Part 1336

<note>&hand; This is the more general word. See <er>Brace</er>, <er>Cantalever</er>, <er>Console</er>, <er>Corbel</er>, <er>Strut</er>.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Engin. & Mech.)</fld> <def>A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <def>The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Print.)</fld> <def>One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also <altname>crotchet</altname>.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like.</def>

<cs><col>Bracket light</col>, <cd>a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.</cd></cs>

<h1>Bracket</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brack"et</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Bracketed</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Bracketing</er>]</wordforms> <def>To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.</def>

<h1>Bracketing</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brack"et*ing</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively.</def>

<h1>Brackish</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brack"ish</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Brack</er> salt water.]</ety> <def>Saltish, or salt in a moderate degree, as water in saline soil.</def>

<blockquote>Springs in deserts found seem sweet, all <b>brackish</b> though they be. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Brackishness</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brack"ish*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality or state of being brackish, or somewhat salt.</def>

<h1>Bracky</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brack"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Brackish.</def>

<i>Drayton.</i>

<h1>Bract</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Bract</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Bractea</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A leaf, usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from the axil of which a flower stalk arises.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Any modified leaf, or scale, on a flower stalk or at the base of a flower.</def>

<note>&hand; <i>Bracts</i> are often inconspicuous, but sometimes large and showy, or highly colored, as in many cactaceous plants. The spathes of aroid plants are conspicuous forms of bracts.</note>

<h1>Bractea</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brac"te*a</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L., a thin plate of metal or wood, gold foil.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A bract.</def>

<h1>Bracteal</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brac"te*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf.F. <ets>bract\'82al</ets>.]</ety> <def>Having the nature or appearance of a bract.</def>

<h1>Bracteate</h1> <Xpage=174>

<hw>Brac"te*ate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf.L. <ets>bracteatus</ets> covered with gold plate.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Having a bract or bracts.</def>