BOWYER-BOX

BOWYER, bo'yér [from bow, as lawyer, from law]: in OE., one who uses the bow; an archer; a maker of bouts.

BOWYER, bo'yer, WILLIAM: 1699-1777; b. London: English printer and classical scholar. He was educated at Cambridge, and in 1722, joined his father in trade. Appointed, 1729, printer of the votes of the house of commons, he subsequently became printer to the Soc. of Antiquaries and to the Royal Soc. In 1767, he was nominated printer of the Rolls of the house of lords and the Journals of the house of commons. B. published several philological tracts, but his chief production was an edition of the New Testament in Greek, with critical and emendatory notes. He left a considerable sum in trust to the Stationers' Company for relief of decayed printers. See Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century (9 vols., 8vo).

BOX, n. boks [AS. box; Gr. puxis; Ger. büchse, a box: Gr. puxos; L. buxus, a box-tree-lit., an article or hollow vessel made of boxwood]: a case or hollow vessel of any size and shape, and made of any material; a seat separated from others; a shrub having a fine close-grained wood-the Buxus sempervirens, ord. Euphorbiacia: V. to inclose. BOXEN, a. bok'sn, made of boxwood; resembling boxwood in color. BOXING THE COMPASS, rehearsing the points, half-points, and quarter-points of the mariner's compass in their order; one of the lessons which a young sailor has to learn. IN THE WRONG BOX, mistaken; out of one's proper place. IN A BOXx, in an embarrassing position; in a difficulty. BOX OF A COACH, the driver's seat on a carriage. BoxDAYS, in the Scotch court of session, two days in the spring and autumn vacations respectively, and one day in the Christmas recess, during which, according to an order of the court of session, 1690, Nov. 29, pleadings may be filed—that is, placed in a box through a slit: see BILL CHAMBER: COURT OF SESSIONS: and other COURTS. BOXING-DAY, the day after Christmas-day, or box-day, on which Christmas-boxes are given to servants and others: see CHRISTMAS-BOX. BOX-HAULING, a particular mode of turning a ship, when the swell of the sea renders tacking impossible, or when the ship is too near the shore to allow room for veering. The operation is effected by a peculiar management of the helm and the sails. Boring-off is an operation very similar to box hauling: see TACK: VEER. BOX-IRON, a hollow smoothing-iron, heated by a hot iron within. BOX-KEEPER, one who has charge of the inclosed scats or boxes at a theatre. CHRISTMAS-BOX, a present at Christmas, generally

in money.

BOX, v. boks [Dan. bask, a sounding blow; baske, to slap: Gael, bosag, a slap, as on the cheek-from bos, the palm of the hand: loc, a blow]: to fight with the hands or with clenched fists; to strike: N. a blow with the hands or with clenched fists. BOX'ING, imp.: N. the act of fighting with the fists. BOXED, pp. bokst. Box'ER, n. one who fights with his fists. BOXING GLOVE, padded gloves used in learning the art of boxing and in sparring. BoXING-MATCH,

a fight with fists or with boxing-gloves; a pugilistic en counter. See PUGILISM.

BOX (Buxus): genus of plants, nat. ord. Euphorbiacea; evergreen shrubs or small trees, with opposite leaves, entire at the margins and easily split into two plates. The greenish inconspicuous flowers grow in little axillary clusters, the male and female flowers distinct but on the same plant. The male flowers consist of a perianth of four leaves and of four stamens; the female flowers have a perianth of three or four leaves, and in addition three small bracts at the base, an ovary surmounted by three styles and two honey-secreting glands. The capsule has three beaks and three cells, and two or three black seeds in each cell.-The most important species is the COMMON Box (B. sempervirens), which grows wild in the s. of Europe and in some parts of Asia It is generally re

