]> Back-staff Back quadrantin Navigation

&Backstaff;

an Instrument by the French, called the English Quadrant, invented by Captain Davis: Being the simplest and exactest Instrument hitherto invented for taking the Sun's Zenith Distance at Sea, by the Help of which the Latitude is presently known. It consists of two Arches, the Arch x of the least Radius contains 60 degrees, and that of y having the largest Radius contains three Degrees. It has also three Vanes; the Vane at h is called the Horizon Vane, that at S the Shadow Vane, and the Vane at E is called the Sight Vane. Baker-legg'd straddling with the Legs bowing outwards. White Ba&stress;kers

&Bakers.white;

this Company is of great Antiquity: They were a Company the first of Edward II. had a new Charter 1. Henry VII. confirmed by Henry VIII. and Edward VI. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and King James. Their Arms are Gules, three Garbs or on a Chief, an Arm issuing out of a Cloud proper, holding a Pair of Scales or, between three Garbes of the first. Brown Bakers

&Bakers.brown;

were incorporated the 19th of King James I. Their Arms are Gules, a Hand issuing out of the Clouds proper, holding a Pair of Balance, an Anchor in a Chief, barry wavy or and Azure on a Chevron Gules, between three Garbes.Baptismin Sea Language is a Ceremony performed in Merchants Ships, which pass the Tropick or Line for the first Time, both upon Ships and Men. The `Baptism of Ships', is only the washing of them throughout in Sea Water. The Baptism of Passengers is performed with many Ceremonies; but in performing either of them, the Ships Crew are generally made drunk, for the Sailors pretend to a customary Right to cut off the Beak-head of the Ship, unless the Captain or Master redeem it. The Ceremony is as follows: The eldest of the Ship's Crew, who has past [sic] the Line or Tropick, having dressed himself fantastically, with a Grotesque Cap on his Head, his Face black'd, comes carrying in his Hand a Waggoner or some other Sea Book, followed by the rest of the Sailors, disguised like himself, each of them bearing in his Hand some Kitchen Utensil, with Drums beating; the Leader places himself very gravely on a Seat prepared on the Decks, at the Foot of the Main Mast; and each Sailor or Passenger swears before this antick Magistrate, that he will see that this Ceremony be performed, whenever it comes to his Turn. The Sailors are commonly heartily drenched with whole Buckets of Water poured upon them; but Passengers and those that will give a little Money, are more favourably treated, being only sprinkled with a little Water; Ship Boys are commonly put into a Cage and drenched at Discretion, and are afterwards obliged to whip one another, which they usually do very smartly.Baro&stress;meter

&Barometer;

