Black Sheep
(Kârâ-Koin-loo), a tribe of Turkomans, so called from their standard. This tribe was extirpated by the White Sheep. family; a mauvais sujet; a workman who will not join in a strike.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: B (86)
These 14 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Black Sheep, Black Snake, Black Tin.
Black Snake
a common snake in North America, reach ing a length of 5 or 6 feet, and so swift as to have been named the racer, with no poison fangs. It feeds on small quadrupeds, birds, etc., and is useful in killing rats.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Black Tin
tin ore when dressed, stamped, and washed ready for smelting, forming a black powder.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Black Varnishes
For patterns, alcohol 1 gall.; shellac 1 lb.; lamp-black sufficient to color it. Let it stand in a warm place, and stir occasionally. For castings, tar oil 20 lbs.; asphaltum 5 lbs.; powdered resin 5 lbs. Heat all together in an iron kettle, and be careful to avoid ignition. See VARNISHES.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Black Veil of the Ship of Theseus
(See Philosopher's Stone.)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Black Walnut
a valuable timber tree (juglans nigra) of the United States and its fruit. The great size often reached by this tree, the richness of the dark brown wood, the unique beauty of the grain sometimes found in burls, knots, feathers and in the curl of the roots, all conspire to make this the most choice and high priced of all our native woods. About 1870 walnut was extensively used in the manufacture of fine furniture and finishings in the United States. Then quartered-oak grew in favor, but since 1900 walnut has again become a favorite. Though found to some extent in the Atlantic States from Massachusetts southward, the great source of supply has been the central portions of the Mississippi valley. The walnut is at home in the rich alluvial bottom lands of the Western streams and in the stony limestone soils of the hills and mountains.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Black Warrior
a river of Alabama, formed by the confluence of the Locust and Mulberry forks; flows into the Tombigbee near Demopolis; navigable in its lower course to Tuscaloosa; 300 miles long.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Black, Adam
Adam (1784-1874), a Scottish bookseller and publisher. He was a native of Edinburgh. He began his business career as a bookseller. Later he took a nephew into partnership. He was an enterprising, intelligent man of large capacity and public spirit. The most noted publications of the firm were the Encyclopedia Britannica, and Scott's Waverley Novels. The successors of the original partners are still engaged in the publication of miscellaneous works and school books. 2026 Editor's Note: The firm outlived its founder handsomely: A & C Black still publishes today as part of Bloomsbury, and it originated one of the most useful reference books in English — Who's Who , first issued in 1849 and appearing annually ever since. (Ed: BR 2026-07-13)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Black, William
William (1841-1898), a Scottish novelist. He was a native of Glasgow. He acquired his facility with the pen in writing for Glasgow newspapers and in reporting the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 for the London Morning Star . He wrote a large number of novels. The more noted are perhaps A Daughter of Heth, The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton, A Princess of Thule, Madcap Violet, Macleod of Dare, White Wings, and In Far Lochaber. His admirers would doubtless include others. The scene of several tales is laid in the extreme northern part of Scotland and in the western isles. Black is an interesting writer. His novels are well worth reading, but he is no such wizard as Sir Walter Scott. He describes wild scenery, the fishers, boats, and village life well; but his writing seems to be that of a summer tourist, rather than of one who has lived among the people. Whatever he may say of folk lore or of antiquities is the result apparently of information picked up carelessly. It is never a part of himself.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Black-wash
A refractory mixture for coating the surfaces of loam and dry-sand moulds and dry-sand cores, to protect the sand from burning by the interposition of a coat of carbon between it and the molten metal. The compositions for this purpose are various, but the principal ingredients entering therein are charcoal-dust, silver lead, mineral, and hard Lehigh blacking; these, in varying proportions, are mixed with thin clay-water to a suitable consistency and applied with a swab or brush. See FACING.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Blackboy
a name for the grass trees (xanthorrhea) of Australia yielding a gum or resin called blackboy resin or akaroid resin.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Blackburn
a town and parliamentary borough of England, 21 miles N. N. W. from Manchester. It has a free grammar school, founded by Queen Elizabeth in 1557, a free school for girls, founded in 1765, and many other public schools; and a free library, a public park of 50 acres, etc. Blackburn is one of the chief seats of the cotton manufacture, there being upward of 110 mills as well as works for making cotton machinery and steam engines. Pop. (1917) 113,315.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Blackcap
a European passerine bird of the warbler family, six inches long, upper part of the head black, upper parts of the body gray with a greenish tinge, under parts more or less silvery white. The female has its hood of a dull rust color. The blackcap is met with in England from April to September. Its nest is built near the ground; the eggs, from five to six, are reddish-brown, mottled with a deeper color. It ranks next to the night- The ingale for sweetness of song. American blackcap is a species of titmouse (parus atricapillus), so called from the coloring of the head.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Blackening Brass
Important: Safety Warning This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes. This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon. Dissolve pure copper in a mixture of nitric acid and water in the proportion of one part acid to four of water. Heat the article to be blackened over a Bunsen burner, dip it into the solution and again heat it over the flame. Upon the first application of heat the article will turn green, but this gives place in a few minutes to a dead black. On account of the heating this method cannot be employed for articles which have been soldered, although it is the very best for fine work of every description. Should a polished surface be preferable to a dead black, a coat of lacquer may be applied. For rough work, mix lampblack with gold size and apply with a soft brush. This mixture may be thinned with turpentine. If a gloss is desired add gold size, if a dull black add more lamp-black. BREGUET, ABRAHAM LOUIS. Born in Switzerland in 1747 and died in Paris in 1823. An eminent watchmaker of French parentage, and the inventor of the form of hairspring of that name. He was endowed with great ingenuity and a taste for complicated and remarkable mechanisms.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler