Part 742

Bon"i*ness (&?;), n. The condition or quality of being bony.

Bon"ing, n. [Senses 1 and 2 fr. 1st Bone, sense 3 fr. 3d Bone.] 1. The clearing of bones from fish or meat.

2. The manuring of land with bones.

3. A method of leveling a line or surface by sighting along the tops of two or more straight edges, or a range of properly spaced poles. See 3d Bone, v. t.

Bon"i*ta*ry (&?;), a. Beneficial, as opposed to statutory or civil; as, bonitary dominion of land.

Bo*ni"to (&?;), n.; pl. Bonitoes (&?;). [Sp. & Pg. bonito, fr. Ar. baint and bainth.] [Often incorrectly written bonita.] (Zoöl.) 1. A large tropical fish (Orcynus pelamys) allied to the tunny. It is about three feet long, blue above, with four brown stripes on the sides. It is sometimes found on the American coast.

2. The skipjack (Sarda Mediterranea) of the Atlantic, an important and abundant food fish on the coast of the United States, and (S. Chilensis) of the Pacific, and other related species. They are large and active fishes, of a blue color with black oblique stripes.

3. The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an edible fish of the southern of the United States and the West Indies.

4. The cobia or crab eater (Elacate canada), an edible fish of the Middle and Southern United States.

||Bon"mot` (&?;), n.; pl. Bonsmots (&?;). [ F. bon good + mot word.] A witty repartee; a jest.

||Bonne (bn), n. (F., prop. good woman.) A female servant charged with the care of a young child.

||Bonne" bouche" (&?;); pl. Bonnes bouches (&?;). [F. bon, fem. bonne, good + bouche mouth.] A delicious morsel or mouthful; a tidbit.

Bon"net (bn"nt), n. [OE. bonet, OF. bonet, bonete. F. bonnet fr. LL. bonneta, bonetum; orig. the name of a stuff, and of unknown origin.] 1. A headdress for men and boys; a cap. [Obs.] Milton. Shak.

2. A soft, elastic, very durable cap, made of thick, seamless woolen stuff, and worn by men in Scotland.

And p&?;i&?;s and bonnets waving high. Sir W. Scott.

3. A covering for the head, worn by women, usually protecting more or less the back and sides of the head, but no part of the forehead. The shape of the bonnet varies greatly at different times; formerly the front part projected, and spread outward, like the mouth of a funnel.

4. Anything resembling a bonnet in shape or use; as, (a) (Fort.) A small defense work at a salient angle; or a part of a parapet elevated to screen the other part from enfilade fire. (b) A metallic canopy, or projection, over an opening, as a fireplace, or a cowl or hood to increase the draught of a chimney, etc. (c) A frame of wire netting over a locomotive chimney, to prevent escape of sparks. (d) A roofing over the cage of a mine, to protect its occupants from objects falling down the shaft. (e) In pumps, a metal covering for the openings in the valve chambers.

5. (Naut.) An additional piece of canvas laced to the foot of a jib or foresail in moderate winds. Hakluyt.

6. The second stomach of a ruminating animal.

7. An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others to bet or to bid; a decoy.

Bonnet head (Zoöl.), a shark (Sphyrna tiburio) of the southern United States and West Indies. -- Bonnet limpet (Zoöl.), a name given, from their shape, to various species of shells (family Calyptræidæ). -- Bonnet monkey (Zoöl.), an East Indian monkey (Macacus sinicus), with a tuft of hair on its head; the munga. -- Bonnet piece, a gold coin of the time of James V. of Scotland, the king's head on which wears a bonnet. Sir W. Scott. -- To have a bee in the bonnet. See under Bee. -- Black bonnet. See under Black. -- Blue bonnet. See in the Vocabulary.

Bon"net, v. i. To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover. [Obs.] Shak.

Bon"net*ed, a. 1. Wearing a bonnet. "Bonneted and shawled." Howitt.

2. (Fort.) Protected by a bonnet. See Bonnet, 4 (a).

Bon"net*less, a. Without a bonnet.

Bon"ni*bel (&?;), n. [F. bonne et belle, good and beautiful. Cf. Bellibone.] A handsome girl. [Obs.]

Bon"nie (&?;), a. [Scot.] See Bonny, a.

Bon"ni*lass` (&?;), n. [Bonny + lass.] A "bonny lass"; a beautiful girl. [Obs.] Spenser.