bru

n. [ Cf. F. brucine, fr. James Bruce, a Scottish traveler. ] (Chem.) A powerful vegetable alkaloid, found, associated with strychnine, in the seeds of different species of Strychnos, especially in the Nux vomica. It is less powerful than strychnine. Called also brucia and brucina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Named after Dr. A. Bruce of New York. ] (Min.) (a) A white, pearly mineral, occurring thin and foliated, like talc, and also fibrous; a native magnesium hydrate. (b) The mineral chondrodite. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wet and dirty; begrimed. [ Obs. or Dial. ] Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of plants of the nightshade family, including some plants often placed in the genus Datura, such as the angel's trumpets.
Syn. -- genus Brugmansia. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖n. (Zool.) [ Native name. ] The rhesus monkey. See Rhesus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. bruin brown. In the epic poem of “Reynard the Fox” the bear is so called from his color. See Brown, a. ] A bear; -- so called in popular tales and fables. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bruised p. pr. & vb. n. Bruising. ] [ OE. brusen, brisen, brosen, bresen, AS. br&unr_;san or fr. OF. bruiser, bruisier, bruser, to break, shiver, perh. from OHG. brochisōn. Cf. Break, v. t. ] 1. To injure, as by a blow or collision, without laceration; to contuse; as, to bruise one's finger with a hammer; to bruise the bark of a tree with a stone; to bruise an apple by letting it fall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To break; as in a mortar; to bray, as minerals, roots, etc.; to crush. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To pulverize; bray; triturate; pound; contuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fight with the fists; to box. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bruising was considered a fine, manly, old English custom. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]