Part 672

Syn. -- To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate; traduce; malign; asperse.

Black"en, v. i. To grow black or dark.

Black"en*er (&?;), n. One who blackens.

Black"-eyed` (&?;), a. Having black eyes. Dryden.

Black"-faced` (&?;), a. Having a black, dark, or gloomy face or aspect.

Black"feet` (&?;), n. pl. (Ethn.) A tribe of North American Indians formerly inhabiting the country from the upper Missouri River to the Saskatchewan, but now much reduced in numbers.

Black"fin` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) See Bluefin.

Black"fish (&?;), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other whales of larger size.

2. (Zoöl.) The tautog of New England (Tautoga).

3. (Zoöl.) The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.

4. (Zoöl.) A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the Mackerel family.

5. (Zoöl.) The female salmon in the spawning season.

The name is locally applied to other fishes.

Black"foot` (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to the Blackfeet; as, a Blackfoot Indian. -- n. A Blackfoot Indian.

Black" fri`ar (&?;). (Eccl.) A friar of the Dominican order; -- called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.

Black"guard (&?;), n. [Black + guard.] 1. The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman's household, who, in a removal from one residence to another, had charge of the kitchen utensils, and being smutted by them, were jocularly called the "black guard"; also, the servants and hangers-on of an army. [Obs.]

A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the black guard in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. Webster (1612).

2. The criminals and vagrants or vagabonds of a town or community, collectively. [Obs.]

3. A person of stained or low character, esp. one who uses scurrilous language, or treats others with foul abuse; a scoundrel; a rough.

A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his class deserves to be called a blackguard. Macaulay.

4. A vagrant; a bootblack; a gamin. [Obs.]

Black"guard`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackguarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackguarding.] To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. Southey.

Black"guard, a. Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard language.

Black"guard*ism (&?;), n. The conduct or language of a blackguard; ruffianism.

Black"guard*ly, adv. & a. In the manner of or resembling a blackguard; abusive; scurrilous; ruffianly.

Black"head` (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) The scaup duck.

Black"heart` (&?;), n. A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark-colored skin.

Black"-heart`ed, a. Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad.