Part 798

Bra*zil"ian (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Brazil. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Brazil.

Brazilian pebble. See Pebble, n., 2.

Braz"i*lin (&?;), n. [Cf. F. brésiline. See Brazil.] (Chem.) A substance contained in both Brazil wood and Sapan wood, from which it is extracted as a yellow crystalline substance which is white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies. [Written also brezilin.]

Bra*zil" nut` (&?;). (Bot.) An oily, three-sided nut, the seed of the Bertholletia excelsa; the cream nut.

From eighteen to twenty-four of the seed or "nuts" grow in a hard and nearly globular shell.

Bra*zil" wood` (&?;). [OE. brasil, LL. brasile (cf. Pg. & Sp. brasil, Pr. bresil, Pr. bresil); perh. from Sp. or Pg. brasa a live coal (cf. Braze, Brasier); or Ar. vars plant for dyeing red or yellow. This name was given to the wood from its color; and it is said that King Emanuel, of Portugal, gave the name Brazil to the country in South America on account of its producing this wood.]

1. The wood of the oriental Cæsalpinia Sapan; -- so called before the discovery of America.

2. A very heavy wood of a reddish color, imported from Brazil and other tropical countries, for cabinet-work, and for dyeing. The best is the heartwood of Cæsalpinia echinata, a leguminous tree; but other trees also yield it. An inferior sort comes from Jamaica, the timber of C. Braziliensis and C. crista. This is often distinguished as Braziletto , but the better kind is also frequently so named.

Breach (&?;), n. [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break] . 1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.

2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise.

3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence; a break; a rupture.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. Shak.

4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves; surge; surf.

The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. 2 Sam. v. 20&?;

A clear breach implies that the waves roll over the vessel without breaking. -- A clean breach implies that everything on deck is swept away. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture.

There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. Shak.

6. A bruise; a wound.

Breach for breach, eye for eye. Lev. xxiv. 20&?;

7. (Med.) A hernia; a rupture.

8. A breaking out upon; an assault.

The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. 1. Chron. xiii. 11&?;

Breach of falth, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust. -- Breach of peace, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace. -- Breach of privilege, an act or default in violation of the privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee. Mozley. Abbott.

- Breach of promise, violation of one's plighted word, esp. of a promise to marry. -- Breach of trust, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter entrusted to one.

Syn. -- Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption; fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel; dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.

Breach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breached (&?;) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaching.] To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a city.

Breach, v. i. To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale.

Breach"y (&?;), a. Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as, breachy cattle.