Part 66

Bab (?), n. [Per.] Lit., gate; -- a title given to the founder of Babism, and taken from that of Bab- ud-Din, assumed by him.

{ Bab"ism (?), Bab"i*ism (?) }, n. The doctrine of a modern religious pantheistical sect in Persia, which was founded, about 1844, by Mirza Ali Mohammed ibn Rabhik (1820 -- 1850), who assumed the title of Bab- ed-Din (Per., Gate of the Faith). Babism is a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian, Jewish, and Parsi elements. This doctrine forbids concubinage and polygamy, and frees women from many of the degradations imposed upon them among the orthodox Mohammedans. Mendicancy, the use of intoxicating liquors and drugs, and slave dealing, are forbidden; asceticism is discountenanced. -- Bab"ist, n.

{ Ba*bul", Ba*bool" (?) }, n. [See Bablah.] (Bot.) Any one of several species of Acacia, esp. A. Arabica, which yelds a gum used as a substitute for true gum arabic.

In place of Putney's golden gorse The sickly babul blooms.

Kipling.

Ba*cil"lar, a. (Biol.) Pertaining to, or produced by, the organism bacillus; bacillary.

Bac"il*la*ry, a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to bacilli; produced by, or containing, bacilli; bacillar; as, a bacillary disease.

Back fire. (a) A fire started ahead of a forest or prairie fire to burn only against the wind, so that when the two fires meet both must go out for lack of fuel. (b) A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in a direction reverse to that in which it should travel; also, an explosion in the exhaust passages of such ah engine.

Back"-fire`, v. i. 1. (Engin.) To have or experience a back fire or back fires; -- said of an internal-combustion engine.

2. Of a Bunsen or similar air-fed burner, to light so that the flame proceeds from the internal gas jet instead of from the external jet of mixed gas and air. -- Back"- fir`ing, n.

Back"heel` (?), n. (Wrestling) A method of tripping by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back; a throw made in this way. -- v. t. To trip (a person) in this way.

Back"stop` (?), n. 1. In baseball, a fence, prop. at least 90 feet behind the home base, to stop the balls that pass the catcher; also, the catcher himself.

2. In rounders, the player who stands immediately behind the striking base.

3. In cricket, the longstop; also, the wicket keeper.

Ba*co"ni*an (?), n. 1. One who adheres to the philosophy of Lord Bacon.

2. One who maintains that Lord Bacon is the author of the works commonly attributed to Shakespeare.

Bac"te*rin (?), n. (Med.) A bacterial vaccine.

||Bac*te`ri*ol"y*sis (?), n. [NL.; fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a staff + &?; a loosing.] 1. Chemical decomposition brought about by bacteria without the addition of oxygen.

2. The destruction or dissolution of bacterial cells. -- Bac*te`ri*o*lyt"ic (#), a.

Bac*te`ri*os"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, a staff + &?; to view.] Microscopic examination or investigation of bacteria. -- Bac*te`ri*o*scop"ic (#), a. -- *scop"ic*al*ly (#), adv. -- Bac*te`ri*os"co*pist (#), n.

||Ba`daud" (?), n. [F.] A person given to idle observation of everything, with wonder or astonishment; a credulous or gossipy idler.

A host of stories . . . dealing chiefly with the subject of his great wealth, an ever delightful topic to the badauds of Paris.

Pall Mall Mag.

Badg"er game. The method of blackmailing by decoying a person into a compromising situation and extorting money by threats of exposure.

Badger State. Wisconsin; -- a nickname.

Ba*di"geon (b*dj"n), n. [F.] A cement or distemper paste (as of plaster and powdered freestone, or of sawdust and glue or lime) used by sculptors, builders, and workers in wood or stone, to fill holes, cover defects, etc.

||Bæ"tu*lus (?), n.; pl. Bætuli (#). [L., fr. Gr. bai`tylos a sacred meteorite.] (Antiq.) A meteorite, or similar rude stone artificially shaped, held sacred or worshiped as of divine origin.

All the evidence goes to prove that these menhirs are bætuli, i. e., traditional and elementary images of the deity.