Part 747

3. To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail, before a free wind.

She comes booming down before it. Totten.

4. To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular favor; to go on rushingly.

Boom, n. 1. A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry of the bittern; a booming.

2. A strong and extensive advance, with more or less noisy excitement; -- applied colloquially or humorously to market prices, the demand for stocks or commodities and to political chances of aspirants to office; as, a boom in the stock market; a boom in coffee. [Colloq. U. S.]

Boom, v. t. To cause to advance rapidly in price; as, to boom railroad or mining shares; to create a "boom" for; as to boom Mr. C. for senator. [Colloq. U. S.]

||Boom"das (&?;), n. [D. boom tree + das badger.] (Zoöl.) A small African hyracoid mammal (Dendrohyrax arboreus) resembling the daman.

Boom"er (&?;), n. 1. One who, or that which, booms.

2. (Zoöl.) A North American rodent, so named because it is said to make a booming noise. See Sewellel.

3. (Zoöl.) A large male kangaroo.

4. One who works up a "boom". [Slang, U. S.]

Boom"er*ang (&?;), n. A very singular missile weapon used by the natives of Australia and in some parts of India. It is usually a curved stick of hard wood, from twenty to thirty inches in length, from two to three inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick. When thrown from the hand with a quick rotary motion, it describes very remarkable curves, according to the shape of the instrument and the manner of throwing it, often moving nearly horizontally a long distance, then curving upward to a considerable height, and finally taking a retrograde direction, so as to fall near the place from which it was thrown, or even far in the rear of it.

Boom"ing, a. 1. Rushing with violence; swelling with a hollow sound; making a hollow sound or note; roaring; resounding.

O'er the sea-beat ships the booming waters roar. Falcone.

2. Advancing or increasing amid noisy excitement; as, booming prices; booming popularity. [Colloq. U. S.]

Boom"ing, n. The act of producing a hollow or roaring sound; a violent rushing with heavy roar; as, the booming of the sea; a deep, hollow sound; as, the booming of bitterns. Howitt.

Boom"kin (&?;), n. (Naut.) Same as Bumkin.

||Boo"mo*rah (&?;), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A small West African chevrotain (Hyæmoschus aquaticus), resembling the musk deer.

||Boom"slang*e (&?;), n. [D. boom tree + slang snake.] (Zoöl.) A large South African tree snake (Bucephalus Capensis). Although considered venomous by natives, it has no poison fangs.

Boon (bn), n. [OE. bone, boin, a petition, fr. Icel. bn; akin to Sw. & Dan. bän, AS. bn, and perh. to E. ban; but influenced by F. bon good, fr. L. bonus. √86. See 2d Ban, Bounty.] 1. A prayer or petition. [Obs.]

For which to God he made so many an idle boon. Spenser.

2. That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift; a benefaction; a grant; a present.

Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above. James i. 17 (Rev. Ver. ).

Boon, a. [F. bon. See Boon, n.] 1. Good; prosperous; as, boon voyage. [Obs.]

2. Kind; bountiful; benign.

Which . . . Nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain. Milton.

3. Gay; merry; jovial; convivial.

A boon companion, loving his bottle. Arbuthnot.