wunder · Library

Part 1203

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary · Project Gutenberg — chapter 1203 of 12779 · ~311 words · public domain

Read in the Wunder reader — free

<h1>Blockade</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block*ade"</hw>, <tt>v. t. </tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Blockaded</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Blockading</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or the introduction of supplies. See note under <er>Blockade</er>, <tt>n.</tt></def> "<i>Blockaded</i> the place by sea."

<i>Gilpin.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.</def>

<blockquote>Till storm and driving ice <b>blockade</b> him there. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To obstruct entrance to or egress from.</def>

<blockquote>Huge bales of British cloth <b>blockade</b> the door. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blockader</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block*ad"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who blockades.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A vessel employed in blockading.</def>

<h1>Blockage</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"age</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of blocking up; the state of being blocked up.</def>

<h1>Block book</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block" book`</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>. <def>A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types.</def>

<h1>Blockhead</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"head`</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Block</ets> + <ets>head</ets>.]</ety> <def>A stupid fellow; a dolt; a person deficient in understanding.</def>

<blockquote>The bookful <b>blockhead</b>, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Blockheaded</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"head`ed</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Stupid; dull.</def>

<h1>Blockheadism</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"head*ism</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>That which characterizes a blockhead; stupidity.</def>

<i>Carlyle.</i>

<h1>Blockhouse</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"house`</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Block</ets> + <ets>house</ets>: cf. G. <ets>blockhaus</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <def>An edifice or structure of heavy timbers or logs for military defense, having its sides loopholed for musketry, and often an upper story projecting over the lower, or so placed upon it as to have its sides make an angle wit the sides of the lower story, thus enabling the defenders to fire downward, and in all directions; -- formerly much used in America and Germany.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A house of squared logs.</def> <mark>[West. & South. U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Blocking</h1> <Xpage=156>

<hw>Block"ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of obstructing, supporting, shaping, or stamping with a block or blocks.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Blocks used to support (a building, etc.) temporarily.</def>

← Previous chapterAll chaptersNext chapter →

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.

© 2026 Wunder Learning LLC · Terms & Privacy