garded as a true native of the s. of England, where it grows on dry, chalky hills, and is remarkable as the only arborescent species of Euphorbiacea found in such cold latitudes. In Britain it seldom attains a height of more than 12 or 14 ft., but in warmer countries it is often twice that height. Its leaves are oval, generally from half an inch to three-quarters of an inch in length, smooth and shining, of a deep green color. The box is remarkable for its compact habit of growth and densely crowded branches and leaves, presenting a very solid mass of foliage. There are several cultivated varieties, distinguished. by differently variegated leaves-gold-edged, silver-edged, etc. The most interesting variety, however, is a very humble one, called DWARF Box, which grows only to a height of two or three ft. and of old commonly used in the United States and in Europe to form edgings for gar den-plots, being kept down by clipping to the neight of a

few inches. These edgings are formed usually by planting cuttings, which readily strike root. The box bears clipping remarkably well; and in a style of gardening once fashionable, but condemned by the taste of the present day, it occupied an important place, being cut into architectural and fantastic figures. The leaves of the box have a smell which is disagreeable to some people, and a very disagreeable bitter taste. When taken inwardly they cause purging; an external application of them promotes the growth of the hair. In France they are sometimes used instead of hops in making beer, but are extremely improper for the purpose. The wood of the box is heavier than that of any other European tree, and is the only European wood that sinks in water. It is of a beautiful pale-yellow color, remarkably hard and strong, of a fine regular and compact texture, capable of a beautiful polish, and not liable to be worm-eaten. It is much valued for the purposes of the turner and the wood carver; is preferred to every other kind of wood for the manufacture of flutes, flageolets, and other wind-instruments, as well as of mathematical instruments, and is unrivalled for woodengraving, admitting of a finish as sharp and fine as metal, while it takes the ink much better. See ENGRAVING. When scraped down and boiled it can be used as a sudorific in many complaints, and as a substitute for guiacum. An empyreumatic oil, obtained from box-wood chips, is used for relief of toothache and for other medicinal purposes. Spain and Portugal send into the market large quantities of box-wood; also Circassia and Georgia, from which countries it finds its way to Odessa, and is again exported thence. In 1815, as many box-trees were cut down at Box Hill, in Surrey, as brought upward of £10,000, but the tree is of so very slow growth that it is seldom planted in Britain except for ornament. The MINORCA Box, or BALEARIC BOX (B. Balearica), a native of Minorca, Sardinia, Corsica, Turkey etc., is a larger tree than the common box and has leaves three times as large. It is much less patient of frost, but is occasionally seen in shrubberies in the s. of England. The wood is of a bright yellow and inferior to the true box-wood, but is brought in large quantities from Constantinople under that name, for wood-engraving.

BOX-ELDER-BOYAU.

BOX-ELDER, or ASII-LEAVED MAPLE: the Negundo aceroides, a handsome, rather small tree, common along streams from Pennsylvania s. and west. In some parts of the northwest, sugar is manufactured from it. A variety having white variegated leaves is cultivated for ornament. The native green tree is much used for shade at the west. It has rich green foliage, light green twigs, compact form, and a toughness that resists violent winds; the fruit forms drooping clusters of large winged seed. Its name elder is unfortunate, as it is a maple, and does not belong to the family in which the elder (Sambucus) is placed.

BOXTEL, boks' tel: busy town in the Netherlands, province of North Brabant, six m. s. of Bois-le-Duc. B. is famed for its table linens; and beer, leather, paper, and salt are extensively made. It has connection with the leading railways. The Anglo-Dutch army, under the command of the Duke of York, was here defeated with great loss by the French 1794. Pop. 5,000.

BOX-THORN (Lycium): genus of plants of the nat. ord. Solanacea, having funnel-shaped or tubular flowers, and two-celled berries. The species are numerous, and found in different quarters of the world. Several are natives of the s. of Europe, thorny shrubs, with long, slender shoots and simple lanceolate leaves. L. Europeum may be trained to a height of 30 or 40 ft., and is often planted-as are other species-for ornament, to cover walls, etc. It has pale violet-colored flowers, reticulated with red veins. Some of the species are almost trees. L. fuchsioides, although destitute of spines, is used as a hedge-plant in its native country, the Andes of Quito. Its flowers are orange scarlet, and grow in umbels.

