Boaz
a Bethlehemite of means, who took upon himself the duty of providing for Ruth, as the near relation of her dead husband Elimelech. From him Jesus Christ was directly descended.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: B (101)
These 15 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Boaz, Bob White, Bobadilla.
Bob White
popular name of a small game bird of the United States, given because of its peculiar call. In the Northern States it is known as QUAIL (q. v.), and in the Southern as PAR- TRIDGE (q. v.).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bobadilla
FRANCISCO DE, a Spanish statesman, appointed plenipotentiary concerning the State of Hispaniola, in 1500. Having sent its governor, Columbus, to Spain in chains, he was censured and recalled, but was drowned on the return voyage, in 1502.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bobbin
a reel or other similar con trivance for holding thread. It is often a cylindrical piece of wood with a head, on which thread is wound for making lace; or a spool with a head at one or both ends, intended to have thread or yarn wound on it, and used in spinning machinery and in sewing machines.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bobbin Net
a machine-made cotton net, originally imitated from the lace made by means of a pillow and bobbins. BOBOLI (bob'ō-lē) GARDENS, the famous grounds of the Pitti Palace at Florence. They contain many fine statues and the Isoletto fountain, designed by Jean de Bologne.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bobbinet
a kind of machine-made netting, woven with six-cornered meshes. In making bobbinet the warp threads, 700 to 1,200 to a yard, are stretched from a roller. The weft threads are wound upon bobbins, as many as 1,200 being used sometimes. One set of these bobbins moves diagonally from right to left. Another set moves diagonally from left to right. Each diagonal thread makes a turn, about each warp thread, forming thus the six-cornered meshes. The best machines can produce 30,000 meshes a minute. The manufacture of bobbinet was the first step in the making of machine laces. Up to the early part of the nineteenth century all lace was produced by hand work. One variety called Brussels lace showed open spaces in which the threads were twisted and knotted into a regular mesh. In attempting to imitate this lace an effort was made first to produce this open mesh as a ground for the pattern. The first successful machine was invented in 1809 by an Englishman, John Heathcoat. It was suggested to him by machinery employed in making fish nets. Bobbinet takes its name from the bobbins on which the oblique threads are wound in the manufacture. See Lace ; Netting
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Bocage
MANOEL DO (bōk'äzh or bōs'äzh), a Portuguese poet, born in 1766. He is esteemed the most original and most truly national of his country's modern poets. His sonnets are the finest in the language. He died in 1806.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bocardo
the old North gate of Oxford, England, occasionally used as a prison. Here Cranmer was incarcerated, and through it went Ridley and Latimer to meet death by fire in 1555. The term was used generally to denote any prison.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Boche
a slang term born of the World War and used by the French, and later by others of the Allies, in referring contemptuously to their German enemies. Various explanations have been given of its origin, but the most plausible is that it comes from the French word caboche, used familiarly for head, especially a big thick head (slow-pate). It had at times been used by Parisian printers before the war in speaking of their German assistants, because of their reputed slowness of comprehension. The next step was to apply it to Germans in general.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bock Beer
a kind of strong beer, the first drawn from the vats in the spring when the winter's brew of lager beer is broached.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bodhisattva
is the official in the theosophical hierarchy who has charge of the religion and education of the world. He is the founder of religions, instituting these either directly or through one of his messengers, and after a faith has been founded, he puts it in charge of a Master, though he still continues the direction of it.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Bodle
a copper coin formerly current in Scotland, of the value of two pennies Scotch, or the sixth part of an English penny.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bodleian Library
the reference library of Oxford University. It derives its name from a donation of rare books purchased on the continent by Sir Thomas Bodley at a cost of $50,000, and presented to the University in 1597. Sir Thomas also left an estate, the income of which is still devoted to the care and enlargement of the library. Others have left fortunes to the library. Several large collections of early prints, first editions, and priceless Arabic, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, German, Anglo-Saxon, and oriental manuscripts have been acquired. A copy of every book published in the kingdom is, by act of Parliament, deposited with the librarian. The income from bequests is used to purchase old books. The library is especially rich in early editions of the Bible in all tongues. The entire collection is at the service of scholars on the most liberal terms. The library now includes over half a million volumes and ranks next to that of the British Museum in point of value to scholarship. See Library; British Museum 2026 Editor's Note: The Bodleian is now one of the world's great libraries, holding some thirteen million items, and is a legal deposit library entitled to a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. It also keeps a rule as old as Bodley: nothing may be borrowed. Charles I asked, and was refused. (Ed: BR 2026-06-29)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Bodley
SIR THOMAS, the founder of the Bodleian Library at Oxford, was born at Exeter, in 1544. He was educated at Geneva and Oxford. He traveled much on the Continent, and was employed in various embassies to Denmark, Germany, France, and Holland. In 1597 he returned home, and dedicated the remainder of his life to the re-establishment and augmentation of the publić library at Oxford. He was knighted at the accession of James I. He died in London in 1612.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Bodmer
GEORG, a Swiss inventor, born in Zürich, Dec. 6, 1786. He invented the screw and cross wheels; and made valuable improvements in firearms and in various kinds of machinery, particularly in that of wool spinning. He died in Zürich, May 29, 1864.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia