (Ploceus Philippinus).

{ ||Ba*yad" (&?;), Ba*yatte" } (&?;), n. [Ar. bayad.] (Zoöl.) A large, edible, siluroid fish of the Nile, of two species (Bagrina bayad and B. docmac).

Ba`ya*dere" (&?;), n. [F., from Pg. bailadeira a female dancer, bailar to dance.] A female dancer in the East Indies. [Written also bajadere.]

Bay"-ant`ler (&?;), n. [See Bez- Antler.] (Zoöl.) The second tine of a stag's horn. See under Antler.

Bay"ard (&?;), n. 1. [OF. bayard, baiart, bay horse; bai bay + -ard. See Bay, a., and -ard.] Properly, a bay horse, but often any horse. Commonly in the phrase blind bayard, an old blind horse.

Blind bayard moves the mill. Philips.

2. [Cf. F. bayeur, fr. bayer to gape.] A stupid, clownish fellow. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Bay"ard*ly, a. Blind; stupid. [Obs.] "A formal and bayardly round of duties." Goodman.

Bay"ber*ry (&?;), n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of the bay tree or Laurus nobilis. (b) A tree of the West Indies related to the myrtle (Pimenta acris). (c) The fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle); the shrub itself; -- called also candleberry tree.

Bayberry tallow, a fragrant green wax obtained from the bayberry or wax myrtle; -- called also myrtle wax.

Bay"bolt` (&?;), n. A bolt with a barbed shank.

Bayed (&?;), a. Having a bay or bays. "The large bayed barn." Drayton.

Bay" ice` (&?;). See under Ice.

Bay" leaf` (&?;). See under 3d Bay.

Bay"o*net (&?;), n. [F. bayonnette, baïonnette; -- so called, it is said, because the first bayonets were made at Bayonne.]

1. (Mil.) A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense.

Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which required to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.

2. (Mach.) A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

Bayonet clutch. See Clutch. -- Bayonet joint, a form of coupling similar to that by which a bayonet is fixed on the barrel of a musket. Knight.

Bay"o*net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bayoneted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bayoneting.] 1. To stab with a bayonet.

2. To compel or drive by the bayonet.

To bayonet us into submission. Burke.

Bay"ou (&?;), n.; pl. Bayous (&?;). [North Am. Indian bayuk, in F. spelling bayouc, bayouque.] An inlet from the Gulf of Mexico, from a lake, or from a large river, sometimes sluggish, sometimes without perceptible movement except from tide and wind. [Southern U. S.]