BOY, n. boy [Ger. bube; Swiss, bub; L. pupus, a boy: comp. Gael. boidheach, comely, handsome]: a male child; a young lad; a familiar name for a man; applied to a man in contempt to indicate some defect. BOY HOOD, n. -húd, the period of life extending from childhood to puberty. Boy'ısı, a. -ish, like a boy. BOY'ISHLY, ad. -. BOY ISHINESS, n. manners or appearance of a boy. Boy's PLAY, amusement of a boy as opposed to the earnest business of a man.

BOYACA, bō-ya-ka': town of the U. S. of Colombia, near which, 1819, Bolivar, by a victory over the Spaniards, secured the independence of Colombia. It gives name to the dept., which stretches from the plateau of Bogota to the borders of Venezuela, being watered by the Magdalena, Sogamozo, Zulia, Cazanare, and Meta rivers. The capital, however, is not B. itself, but the neighboring city of Tunja about 70 m. n.n.e. of Bogota.

BOYAR, n. boy'ûr, a Russian nobleman: see BOIAR.

BOYAU, n. boy'ō, BOYAUX, n. plu. boy'ōz [F. boyau, a bowel, a long and narrow place]: in fort., a ditch covered with a parapet, serving as a communication between two trenches; zigzag trenches to enable besiegers to approach &

town.

BOY-BISHOP-BOYCOTTING.

BOY-BISHOP: a boy elected on St. Nicholas's Day, ir a strange semi-farcical, semi-solemn imitation of the ecclesiastical prelate, according to a custom dating from a very early period. Warton thought he could find some allusion to it in one of the anathemas of the Constantinopolitan Synod, A.D. 867. It quickly spread over most Rom. Cath. countries, and in England seems to have prevailed in almost every parish. Although the election took place on St. Nicholas's Day (Dec. 6), the authority lasted to Holy Innocents' Day (Dec. 28). The B. was chosen from the children of the church or cathedral choir, or from the pupils at the grammar-school. He was arrayed in episcopal vestments, and, attended by a crowd of subordinates in priestly dress, went about with songs and dances from house to house, blessing the people, who, as Bishop Hall says, stood grinning in the way to expect that ridiculous benediction.' The B. exacted implicit obedience from his fellows, who, with their superior, took possession of the church, and performed all the ceremonies and offices except mass. custom found countenance not among the populace only. The In 1299, Edward I., on his way to Scotland, permitted a B. to say vespers before him at Heton, near Newcastle-onTyne, and gave him and his companions a present. At Salisbury-and perhaps in other places also-the B., it is said, had the power of disposing of such prebends as happened to fall vacant during the days of his episcopacy; and, if he died during his office, the funeral honors of a bishop, with a monument, were granted him. What secular shows and entertainments accompanied this practice, history does not inform us. Probably dramatic exhibitions of a rude nature were the principal. In England, the custom of electing a B. was abolished by a proclamation of Henry VIII., 1542, July 22; restored by Queen Mary 1554; and again abolished during the reign of Elizabeth, though it seems to have lingered here and there in villages till about the close of her reign.

BOYCE, boys, WILLIAM, Mus. Doc.: 1710-79; b. London: English composer. He was instructed by Dr. Greene, and became organist to the Chapel Royal 1758. His best productions are: a Te Deum, six anthems; Collection of Cathedral Music; The Cathedral Music of the English Masters of the Last Two Centuries (1760, 3 vols. folio); Solomon; and the grand anthem, Lord, Thou hast been our Refuge.

BOYCE, JAMES PETIGRU, S.T.D., LL.D.: Baptist minister: 1827, Jan. 11-1888, Dec. 28; b. Greenville, S. C. Having graduated at Brown Univ. 1847, and Princeton Seminary 1851, he was ordained pastor of a Bapt. chh. in Columbia, S. C. He was prof. of theol. in Furman Univ., Greenville, 1855-58; and then in the Southern Bapt. Theol. sem. in Greenville, which received large endowments from Baptists in Ky., to which was added a liberal donation from Prof. B., and 1873 the institution was removed to Louisville, Ky. B. then was chosen its pres. and held that office till his death in Pau, France.

BOYCOTTING: English word familiarly expressing exclusion from social or business intercourse.

It signifies