Part 699

2. An obstruction to passage.

To raise a blockade. See under Raise.

Block*ade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blockaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blockading.] 1. To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n. "Blockaded the place by sea." Gilpin.

2. Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.

Till storm and driving ice blockade him there. Wordsworth.

3. To obstruct entrance to or egress from.

Huge bales of British cloth blockade the door. Pope.

Block*ad"er (&?;), n. 1. One who blockades.

2. (Naut.) A vessel employed in blockading.

Block"age (&?;), n. The act of blocking up; the state of being blocked up.

Block" book` (&?;). A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types.

Block"head` (&?;), n. [Block + head.] A stupid fellow; a dolt; a person deficient in understanding.

The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head. Pope.

Block"head`ed, a. Stupid; dull.

Block"head*ism (&?;), n. That which characterizes a blockhead; stupidity. Carlyle.

Block"house` (&?;), n. [Block + house: cf. G. blockhaus.] 1. (Mil.) An edifice or structure of heavy timbers or logs for military defense, having its sides loopholed for musketry, and often an upper story projecting over the lower, or so placed upon it as to have its sides make an angle with the sides of the lower story, thus enabling the defenders to fire downward, and in all directions; -- formerly much used in America and Germany.

2. A house of squared logs. [West. & South. U. S.]

Block"ing, n. 1. The act of obstructing, supporting, shaping, or stamping with a block or blocks.

2. Blocks used to support (a building, etc.) temporarily.

Block"ing course` (&?;). (Arch.) The finishing course of a wall showing above a cornice.

Block"ish, a. Like a block; deficient in understanding; stupid; dull. "Blockish Ajax." Shak. -- Block"ish*ly, adv. -- Block"ish*ness, n.

Block"like` (&?;), a. Like a block; stupid.

Block" tin` (&?;). See under Tin.

Bloe"dite (&?;), n. [From the chemist Blöde.] (Min.) A hydrous sulphate of magnesium and sodium.

Blom"a*ry (&?;), n. See Bloomery.

{ Blonc"ket, Blon"ket } (&?;), a. [OF. blanquet whitish, dim. of blanc white. Cf. Blanket.] Gray; bluish gray. [Obs.]

Our bloncket liveries been all too sad. Spenser.

{ Blond, Blonde } (&?;), a. [F., fair, light, of uncertain origin; cf. AS. blonden-feax gray-haired, old, prop. blended-haired, as a mixture of white and brown or black. See Blend, v. t. ] Of a fair color; light- colored; as, blond hair; a blond complexion.