Part 788

Bram"ble (brm"b'l), n. [OE. brembil, AS. brmel, brmbel, brmbel (akin to OHG. brmal), fr. the same root as E. broom, As. brm. See Broom.] 1. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub.

The thorny brambles, and embracing bushes. Shak.

2. (Zoöl.) The brambling or bramble finch.

Bram"ble bush` (bsh`). (Bot.) The bramble, or a collection of brambles growing together.

He jumped into a bramble bush And scratched out both his eyes. Mother Goose.

Bram"bled (&?;), a. Overgrown with brambles.

Forlorn she sits upon the brambled floor. T. Warton.

Bram"ble net` (&?;). A net to catch birds.

Bram"bling (&?;), n. [OE. bramline. See Bramble, n.] (Zoöl.) The European mountain finch (Fringilla montifringilla); -- called also bramble finch and bramble.

Bram"bly (&?;), a. Pertaining to, resembling, or full of, brambles. "In brambly wildernesses." Tennyson.

Brame (&?;), n. [Cf. Breme.] Sharp passion; vexation. [Obs.]

Heart-burning brame. Spenser.

{ Bra"min (&?;), Bra*min"ic (&?;), etc.} See Brahman, Brachmanic, etc.

Bran (&?;), n. [OE. bren, bran, OF. bren, F. bran, from Celtic; cf. Armor. brenn, Ir. bran, bran, chaff.] 1. The broken coat of the seed of wheat, rye, or other cereal grain, separated from the flour or meal by sifting or bolting; the coarse, chaffy part of ground grain.

2. (Zoöl.) The European carrion crow.

Bran"card (&?;), n. [F.] A litter on which a person may be carried. [Obs.] Coigrave.

Branch (&?;), n.; pl. Branches (&?;). [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.] 1. (Bot.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant.

2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of a railway.

Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up. W. Irving.

3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. "Branches of knowledge." Prescott.

It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. Shak.

4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola.

5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the English branch of a family.

His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. Carew.

6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.

Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb. -- Branch herring. See Alewife. -- Root and branch , totally, wholly.

Syn. -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.

Branch (&?;), a. Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch store.