BarometreBarometrobaro'me'tron of ba'rosheavy and me'tronMeasure an Instrument for estimating the Weight or Pillar of the Atmosphere, and the several minute Variations of the Weight of that Pillar; by which Variations the various Changes of the Weather are determined. The first Inventor of it was Torricelli at Florence, in 1643. from whence Father Mersenne brought it into France the Year following 1644. and Monsieur Pascal tried it in 1646. and gave an Account of it in a Piece printed in 1647; the Uses of this Instrument are to discover the Gravitation of the incumbent Atmosphere (one of the noblest philosophical Discoveries) the Changes of the Weather, &ersand;c. The Mechanism of the Barometer is as follows: A Glass Tube A B, hermetically seal'd in A, having its Diameter about 110 of an Inch, and its Length at least thirteen Inches, is filled with Mercury so justly as not to have any Air over it, nor any Bubbles adhering to the Sides of the Tube, which is best done by means of a Glass Funnel, with a Capillary Tube; the Orifice of the Tube, filled after this manner, so as to overflow, is closely pressed by the Finger, so as to exclude any Air betwixt it and the Mercury, and thus immerged in a wooden Vessel of a convenient Diameter, so, however as not to touch the bottom: at the distance of 28 Inches from the Surface of the Mercury, are fix'd two Plates, c e, and d f, divided into Inches, and these again subdivided into any Number of smaller Parts: Lastly, the Tube is inclosed in a wooden Frame, to prevent its being broke, and the Bason open, though secured from Dust. Many Attempts have been made to render the Changes in the Barometer more sensible, and so to measure the Atmosphere more accurately; which has given rise to a great Number of Barometers of different Structures. Hence comes the Wheel Barometer, Diagonal Barometer, Horizontal Barometer, Pendant Barometer, &ersand;c.A Marine Barometerbeing only a double Thermometer for Conveniency at Sea. See Thermometer.The Motion of the Mercury in the Tube does not exceed 3 inches in its rising and falling.The rising of the Mercury generally presages fair Weather, and its falling foul; as Rain, high Winds and Storms.The falling of the Mercury in very hot Weather presages Thunder.The rising of the Mercury in Winter, foreshews Frost, and if the Mercury falls 3 or 4 Divisions in frosty Weather, a Thaw will certainly follow; but if the Mercury rises in a continued Frost, Snow will follow.If soon after the falling of the Mercury foul Weather ensues, there will be but little of it; and on the contrary, if the Weather proves fair soon after the Mercury has risen, the same will happen.If the Mercury rise much and high in foul Weather, and continues so for 2 or 3 Days before the foul Weather is over, then continued fair Weather will ensue.If the Mercury falls much and low in fair Weather, and continues so for 2 or 3 Days before the Rain comes, then you may expect a great deal of wet, and very probably high Winds.If the Mercury be unsettled in its Motion, it denotes uncertain and changeable Weather.As to the Words that are graved near the Divisions of the Instrument, though for the most part the Alterations of the Weather will agree with them, yet they are not so strictly to be minded, as in the rising and falling of the Mercury according to the foregoing Observations; for if the Mercury stands at much Rain, and then rises up to Changeable, it then foreshews fair Weather, although not to continue so long, as it would have done if the Mercury were higher; so Places which are more Northerly have a greater Alteration of the Rise and Fall of the Mercury, than those that are more Southerly. Wheel Barometer

&Barometer.wheel;

