B O T
BOT
and manulcripts, the names of plants have been terribly con- founded [ a diforder which Salmafius % Plukenet J , and feve- ral Englifh botanifts c , have endeavoured to retrieve.— [ a V. Chmel. Bofanique Pratique. BUM. Ital. T. n. p. 208. b Friend, Hift of Phvi". T. 2. p. a;. c Sabnaj.de Homon. Hvl. Jatr. Ejufd. Exerc. ad Solin. \ Phil. Txanf. N° 196. p 6 is. c Id. ibid. N» 236. p. :g.
Botany is arrived at a degree of perfection among the mo- derns, which the antients were Grangers to ; not only as to the method of plants, i e. of daffing, diftributing, and charac- terizing them, which is rendered more exact, and confe- - quently the arriving at a knowledge of them more cafy ; but alio as to the copia or number of plants known and defcribed ; which is fuch, that fcarce a new plant is now to be heard of. Not but that there are ftill defiderata in the fcience, to employ the diligence of future botanifts, both as to the virtues and defcriptions, figures, genufes and names of many plants, which 1 ilill need muclfrcformation . V. Mem. Acad. Scienc. an. 1 7 i 3 - p. 92. Phil. Tranf. N<* 198. p. 682.
The learned Linnxus has of late endeavoured to clafs and de- nominate all plants from their parts of generation or fructifica- tion. See the article Fructification. But this method, highly extolled by many, has neverthelefs met with fevere cenfures. Bufon. Hift. Nat. T. 1. p. 18, feq. We have many fpecies of plants brought to light, efpecially na- tives of the Indies, which the antients, for any thing that ap- pears in their writings now extant, were ignorant of ; in which particular, Clufius, Columna, B.Luhinus, Loccone, and others, have performed much. Add, that their defcriptions, places, and feafons, are with good diligence and precifenefs fet before us; Kkewife their order and kindred. For the adjufting where- of, our learned countrymen, Mr. Ray and Dr. Morifon, have both taken laudable pains. The like may be faid as to the or- dering of plants, in refpecl: of their alimental or mechanic ufes ; for which, amongft others, Mr. Evelyn and Dr. Beal have deferred great praife. Grew, Idea of Philof. Hift. of Plants, §, 1. p. 1.
The virtues of moll plants are, with much uncertainty, and too promifcuoufiy, afcribed to them ; fo that, if we turn over an Herbal, we fhall find almoft every herb good for every dif- eafej though of the virtues of many they are altogether hlent. The defcriptions likewifc of many are yet to be perfected, efpecially as to their roots ; thofe who are moft curious about the other parts, being here too remifs. And for their figures, it were to be wifhed they were all drawn by one fcale, or, at moft, two ; one for trees and fhrubs, and another for herbs. Many, likewife, of their ranks and affinities are yet undeter- mined, and a great number of names, both Englifh and La- tin, not properly given. Thus what we call goat's rue s is nothing akin to the plant whofe generical name it bears ; and the like may be faid of wild tanfey, ftock july-flowers, horfe- radifh, and many more : fo when we fay bellis major and minor, thefe names would intimate, that the plants to which they are given, differ only in bulk ; whereas they are two fpecies of plants. The like holds of centaurium majus and mi- nus, chclidonium majus and minus, and many others, which are diftinct fpecies, and of very different tribes. Grew, Idea of Philof. Hift. of Plants, §. 2. p. 2.
For the general ftructure and laws of vegetation in plants, it has been fupplicd by Grew and Malpighi. See Plant, Ve- getation, Generation, Sap, &c.
BOTARGO, or Boutarga, is a kind of fauce made of the eggs or fpawn of the mztjon, a large fifh, not unlike a pike, common in the Mediterranean ; it is dried in the fun, falted, and ufed much after the manner of cavear. Savtir. Diet. Com. T. 1. p 456. Id. Suppl. p 87. Skin. Etym. in voc. See the article Cavear, Cycl and Suppl. The people of Provence call it bou-arguer. The beft is brought from Alexandria and Tunis. There is alfo a manufacture of it near Marfeilles. It is much ufed throughout all the Levant.
BOTATRISSA, in ichthyology, a name given by Bellonius. Gefner, and other authors, to that fpecies of the gadus called by authors the lota, and muftela f.uviatilis j by us, the eel-pout. It is diftinguifhed from the other gadi, by having two fins on the back, and the two jaws of equal length, with beards at the mouth. See Gadus.
BO TAURUS, in zoology, a name by which feveral have called the bird known among us by the name of butter-bump* bittern, or mire-dram. It has this name from the Latin, bcatus, bel- lowing, and taunts, a bull, as fuppofed to imitate the loud roaring of a bull. Ray's Ornith. p. 207. See Bittern.
BOTE (Cycl ) — This old law word comes from the phrafe, to boot, fpeaking of fomething given by way of compensation. Hence,
A'/ati-BoTE fignifies the fatisfaction due for a man flain.
AVm-Bote, that for the flaughter of a kinfman. Vid. Spelm. Glorf. p. 86. Du Cange, Gloif. Lat. T. 1. p. 594.. in voc. Bat.
7/v/7-Botf, is when a man agrees or compounds with the thief, and fecurcs lum from the law. Sken. de Verb. Signif. p. 24.
Iloufe-RoTF., fluy-EoTF, and P lough-Bar e, denote privileges granted to tenants, of cutting hay, &c. on the land. Kenn. Paroch. Antiq. p. 4q7.
SOTELESS, a criminal incapable of making comfation;
er a crime not to be attoncd for. Du Cange, GlofF. Lat. T. 1. p. 596. voc. Botolos. See Bote.
