Part 875

<i>Lowell.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Destitute of a beard or awn; <as>as, <ex>bald</ex> wheat</as>.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Destitute of the natural covering.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced.</def>

<cs><col>Bald buzzard</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>the fishhawk or osprey.</cd> -- <col>Bald coot</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a name of the European coot <spn>(Fulica atra)</spn>, alluding to the bare patch on the front of the head.</cd></cs>

<h1>Baldachin</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"da*chin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>baldachinus</ets>, <ets>baldechinus</ets>, a canopy of rich silk carried over the host; fr. <ets>Bagdad</ets>, It. <ets>Baldacco</ets>, a city in Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: cf. It. <ets>baldacchino</ets>. Cf. <er>Baudekin</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A rich brocade; baudekin.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the wall; generally placed over an altar; <as>as, the <ex>baldachin</ex> in St</as>. Peter's.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession.</def>

<altsp>[Written also <asp>baldachino</asp>, <asp>baldaquin</asp>, etc.]</altsp>

<h1>Bald eagle</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bald" ea"gle</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The white-headed eagle <spn>(Hali\'91etus leucocephalus)</spn> of America. The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the head.</def>

<note>&hand; The <i>bald eagle</i> is represented in the coat of arms, and on the coins, of the United States.</note>

<h1>Balder</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"der</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Icel. <ets>Baldr</ets>, akin to E. <ets>bold</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Scan. Myth.)</fld> <def>The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace; the son of Odin and Freya.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>Baldur</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Balderdash</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"der*dash</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. <ets>balder</ets> noise, clatter, and E. <ets>dash</ets>; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then hodgepodge, mixture; or W. <ets>baldorduss</ets> a prattling, <ets>baldordd</ets>, <ets>baldorddi</ets>, to prattle.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.</def>

<blockquote>Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature, and is called <b>balderdash</b>. <i>Taylor (Drink and Welcome).</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.</def>

<h1>Balderdash</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bal"der*dash</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To mix or adulterate, as liquors.</def>

<blockquote>The wine merchants of Nice brew and <b>balderdash</b>, and even mix it with pigeon's dung and quicklime. <i>Smollett.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Bald-faced</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bald"-faced`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag.</def>

<h1>Baldhead</h1> <Xpage=113>

<hw>Bald"head`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A person whose head is bald.</def>

<i>2 Kings ii. 23.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A white-headed variety of pigeon.</def>