is a Contrivance for the applying an Index to the common Barometer, which Index shews the Variation of the Altitude of the Mercurial Cylinder, which at most does not exceed 3 Inches, which nevertheless may be made as distinguishable as if it were 3 Foot or 3 Yards, or as much more as is desired; the Form of it is as here described.Beama Fish, a Sea Monster resembling a Pike, a terrible Enemy to a Man, whom he seizes like a blood-hound, and holds him fast, if he ever catches hold; the Teeth of this Monster are so venemous, that the least Touch is mortal, except some Antidote be apply'd immediately.Beautyis represented in Painting and Sculpture as a Virgin, of a comely Aspect and well proportioned Limbs, with her Head in the Clouds and her whole Body surrounded with Rays of Light, which render her visible by Reason of the Splendor that invirons her. She stretched her Hand out of the Light holding a lily, and holds out a Ball and compasses with the other. Her Head in the Clouds shews that nothing is more impossible to be obscur'd, nor nothing less known than Beauty, it being a Ray of Divinity. The Lily denotes Beauty; the Ball and Compasses denote that Beauty consists in Stature, Measure and Proportion. The Flower moves the Senses and recreates the Heart, so does love move the Soul to Enjoyment.Beati&stress;llesin CookeryTit or tid-bits, such as Cocks&hy;combs, Goose-giblets, ghizzards, livers &ersand;c. to be put into pies and pottages/Bea&stress;titudebeatitudoblessedness, happiness, bliss, blissfulness.Sundry Beatitudeshave been represented in Painting and Sculpture as Follows.Beatitude of the poor in Spiritby a young Child clad in a short Vestment, with his Eyes lift up to Heaven, and holding a Scroll, in which were written the following Words: Beati pauperes spiritu. (Blessed are the Poor in Spirit)Beatitude of those who Mournby a Youth upon his Knees weeping, near him a Cross, the Tables of the Decalogue, and a Deaths-head.Beatitude of the Meekby a young lad holding in one Hand a Sprig of Olive, and with the other Hand preventing another Youth who is about to draw his Sword.Beatitude of those who hunger and thirst after Justiceby a Woman holding a Cross, upon which are a Pair of Scales in equal Ballance. Behind her a Stag panting for Thirst.Beatitude of the Mercifulby a Woman with a friendly and pleasing Aspect distributing Alms, holding in her Hand a Branch of a Pomegranate-tree with the Pomegranets upon it; and leaning on a Table on which are Loaves of Bread, and a Dish with Money in it.Beatitude of the Pure in Heartby a Damsel weeping over a Heart, and laying a Cross of Thorns upon it; a Lily growing out of the Heart with the Inscription: Beati mundi corde, quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt. (Blessed are the Pure in Heart for they shall see God.Beatitude of the Peacableby a Woman treading sundry Weapons under her. At her Feet a Man in Armour, holding a flaming Torch, which she endeavours to extinguish by pouring Water on it; in her left hand a Branch of Palm.Beatitude of the Persecutedby a Woman upon her Knees taking up her Cross, behind her an Amazon ready to discharge her Arrow at her, and a hideous meager Woman, with Serpents instead of Hair, and a flaming Torch in her Hand, ready to strike her with it.Beatitude of the Faithfulby a Woman clad in white, her Bosom bare, crown'd with Myrrh and Pomegranate-flowers, amd laying her right Hand on her Head.Beau Mondethe fair Sex; also the gay Part of Mankind.Bene&stress;ficencesay the Moralistsis the highest and utmost strain of Humanity, when a Man out of a pure Inclination that arises either from a native Generosity of Soul, or from Pity and Compassion to a Person in Distress, is at some pains or charge in bestowing freely upon another, what may relieve his Necessity or promote his Advantage. The Virtue that answers to Benefice in the Giver is Gratitude in the Receiver.Bi&stress;lboesSea Worda sort of Punishment at Sea, by laying the Offender in Irons, or putting him in a sort of Stocks.Bistortwith Botanists the Herb Snake-weed, Adder's-wort, English Serpentary, Osterich or Pastions. Bla&stress;sphemyblaspheme blasfemia, blasphemia, of blasfhmi'a an Uttering of reproachful Words tending to the Dishonour of God, &ersand;c. vile, base Language. This Crime was represented by the Ancients in Painting by a Woman with a dismay'd Countenance, holding in her left Hand a flaming Torch, and with her right dragging by the Hair a naked Child, which at the same time lifted up it's Hands to Heaven. At her Feet a Basilisk. Bloodblod, Bloed Blut, Bloth a warm, red Liquor or Humour, circulating by means of Arteries and Veins, through every Part of the Body; by Microscopes the Blood appears to consist of little red Globules swimming in an aqueous Liquor, supposed to be the Cruor and Serum. Blood or let Blood. Bloo&stress;dlessblodles having no Blood. Bloo&stress;d hounds a Kind of Hunting-Dogs, so called for their most exquisite Scent; for tho' the Game happen to be dead, or if wounded it makes its Escape from the Huntsman, or if it be kill'd and never so clearly removed away, yet they will find their Way to it. Blood Strange Blood Wort two Sorts of Herbs.Bo&stress;lusbolosA Gobbet or Morsel; a mouthful; a bit; also a Clod or Mass of Earth; a Lump of Metal.Boluswith Physiciansa Medicine prepared of a Consistence, somewhat thicker than honey; being a Quantity that can be taken on the Point of a Knife at one mouthful, is cordial, drying, healing and cooling.Bolusaccording to Dr. Grewa sort of Earth, supposed to be a Bed, and as it were the prima materia of Stones and Metals.BombsBombes Bombe Bombes