No judgment or funi of money fhall acquit him who commits facrilege ; for that he is botelefs, i. e. fine emendatisne, or with- out amendment. Whence alfo the modern Englifh, bootlefs, for a thing vain or impoffible to be done. Chart. Hen. I. ad Archiepifc. Ebor. Jac. Law Diet, in voc.
BOTESCART, in antient Englifh writers, the fame with boat- fivain. Siitm. Etym. Eor. in voc. See Boatswain.
BOTHAGIUM, Bothage, or Boothage, cuftomary dues to the lord of the market, for the liberty of pitching and Handing of booths. Kenn. GlofF. ad Paroch. Antiq. in voc.
BOTHNA, Butlma, or Bothena, in the Scotch law, a park or field wherein cattle arc inclofed, and fed.
The word is alfo written bartbena j formed from the antient Scottifh, buth, a flock of fhecp.
Bothena is alfo ufed for a barony, Lidfhip, or fherifFdom. In which fenfc, it is ordained by ftii^je, that the king's mute, or court of each bothena, that is, each fherifFdom, fhall beheld within forty days. Sken. de Verb. Signif. p. 23, feq.
BOTHRION, BoSpoi, denotes the alveolus or focket of a tooth. Gal. de Offib. c. 5. in fine. Cajl. Lex. Med. p. no. See the article Alveoli.
Bothrion is alfo ufed to denote a final!, narrow, but deepifh ul- cer of the cornea of the eye, refembling a round puncture. Gal. Introd. c. 15. /Eginet. 1. 3, c. 22.
The word is alfo written by Erotion, £o9(n«f s bothrias ; by others, corruptly, boiryon a . In Latin writers it is fometimes called foJJ'ula *•.—[» Foreft. Obferv. 1. ii. Obf. 17. in Schol. b Capivac. Pract. 1. i. c. 33. Caft. Lex. Med. p. no.]
BOTlA, Boa'a, or Botus, among chymifts, a glafs veffel with a round belly and long narrow neck, otherwife called egg, ovum fublhnator'mm, cucurbita, and urinale. Lagn. in Harm. Chym. Theatr. Chym. T. 4. p. 769. Caft. Lex. Med. p. 108. voc. Bocia. It. p. no. voc. Botus.
Botia, in medicine, the fame with Jiruma 3 or fcrophula. Ru- land. Lex. Alch. p. 106. voc. Botium. See Struma, and Scrophulje, Cycl.
BOTIN, or Butbie, among alchemifts, denotes turpentine, or balfam of turpentine, when gathered under the proper influ- ence. Ruland. Lex. Alch. Caft. Lex. Med. p. no.
BOTONOMANCY, Bv»»p«mt«, an antient fpecies of divina- tion, by means of plants ; efpecially fage, and fig-leaves. The manner of performing it was thus : the perfons who con- futed, wrote their own names, and their queftions, on leaves, which they expofed to the wind ; and as many of the letters as remained in their own places, were taken up, and being joined together, contained an anfwer to the queftion. Potter, Ar- chied. Grsec. I. 2. c. 18. T. 1. p. 353. Buling. de Divin, 1. 3. c. 24.
BOT ONTINI, in middle age writers, denote mounts or hil- locks, raifed to ferve as land-marks or boundaries of grounds. The word is alfo written botontones, botones, and bodones. Du Cange, GlofF. Lat. T. r. p. 586.
BOTOTOE, in natural hiftory, a name given by the people of the Philippine iflands to a very beautiful bird of the parrot kind; it is fomewhat fmaller than the common parrot, and is all over of a fine deep blue colour.
BOTRYITES, in natural hiftory, a ftone of the gem kind, re- fembling a branch of young grapes. Plin. Hift. Nat. 1. 37. c. 10. Fab. Thef. T. 1. p. 373.
The word is Greek, ftarpivrr,^ formed from jSorgt*?, a grape. In Englifh writers it is fometimes called the grape-ftone. Grew, Muf. Reg, Societ. P. 3. fee 1. c. 5. p. 304.
Botryites, or Botrites, alfo denotes a fort of burnt cadmiae, found fomewhat in the form of a bunch of grapes adhering to the upper parts of furnaces where that mineral is calcined. Gorr. Def. Med. p. 76. Caft. Lex. Med, p. no. Seethe article Cadmia, Cycl. and Suppl.
It differs from the planter, which is that gathered on the lower part of the furnace 2 ; though Schroder gives a different dis- tinction, viz. into botrites, found in the middle of the furnace,
pladter in the upper, and ojiracites in the lowcft part h .
[ a Gorr. ]oc. cit. b Schrod. Pharm. 1. 3. c. 19.J
BOTT, among bone-lace weavers, a kind of round cufhion of light matter placed on the knee, whereon they work or weave their lace with bobbins, csV. See Lace. Among the French, the bott, called oreiller, is a little fquare wooden frame or defk, covered ordinarily with green ftufF. Savar. Diet. Comm. T. 2. p. 923. voc. Oreillcr.
Botts, in zoology, a fpecies of worms which infeft horfes and other cattle ; having large heads and little tails ; generally found in the ftraight gut, near the fundament. Ruft. Diet. T. 1. in voc. SHn. Etym. in voc.
The name is alfo given to a fort of grubs which deftroy the grafs in bowling-greens, &c.
BOTTLE, a fmall veffel proper for holding liquors.
The word is formed from butellus, or botellus, ufed in barba- rous Latin writers, for a lefFervefiel of wine; being a diminu- tive of bota, which denoted a butt orcafk of that liquor s . It is alfo written buthula, a diminutive of buta b , and in the bar- barous Greek, $mmc. — [" Kenn. GlofF. ad Paroch. Antiq. in voc. bothaginm. b Du Cange, GlofT. Lat. T. 1. p. 658. voc. buticula, Menag- Orig, 'Franc, p. 122. Cajfeneuve, Orig.
p. ,8.
