Part 1278

<h1>Boom</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom</hw> <tt>(b&oomac;m)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Boomed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Booming</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Of imitative origin; cf. OE. <ets>bommen</ets> to hum, D. <ets>bommen</ets> to drum, sound as an empty barrel, also W. <ets>bwmp</ets> a hollow sound; <ets>aderyn y bwmp</ets>, the bird of the hollow sound, i. e., the bittern. Cf. <er>Bum</er>, <er>Bump</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>, <er>Bomb</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the bittern, and some insects.</def>

<blockquote>At eve the beetle <b>boometh</b> Athwart the thicket lone. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.</def>

<blockquote>Alarm guns <b>booming</b> through the night air. <i>W. Irving.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail, before a free wind.</def>

<blockquote>She comes <b>booming</b> down before it. <i>Totten.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular favor; to go on rushingly.</def>

<h1>Boom</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry of the bittern; a booming.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A strong and extensive advance, with more or less noisy excitement; -- applied colloquially or humorously to market prices, the demand for stocks or commodities and to political chances of aspirants to office; <as>as, a <ex>boom</ex> in the stock market; a <ex>boom</ex> in coffee.</as></def> <mark>[Colloq. U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Boom</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To cause to advance rapidly in price; <as>as, to boom railroad or mining shares; to create a "boom" for; as to <ex>boom</ex> Mr. C. for senator.</as></def> <mark>[Colloq. U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Boomdas</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom"das</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[D. <ets>boom</ets> tree + <ets>das</ets> badger.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A small African hyracoid mammal (<spn>Dendrohyrax arboreus</spn>) resembling the daman.</def>

<h1>Boomer</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who, or that which, booms.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A North American rodent, so named because it is said to make a booming noise. See <er>Sewellel</er>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A large male kangaroo.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>One who works up a "boom".</def> <mark>[Slang, U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Boomerang</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom"er*ang</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A very singular missile weapon used by the natives of Australia and in some parts of India. It is usually a curved stick of hard wood, from twenty to thirty inches in length, from two to three inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick. When thrown from the hand with a quick rotary motion, it describes very remarkable curves, according to the shape of the instrument and the manner of throwing it, often moving nearly horizontally a long distance, then curving upward to a considerable height, and finally taking a retrograde direction, so as to fall near the place from which it was thrown, or even far in the rear of it.</def>

<h1>Booming</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom"ing</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Rushing with violence; swelling with a hollow sound; making a hollow sound or note; roaring; resounding.</def>

<blockquote>O'er the sea-beat ships the <b>booming</b> waters roar. <i>Falcone.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Advancing or increasing amid noisy excitement; <as>as, <ex>booming</ex> prices; <ex>booming</ex> popularity.</as></def> <mark>[Colloq. U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Booming</h1> <Xpage=166>

<hw>Boom"ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of producing a hollow or roaring sound; a violent rushing with heavy roar; <as>as, the <ex>booming</ex> of the sea</as>; a deep, hollow sound; <as>as, the <ex>booming</ex> of bitterns</as>.</def>