&Bombs;

Gunnery, large shells of cast iron, having large vents to receive the Fusees B are made of wood, and drove full of a Composition made of metal powder, sulphur and Salt-peter. After the Bomb has been fill'd with this powder, the fusee is driven into the vent within an inch of the head, and pitch'd over to preserve it, they uncase the fusee E, when they put the bomb into the mortar and salt it with meal-powder, which having taken fire by the flash of the powder in the chamber of the mortar, burns all the time the bomb is in the air, and the composition in the fusee being spent, it fires the powder in the bomb, which breaks the bomb with a great force, blowing up whatever is about it, and the great height it goes in the air, and the forces with which it falls, makes it go deep in the earth.BombHieroglyphicallyrepresents Calumny, because it spares none.Borde&stress;lloBordel bordat first was used to signify any small Cottage, some of which being made common Ale-houses, and Bawdy-houses, and Harbours for Strumpets; by Transportation was made Brothel from Bordel, and used to signify a Stew or Bawdy-house. On the South Bank of the River of Thames, westwards of the Bridge, and next to the Bear-garden, was sometimes the Bordello or Stews, a Place so called of certain Stews or Houses privileged there for incontinent Men to repair to incontinent Women, for which Privilege there was an Act of Parliament made in the Reign of King Henry II. in which these were some of the Orders: That no Stew-holder or his Wife should hinder any single Woman from going and coming freely at all Times when they list; nor to keep any Woman at Board; but that she should board abroad at her Pleasure: That they should take no more for the Woman's Chamber than 14 Pence a Week. That they should not keep open their Doors on holy Days. That no single Woman should be kept against her Will. That they should not receive any Woman of Religion, nor any Man's Wife. That no single Woman take Money to lie with any, but she may lie with him all Night till the morrow. That no Stew-holder keep any Woman that hath the perilous Infirmity of Burning; nor sell Bread, Ale, Flesh, Fish, Wood, Coal, or any Victuals, &ersand;c. These Stew-houses were permitted in the Time of King Henry VI. but were inhibited in the Reign of King Henry VII. and the Doors shut up; but set open again; but were put down in the Time of King Henry VIII. in the Year 1546.Bovi&stress;llanswith Cooks small Pies made of the Breasts of roasted Capons minced with Calves-udder, &ersand;c. Bou&stress;tefeu an Incendiary, a wilful Firer of Houses; a Sower of Strife and Dissension; a Fire-brand of SeditionBowyers

&Bowyers;

this Company was incorporated Anno 1622; but had been a Fraternity long before; and the Company doubtless more eminent when the long Bow was more in Use, before the Invention of Gun-powder. Their Arms are Argent upon a Chevron between three Floats, as many Mullets.Bra&stress;ncheswith Architectsthe Arches of Gothick vaults, which Arches traverse from one Angle to another, diagonal-wise from a Cross between the other Arches, which make the Sides of the Square, of which the Arches are diagonals.Bumice&stress;lliamong the Africansa Sect of Mahometans, said to be great Sorcerers, who pretend to fight against the Devil, and frequently run about covered with Blood and bruises in a terrible Fright. Sometimes they counterfeit a Combat with him at Noon-day, for the Space of 2 or 3 Hours, and that in the Presence of Numbers of People, using Darts, Javelins and Scimitars, &ersand;c. laying about them in a desperate Manner, till they fall down on the Ground, as oppressed by Blows. And having rested a little, recover their Spirits and walk off.Burl&stress;esk Burle&stress;squeburlesque of burlescoa Kind of Poetry, Merry, Jocular, and bordering on Ridicule, is a Sort of Verse proper for lampoon; but it is a Manner of Verifying harder to be acquired, than that which is most harmonious and beautiful. The more the feet hobble in most places, the more perfect is the measure; as for harmony, that is little minded in Burlesque.