Bo, bō, interj. a word used to frighten children.—To say bo to a goose, to open the mouth, to say even a word.
Boa, bō′a, n. a genus of serpents which includes the largest species of serpents (the Boa-Constric′tor), which kill their prey by constriction or pressure: a long serpent-like coil of fur, feathers, or the like, worn round the neck by ladies. [Perh. conn. with L. bos, an ox.]
Boad. Same as Abode, pa.p. of Abide: also the same as Bode.
Boanerges, bo-an-erj′es, n. a noisy preacher or shouting orator. ['Sons of thunder'—Mark, iii. 17.]
Boar, bōr, n. the male of swine, or its flesh.—adj. Boar′ish, swinish: brutal.—n. Boar′-spear, a spear used in boar-hunting. [A.S. bár; Dut. beer; Ger. bär.]
Board, bōrd, n. a broad and thin strip of timber: a table to put food on: food: a table round which persons meet for some kind of business: any council or authorised body of men, as a 'school-board:' the deck of a ship: (pl.) the stage: a kind of thick stiff paper, as in pasteboard, Bristol-board, esp. that used in the binding of books.—v.t. to cover with boards: to supply with food at fixed terms: to enter a ship: to attack.—v.i. to receive food or take meals.—ns. Board′er, one who receives board (food): one who boards a ship; Board′ing, the act of covering with boards: the covering itself: act of boarding a ship; Board′ing-house, a house where boarders are kept; Board′ing-pike, a pike used in boarding a ship, or in defending it when attacked; Board′ing-school, a school in which board is given as well as instruction; Board′-school, a school under control of a school-board, as elected by the Elementary Education Act of 1870.—n.pl. Board′-wā′ges, wages allowed to servants to keep themselves in food.—Above board, openly.—By the board, over the board or side of a ship—hence, To go by the board, to be lost or destroyed.—To sweep the board, to take all the cards. [A.S. bord, a board, the side of a ship; Ice. borð, the side of a ship: conn. either with Bear or with Broad.]
Boast, bōst, v.i. to talk vaingloriously: to brag (with of),—v.t. to brag of: speak proudly or confidently of, esp. justifiably: to magnify or exalt one's self.—n. an expression of pride: a brag: the cause of boasting.—adj. Boast′ful, given to brag.—adv. Boast′fully.—ns. Boast′fulness, Boast′ing, ostentatious display: vaunting.—adj. Boast′less, without boasting; simple, unostentatious. [M. E. bost, of doubtful origin; apparently W. bostio, Gael. bòsd, a bragging, are borrowed.]
Boat, bōt, n. a small open vessel usually moved by oars: a small ship: a vessel like a boat in shape, as a 'sauce-boat.'—v.i. to sail about in a boat.—ns. Boat′-hook, an iron hook fixed to a pole used for pulling or pushing off a boat; Boat′-house, a house or shed for a boat: Boat′ing, the art or practice of sailing in boats; Boat′man, a man who has charge of a boat: a rower.—In the same boat, in the same circumstances.—To have an oar in another's boat, to meddle with the affairs of others. [A.S. bát; Dut. boot; Fr. bateau.]
Boatswain, bōt′swān (colloq. bō′sn), n. a petty officer on board ship who looks after the boats, rigging, &c., and calls the seamen to duty with a whistle. [Boat, and swain, Scand. sveinn, a boy.]
Bob, bob, v.i. to move quickly up and down, to dangle: to fish with a bob.—v.t. to move in a short, jerking manner:—pr.p. bob′bing; pa.p. bobbed.—n. a short jerking motion: a slight blow: anything that moves with a bob or swing: a pendant: a knot of hair, as in Bob′-wig, one with the ends turned up into short curls: a bunch of lobworms, used in catching eels: any small roundish body: the refrain or burden of a song: a term in bell-ringing—a Bob minor is rung upon six bells; a Bob major on eight; a Bob royal on ten; a Bob maximus on twelve.—adj. Bob′bish, in good spirits.—n. Bob′ble, the movement of water in commotion. [Perh. Celt., Gael. baban, babag.]