Part 789

Branch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Branched (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Branching.] 1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to ramify.

2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision.

To branch off, to form a branch or a separate part; to diverge. -- To branch out, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc.

To branch out into a long disputation. Spectator.

Branch, v. t. 1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in.

2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs.

The train whereof loose far behind her strayed, Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought. Spenser.

Branch"er (&?;), n. 1. That which shoots forth branches; one who shows growth in various directions.

2. (Falconry) A young hawk when it begins to leave the nest and take to the branches.

Branch"er*y (&?;), n. A system of branches.

||Bran"chi*a (&?;), n.; pl. Branchiæ (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, pl. of &?;.] (Anat.) A gill; a respiratory organ for breathing the air contained in water, such as many aquatic and semiaquatic animals have.

Bran"chi*al (&?;), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to branchiæ or gills.

Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix. -- Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes.

Bran"chi*ate (&?;), a. (Anat.) Furnished with branchiæ; as, branchiate segments.

Bran*chif"er*ous (&?;), a. (Anat.) Having gills; branchiate; as, branchiferous gastropods.

Branch"i*ness (&?;), n. Fullness of branches.

Branch"ing, a. Furnished with branches; shooting our branches; extending in a branch or branches.

Shaded with branching palm. Milton.

Branch"ing, n. The act or state of separation into branches; division into branches; a division or branch.

The sciences, with their numerous branchings. L. Watts.

||Bran`chi*o*gas*trop"o*da (&?;), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; gill + E. gastropoda.] (Zoöl.) Those Gastropoda that breathe by branchiæ, including the Prosobranchiata and Opisthobranchiata.

Bran`chi*om"er*ism (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; gill + -mere.] (Anat.) The state of being made up of branchiate segments. R. Wiedersheim.

Bran"chi*o*pod (&?;), n. One of the Branchiopoda.

||Bran"chi*o*poda (&?;), n. pl. [Gr. &?; gill + -poda: cf. F. branchiopode.] (Zoöl.) An order of Entomostraca; -- so named from the feet of branchiopods having been supposed to perform the function of gills. It includes the fresh-water genera Branchipus, Apus, and Limnadia, and the genus Artemia found in salt lakes. It is also called Phyllopoda. See Phyllopoda, Cladocera. It is sometimes used in a broader sense.

Bran`chi*os"te*gal (&?;), a. [Gr. &?; gill + &?; to cover: cf. F. branchiostège.] (Anat.) Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes. -- n. (Anat.) A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in Appendix.

This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected.

Bran`chi*os"tege (&?;), (Anat.) The branchiostegal membrane. See Illustration in Appendix.

Bran`chi*os"te*gous (&?;), a. (Anat.) Branchiostegal.