Part 72

Be"ta (?), n. [Gr. bh^ta.] The second letter of the Greek alphabet, B, β. See B, and cf. etymology of Alphabet. Beta (B, β) is used variously for classifying, as: (a) (Astron.) To designate some bright star, usually the second brightest, of a constellation, as, β Aurigæ. (b) (Chem.) To distinguish one of two or more isomers; also, to indicate the position of substituting atoms or groups in certain compounds; as, β-naphthol. With acids, it commonly indicates that the substituent is in union with the carbon atom next to that to which the carboxyl group is attached.

{ Be"ta*cism (?), ||Be`ta*cis"mus (?) }, n. Excessive or extended use of the b sound in speech, due to conversion of other sounds into it, as through inability to distinguish them from b, or because of difficulty in pronouncing them.

Be"ta rays (?). (Physics) Penetrating rays readily deflected by a magnetic or electric field, emitted by radioactive substances, as radium. They consist of negatively charged particles or electrons, apparently the same in kind as those of the cathode rays, but having much higher velocities (about 35,000 to 180,000 miles per second).

||Bez`po*pov"tsy (?), n. [Russ.; bez without + popovtsy, a derivative of pop priest.] A Russian sect. See Raskolnik.

{ Bhees"ty, Bhees"tie (?) }, n. [Written also bhistee, bhisti, etc.] [Per. bihisht lit., heavenly.] A water carrier, as to a household or a regiment. [India]

{ Bhis"tee (?), Bhis"ti (?) }, n. Same as Bheesty. [India]

Bi*an"nu*al (?), a. [Pref. bi- + annual.] Occurring twice a year; half-yearly; semiannual.

||Bi`be*lot" (?), n. [F.] A small decorative object without practical utility.

Her pictures, her furniture, and her bibelots.

M. Crawford.

{ Bick"ford fuse or fuze, or Bickford match (?) }. A fuse used in blasting, consisting of a long cylinder of explosive material inclosed in a varnished wrapping of rope or hose. It burns from 2 to 4 feet a minute.

{ Bi*dar"kee (?), Bi*dar"ka (?) }, n. [Russ. baidarka, dim. Cf. Baidar.] A portable boat made of skins stretched on a frame. [Alaska] The Century.

Bie"la's com"et (?). (Astron.) A periodic coment, discovered by Biela in 1826, which revolves around the sun in 6.6 years. The November meteors (Andromedes or Bielids) move in its orbit, and may be fragments of the comet.

Bie"lid (?), n. (Astron.) See Andromede.

Bi*fo"cal (?), a. [Pref. bi-+ focal.] Having two foci, as some spectacle lenses.

Big Bend State. Tennessee; -- a nickname.

Bil"la*bong` (?), n. [Native name.] In Australia, a blind channel leading out from a river; -- sometimes called an anabranch. This is the sense of the word as used in the Public Works Department; but the term has also been locally applied to mere back-waters forming stagnant pools and to certain water channels arising from a source.

Bil"let, n. Quarters or place to which one is assigned, as by a billet or ticket; berth; position. Also used fig. [Colloq.]

The men who cling to easy billets ashore.

Harper's Mag.

His shafts of satire fly straight to their billet, and there they rankle.

Pall Mall Mag.

{ Bil"ly*cock (?), n., or Bil"ly*cock hat` (?) }. [Perh. from bully + cock; that is, cocked like the hats of the bullies.] A round, low-crowned felt hat; a wideawake. "The undignified billycocks and pantaloons of the West." B. H. Chamberlain.

Little acquiesced, and Ransome disguised him in a beard, and a loose set of clothes, and a billicock hat.

Charles Reade.

Bi"me*tal"lic, a. Composed of two different metals; formed of two parts, each of a different metal; as, bimetallic wire; bimetallic thermometer, etc.

Bi"mo*lec"u*lar (?), a. [Pref. bi- + molecular.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or formed from, two molecules; as, a bimolecular reaction (a reaction between two molecules).

||Bin*bash"i (?), n. [Turk., prop., chief of a thousand; bin thousand + bash head.] (Mil.) A major in the Turkish army.