n. [ Cf. OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr. L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. Breeches. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Arch.) An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console, Corbel, Strut. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Engin. & Mech.) A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mil.) The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Print.) One of two characters [ ], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Gunnery) A figure determined by firing a projectile beyond a target and another short of it, as a basis for ascertaining the proper elevation of the piece; -- only used in the phrase, to establish a bracket. After the bracket is established shots are fired with intermediate elevations until the exact range is obtained. In the United States navy it is called fork. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bracketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracketing ] 1. To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gunnery) To shoot so as to establish a bracket for (an object). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Arch.) A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To strike with, or as with, a racket. [ 1913 Webster ]

Poor man [ is ] racketed from one temptation to another. Hewyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. raquette; cf. Sp. raqueta, It. racchetta, which is perhaps for retichetta, and fr. L. rete a net (cf. Reticule); or perh. from the Arabic; cf. Ar. rāha the palm of the hand (used at first to strike the ball), and OF. rachette, rasquette, carpus, tarsus. ] [ Written also racquet. ] 1. A thin strip of wood, having the ends brought together, forming a somewhat elliptical hoop, across which a network of catgut or cord is stretched. It is furnished with a handle, and is used for catching or striking a ball in tennis and similar games. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each one [ of the Indians ] has a bat curved like a crosier, and ending in a racket. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A variety of the game of tennis played with peculiar long-handled rackets; -- chiefly in the plural. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A snowshoe formed of cords stretched across a long and narrow frame of light wood. [ Canada ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A broad wooden shoe or patten for a man or horse, to enable him to step on marshy or soft ground. [ 1913 Webster ]

Racket court, a court for playing the game of rackets. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gael. racaid a noise, disturbance. ] 1. confused, clattering noise; din; noisy talk or sport. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A carouse; any reckless dissipation. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A scheme, dodge, trick, or the like; something taking place considered as exciting, trying, unusual, or the like; also, such occurrence considered as an ordeal; as, to work a racket; to stand upon the racket. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. an organized illegal activity, such as illegal gambling, bootlegging, or extortion. [ PJC ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Racketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Racketing. ] 1. To make a confused noise or racket. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To engage in noisy sport; to frolic. Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To carouse or engage in dissipation. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes, or engages in, a racket. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Mus.) An old wind instrument of the double bassoon kind, having ventages but not keys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket-shaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having long and spatulate, or racket-shaped, tail feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Making a tumultuous noise. [ 1913 Webster ]