*box*

1. A bushing in the hub of a wheel, through which the axle passes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The journal box of a rotating axle, especially a railway axle. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In railway construction, the axle guard, or pedestal, with the superincumbent weight, rests on the top of the box (usually with a spring intervening), and holds it in place by flanges. The box rests upon the journal bearing and key, which intervene between the inner top of the box and the axle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A light box of pasteboard or thin wood, usually cylindrical, for holding ruffs (the bands of the 17th century), collars, caps, bonnets, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. any electronic instrument or part of an instrument whose function is defined, but which is treated as a unit without consideration of the internal mechanisms; broadly, any device whose internal workings are considered as incomprehensible or mysterious by the user; as, to treat the meter as a black box and take its readings on faith. [ PJC ]

2. (aviation) a device which maintains a record of cockpit conversations and the readings of many of the instruments on board an aircraft, continuously or at frequent time intervals during a flight. It is of rugged design to withstand a violent crash, and is used to determine the causes of aircraft accidents. They are often brightly colored to assist recovery, not actually black. [ PJC ]

n. a large portable casette or compact disk player, usually having an integrated radio receiver. It typically has two (stereophonic) speakers, and can be adjusted to play at a high sound intensity, from which the name comes.
Syn. -- ghetto blaster. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar. ] To boxhaul. [ 1913 Webster ]

To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way by bracing the headyards aback. --
To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the compass in their order. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ As. box, L. buxus, fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Box a case. ] (Bot.) A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world. The common box (Buxus sempervirens) has two varieties, one of which, the dwarf box (Buxus suffruticosa), is much used for borders in gardens. The wood of the tree varieties, being very hard and smooth, is extensively used in the arts, as by turners, engravers, mathematical instrument makers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Box elder, the ash-leaved maple (Negundo aceroides), of North America. --
Box holly, the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus). --
Box thorn, a shrub (Lycium barbarum). --
Box tree, the tree variety of the common box. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Boxes /plu> [ As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. büchse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See Pyx, and cf. Box a tree, Bushel. ] 1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quantity that a box contain. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage. Dorset. [ 1913 Webster ]

The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks,
Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box. J. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A small country house. “A shooting box.” Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tight boxes neatly sashed. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mach) (a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing. (b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. “A Christmas box.” Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Baseball) The square in which the pitcher stands. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Zool.) A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox. [ 1913 Webster ]

Box beam (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box. --
Box car (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents. --
Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position. --
Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain. --
Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery. --
Box crab (Zool.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box. --
Box drain (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom. --
Box girder (Arch.), a box beam. --
Box groove (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. R. W. Raymond. --
Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc. --
Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the right and the left. --
Box turtle or
Box tortoise (Zool.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. Emerson. --
In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.) --
In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) Ridley (1554) [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Boxed (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Boxing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To inclose in a box. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To furnish with boxes, as a wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) To inclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to bring to a required form. [ 1913 Webster ]

To box a tree, to make an incision or hole in a tree for the purpose of procuring the sap. --
To box off, to divide into tight compartments. --
To box up. (a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had boxed up twelve score pounds. (b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in narrow quarters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf.Dan. baske to slap, bask slap, blow. Cf. Pash. ] A blow on the head or ear with the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

A good-humored box on the ear. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fight with the fist; to combat with, or as with, the hand or fist; to spar. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To strike with the hand or fist, especially to strike on the ear, or on the side of the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The wintergreen. (Gaultheria procumbens). [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. (Printing) enclosed in or set off by a border or box; as, boxed sections of the report; boxed announcements in the newspaper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. enclosed in a box. [ PJC ]

a. Made of boxwood; pertaining to, or resembling, the box (Buxus). [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The faded hue of sapless boxen leaves. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who packs boxes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who boxes; a pugilist. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A breed of dog. [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) The trunkfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Boxhauled ] (Naut.) To put (a vessel) on the other tack by veering her short round on her heel; -- so called from the circumstance of bracing the head yards abox (i. e., sharp aback, on the wind). Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A method of going from one tack to another. See Boxhaul. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of inclosing (anything) in a box, as for storage or transportation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Material used in making boxes or casings. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any boxlike inclosure or recess; a casing. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) The external case of thin material used to bring any member to a required form. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of fighting with the fist; a combat with the fist; sparring; pugilism. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Boxing glove, a large padded mitten or glove used in sparring for exercise or amusement. [ 1913 Webster ]

. The first week day after Christmas, a legal holiday on which Christmas boxes are given to postmen, errand boys, employees, etc. The night of this day is boxing night. [ Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A hollow smoothing iron containing a heater within. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An attendant at a theater who has charge of the boxes. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A kite, invented by Lawrence Hargrave, of Sydney, Australia, which consist of two light rectangular boxes, or cells open on two sides, and fastened together horizontally. Called also Hargrave kite, or cellular kite. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. the mailing address to which answers to a newspaper ad can be sent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Aëronautics) In a flying machine, a tail or rudder, usually fixed, resembling a box kite. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Lycium, esp. Lycium barbarum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The wood of the box (Buxus). [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. resembling a box in rectangularity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a container used to store breads or cake, to keep them fresh.
Syn. -- bread-bin. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Carbon + oxide. ] (Chem.) A compound of carbon and oxygen, as carbonyl, with some element or radical; as, potassium carboxide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Potassium carboxide, a grayish explosive crystalline compound, C6O6K, obtained by passing carbon monoxide over heated potassium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Carbon + oxygen + -yl. ] (Chem.) The complex radical, CO.OH, regarded as the essential and characteristic constituent which all oxygen acids of carbon (as formic, acetic, benzoic acids, etc.) have in common; -- called also oxatyl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to treat a chemical compound with carboxyl or carboxylic acid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) a monovalent organic radical (written -COOH, -CO2H or -CO.OH) whose presence confers acidic properties on the compound containing it; -- called also carboxylic group. Monocarboxylic acids (such as acetic acid or butyric acid) have one carboxyl group, dicarboxylic acids (such as oxalic acid or malonic acid) have two, tricarboxylic acids (such as citric acid) have three. It is weakly acidic, the pKa of acetic acid being 4.75. [ PJC ]

adj. (Chem.) of or pertaining to the carboxyl group; having a carboxyl group (written -COOH, -CO2H or -CO.OH); as, carboxylic acids are weakly acidic.
Syn. -- carboxyl. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) an organic compound whose acidity is due to the presence of a carboxyl gorup. Monocarboxylic acids (such as acetic acid or butyric acid) have one carboxyl group, dicarboxylic acids (such as oxalic acid or malonic acid) have two, tricarboxylic acids (such as citric acid) have three. [ PJC ]

n. a box for holding cash.
Syn. -- money box, till. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The seat of a coachman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small box to hold a sailor's thread, needless, comb, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Dredging box. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To inclose, as in a box; to imbox. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the metal casing in which a train of gears is sealed.
Syn. -- gear case. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A box for a hat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a conveyance (railroad car or trailer) for transporting racehorses. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To inclose in a box. [ 1913 Webster ]