Brachycephalic, brak-i-sef-al′ik (also sef′-), Brachycephalous, brak-i-sef′al-us, adj. short-headed, applied in ethnology to skulls of which the breadth is at least four-fifths of the length—opp. to Dolichocephalic.
Brachypterous, brak-ip′tėr-us, adj. lit. short-winged: having wings which, when folded, do not reach to the base of the tail. [Gr. brachys, short, pteron, a wing.]
Brack, brak, n. a flaw in cloth. [See Break.]
Bracken, brak′en, n. fern. [See Brake.]
Bracket, brak′et, n. a support for something fastened to a wall, the ornamental metal pipe bearing gas-lamps, &c.: (pl.) in printing, the marks [ ] used to enclose one or more words: one of the side pieces of a gun-carriage, supporting the trunnions.—v.t. to support by brackets: to enclose by brackets: to group two names, as in an honour list, implying equality. [Fr. braguette; Sp. bragueta—L. braca, bracæ, breeches.]
Brackish, brak′ish, adj. saltish: applied to water mixed with salt or with sea-water.—n. Brack′ishness. [Dut. brak, brackish; prob. the same as brak, refuse.]
Bract, brakt, n. an irregularly developed leaf at the base of the flower-stalk.—adjs. Brac′teal, Brac′teate, Bract′ed, Brac′teolate.—n. Brac′teole, a little bract at the base of the stalk of a single flower which is itself on a main stalk supporting several flowers.—adj. Bract′less, destitute of bracts. [L. bractea, a thin plate of metal, gold-leaf.]
Brad, brad, n. a small nail having a slight projection at the top on one side instead of a head.—n. Brad′awl, an awl to pierce holes. [Scot. brod, an instrument for pricking with; Ice. broddr, a pointed piece of iron.]
Bradypeptic, brad-i-pep′tik, adj. slow of digestion. [Gr. bradys, slow, and Peptic.]
Brae, brā, n. (Scot.) the slope above a river bank, a hill-slope. [Scand. brá.]