Part 664

||Bisque, n. [F.] A white soup made of crayfish.

Bis*sex"tile (&?;), n. [L. bissextilis annus, fr. bissextus (bis + sextus sixth, fr. sex six) the sixth of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year, by the intercalation of a day.] Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365 d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But one day added every four years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more than the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress the bissextile day at the end of every century which is not divisible by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible by 400.

Bis*sex"tile, a. Pertaining to leap year.

Bis"son (&?;), a. [OE. bisen, bisne, AS. bisen, prob. for bs&?;ne; bi by + s&?;ne clear, akin to seón to see; clear when near, hence short-sighted. See See.] Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.

{ Bis"ter, Bis"tre } (&?;), n. [F. bistre a color made of soot; of unknown origin. Cf., however, LG. biester frowning, dark, ugly.] (Paint.) A dark brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood.

Bi*stip"uled (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + stipule.] (Bot.) Having two stipules.

Bis"tort (&?;), n. [L. bis + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist: cf. F. bistorte.] (Bot.) An herbaceous plant of the genus Polygonum, section Bistorta; snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as an astringent.

Bis"tou*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Bistouries (&?;). [F. bistouri.] A surgical instrument consisting of a slender knife, either straight or curved, generally used by introducing it beneath the part to be divided, and cutting towards the surface.

Bis"tre (&?;), n. See Bister.

Bi*sul"cate (&?;), a. [Pref. bi- + sulcate.] 1. Having two grooves or furrows.

2. (Zoöl.) Cloven; said of a foot or hoof.

Bi*sul"cous (&?;), a. [L. bisulcus; bis twice + sulcus furrow.] Bisulcate. Sir T. Browne.

Bi*sul"phate (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + sulphate.] (Chem.) A sulphate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the normal sulphates; an acid sulphate.

Bi*sul"phide (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + sulphide.] (Chem.) A sulphide having two atoms of sulphur in the molecule; a disulphide, as in iron pyrites, FeS2; -- less frequently called bisulphuret.

Bi*sul"phite (&?;), n. (Chem.) A salt of sulphurous acid in which the base replaces but half the hydrogen of the acid; an acid sulphite.

Bi*sul"phu*ret (&?;), n. [Pref. bi- + sulphuret.] (Chem.) See Bisulphide.

Bit (&?;), n. [OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. btan to bite. See Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel.] 1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are fastened. Shak.

The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. Chaucer.

2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains.

Bit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bitted (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting.] To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of.

Bit, imp. & p. p. of Bite.

Bit, n. [OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. btan to bite; akin to D. beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit part of a bridle.] 1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; a mite.

2. Somewhat; something, but not very great.

My young companion was a bit of a poet. T. Hook.

This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser.

3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock.

4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers. Knight.

5. The cutting iron of a plane. Knight.