%bir%

adj. (Med.) Diminishing or alleviating irritation Stedman. [ AS ]

v. t. [ Pref. ab- + irritate. ] (Med.) To diminish the sensibility to stimulation of. [ 1913 Webster+ AS ]

n. (Med.) A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation; debility; lack of strength; asthenia. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Characterized by abirritation or debility. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) The placenta and membranes with which the fetus is connected, when they are expelled from the womb after delivery. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

(Zool.) See Ant bird, under Ant, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ ‖ } n. [ F. babiroussa, fr. Malay bābī hog + rūsa deer. ] (Zool.) A large hoglike quadruped (Sus babirussa, syn. Porcus babirussa) of the East Indies, sometimes domesticated; the Indian hog. Its upper canine teeth or tusks are large and recurved. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } (Zool.) A common bird (Icterus galbula) of eastern and central America and Canada, named after Lord Baltimore, because its colors (black and orange red) are like those of his coat of arms; -- called also golden robin. It winters in the American tropics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small European flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola), so called because it often nests on a beam in a building. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } n. (Chem.) An alkaloid got from the bark of the bebeeru, or green heart of Guiana (Nectandra Rodiœi). It is a tonic, antiperiodic, and febrifuge, and is used in medicine as a substitute for quinine. [ Written also bibirine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called from their notes. ] (Zool.) (a) A South and Central American bird of the genus Casmarhincos, and family Cotingidæ, of several species; the campanero. (b) The Myzantha melanophrys of Australia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) See Bebeerine. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. consisting of, combining two races. a biracial committee [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. showing both bilateral and radial symmetry. some sea anemones are biradial. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } a. [ Pref. bi- + radiate. ] Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + ramous. ] (Biol.) Having, or consisting of, two branches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Birches [ OE. birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. björk, Sw. björk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche, birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr. bhūrja. √254. Cf. 1st Birk. ] 1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (Betula alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (Betula papyracea); the yellow birch (Betula lutea); the black or cherry birch (Betula lenta). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The wood or timber of the birch. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in schools. They were also made into brooms. [ 1913 Webster ]

The threatening twigs of birch. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A birch-bark canoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of turpentine tree. --
Birch partridge. (Zool.) See Ruffed grouse. --
Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch. --
Oil of birch. (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor. (b) An oil prepared from the black birch (Betula lenta), said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for which it is largely sold. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Birched p. pr. & vb. n. Birching. ] To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a canoe made with the bark of a birch tree.
Syn. -- birchbark canoe. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or relating to birch. [ 1913 Webster ]

He passed where Newark's stately tower
Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. brid, bred, bird, young bird, bird, AS. bridd young bird. √92. ] 1. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling; and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2). [ 1913 Webster ]

That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The brydds [ birds ] of the aier have nestes. Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See Aves. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fig.: A girl; a maiden. [ 1913 Webster ]

And by my word! the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arabian bird, the phenix. --
Bird of Jove, the eagle. --
Bird of Juno, the peacock. --
Bird louse (Zool.), a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic upon birds. -- Bird mite (Zool.), a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous. --
Bird of passage, a migratory bird. --
Bird spider (Zool.), a very large South American spider (Mygale avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds. --
Bird tick (Zool.), a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus Ornithomyia, and allies), usually winged. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To catch or shoot birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: To seek for game or plunder; to thieve. [ R. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. to watch birds, especially in their natural habitats, for enjoyment; to birdwatch. [ PJC ]

n. an ornamental basin (usually in a garden) for birds to bathe in. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them. Hence: Anything which smites without penetrating. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a person with confused ideas; incapable of serious thought.
Syn. -- addle-head, loon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ or } n. A cage for confining birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sound made in imitation of the note or cry of a bird for the purpose of decoying the bird or its mate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An instrument of any kind, as a whistle, used in making the sound of a birdcall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art, act, or occupation or catching birds or wild fowls. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A shrub (Prunus Padus ) found in Northern and Central Europe. It bears small black cherries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A birdcatcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a birdwatcher. [ PJC ]

a. Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting rare or curious birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who has for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A young bird. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Birdcatching or fowling. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Birding piece, a fowling piece. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little bird; a nestling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Resembling a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Bird + lime viscous substance. ] An extremely adhesive viscid substance, usually made of the middle bark of the holly, by boiling, fermenting, and cleansing it. When a twig is smeared with this substance it will hold small birds which may light upon it. Hence: Anything which insnares. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not birdlime or Idean pitch produce
A more tenacious mass of clammy juice. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Birdlime is also made from mistletoe, elder, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To smear with birdlime; to catch with birdlime; to insnare. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the heart is thus birdlimed, then it cleaves to everything it meets with. Coodwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little bird; a nestling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A fowler or birdcatcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An aviator; airman. [ Colloq. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

(Zool.) The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Great emerald (Paradisea apoda) and the Lesser emerald (Paradisea minor) furnish many of the plumes used as ornaments by ladies; the Red bird of paradise is Paradisea rubra or Paradisea sanguinea; the Golden bird of paradise is Parotia aurea or Parotia sexsetacea; the King bird of paradise is Cincinnurus regius. The name is also applied to the longer-billed birds of another related group (Epimachinæ) from the same region. The Twelve-wired bird of paradise (Seleucides alba) is one of these. See Paradise bird, and Note under Apod. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a common trailing perennial milkwort of eastern North America (Polygala paucifolia), having leaves like wintergreen and usually rosy-purple flowers with winged sepals.
Syn. -- flowering wintergreen, gaywings, gay-wings, fringed polygala. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

A species of capsicum (Capsicum baccatum), whose small, conical, coral-red fruit is among the most piquant of all red peppers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) A molding whose section is thought to resemble a beak. [ 1913 Webster ]