Bismuthal
(Bis"muth*al) a. Containing bismuth.
Bismuthic
(Bis"muth*ic) a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to bismuth; containing bismuth, when this element
has its higher valence; as, bismuthic oxide.
Bismuthiferous
(Bis`muth*if"er*ous) a. [Bismuth + -ferous.] Containing bismuth.
Bismuthine
(Bis"muth*ine Bis"muth*in*ite) n. Native bismuth sulphide; — sometimes called bismuthite.
Bismuthous
(Bis"muth*ous) a. Of, or containing, bismuth, when this element has its lower valence.
Bismuthyl
(Bis"muth*yl`) n. (Min.) Hydrous carbonate of bismuth, an earthy mineral of a dull white or
yellowish color. [Written also bismuthite.]
Bison
(Bi"son) n. [L. bison, Gr. bi`swn, a wild ox; akin to OHG. wisunt, wisant, G. wisent, AS. wesend,
Icel. visundr: cf. F. bison.] (Zoöl.) (a) The aurochs or European bison. (b) The American bison buffalo
(Bison Americanus), a large, gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns,
which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of North America, but is now restricted
to very limited districts in the region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.
Bispinose
(Bi*spi"nose) a. [Pref. bi- + spinose.] (Zoöl.) Having two spines.
Bisque
(||Bisque) n. [A corruption of biscuit.] Unglazed white porcelain.
Bisque
(Bisque), n. [F.] A point taken by the receiver of odds in the game of tennis; also, an extra innings
allowed to a weaker player in croquet.
Bisque
(||Bisque), n. [F.] A white soup made of crayfish.
Bissextile
(Bis*sex"tile) n. [L. bissextilis annus, fr. bissextus (bis + sextus sixth, fr. sex six) the sixth
of the calends of March, or twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth year,
by the intercalation of a day.] Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the month of
February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365 d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But
one day added every four years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more than
the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress the bissextile day at the end of every
century which is not divisible by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible by 400.
Bissextile
(Bis*sex"tile), a. Pertaining to leap year.
Bisson
(Bis"son) a. [OE. bisen, bisne, AS. bisen, prob. for bisne; bi by + sne clear, akin to seón to
see; clear when near, hence short-sighted. See See.] Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.
Bister
(Bis"ter, Bis"tre) n. [F. bistre a color made of soot; of unknown origin. Cf., however, LG. biester
frowning, dark, ugly.] (Paint.) A dark brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood.
Bistipuled
(Bi*stip"uled) a. [Pref. bi- + stipule.] (Bot.) Having two stipules.
Bistort
(Bis"tort) n. [L. bis + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist: cf. F. bistorte.] (Bot.) An herbaceous
plant of the genus Polygonum, section Bistorta; snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as
an astringent.
Bistoury
(Bis"tou*ry) n.; pl. Bistouries [F. bistouri.] A surgical instrument consisting of a slender
knife, either straight or curved, generally used by introducing it beneath the part to be divided, and cutting
towards the surface.
