box

n. [ Cf.Dan. baske to slap, bask slap, blow. Cf. Pash. ] A blow on the head or ear with the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

A good-humored box on the ear. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ As. box, L. buxus, fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Box a case. ] (Bot.) A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world. The common box (Buxus sempervirens) has two varieties, one of which, the dwarf box (Buxus suffruticosa), is much used for borders in gardens. The wood of the tree varieties, being very hard and smooth, is extensively used in the arts, as by turners, engravers, mathematical instrument makers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Box elder, the ash-leaved maple (Negundo aceroides), of North America. --
Box holly, the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus). --
Box thorn, a shrub (Lycium barbarum). --
Box tree, the tree variety of the common box. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Boxes /plu> [ As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. büchse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See Pyx, and cf. Box a tree, Bushel. ] 1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quantity that a box contain. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage. Dorset. [ 1913 Webster ]

The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks,
Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box. J. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A small country house. “A shooting box.” Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tight boxes neatly sashed. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mach) (a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing. (b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. “A Christmas box.” Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Baseball) The square in which the pitcher stands. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Zool.) A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox. [ 1913 Webster ]

Box beam (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box. --
Box car (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents. --
Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position. --
Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain. --
Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery. --
Box crab (Zool.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box. --
Box drain (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom. --
Box girder (Arch.), a box beam. --
Box groove (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. R. W. Raymond. --
Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc. --
Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the right and the left. --
Box turtle or
Box tortoise (Zool.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. Emerson. --
In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.) --
In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) Ridley (1554) [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar. ] To boxhaul. [ 1913 Webster ]

To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback. --
To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the compass in their order. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To strike with the hand or fist, especially to strike on the ear, or on the side of the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Boxed (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Boxing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To inclose in a box. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with boxes, as a wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) To inclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to bring to a required form. [ 1913 Webster ]

To box a tree, to make an incision or hole in a tree for the purpose of procuring the sap. --
To box off, to divide into tight compartments. --
To box up. (a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had boxed up twelve score pounds. (b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in narrow quarters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The wintergreen. (Gaultheria procumbens). [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. (Printing) enclosed in or set off by a border or box; as, boxed sections of the report; boxed announcements in the newspaper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. enclosed in a box. [ PJC ]