n. [ Sp. ] (Bot.) The lucern (Medicago sativa), a leguminous plant having bluish purple cloverlike flowers, and cultivated for fodder; -- so called in California, Texas, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 2d back, n. + fall. ] A fall or throw on the back in wrestling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a hardy breed of beef cattle derived as a cross between the American bison and domestic cattle, usually being genetically 3/8 bison and 5/8 domestic bovine; -- it yields leaner beef than conventional breeds. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. Befell p. p. Befallen p. pr. & vb. n. Befalling. ] [ AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall. ] To happen to. [ 1913 Webster ]

I beseech your grace that I may know
The worst that may befall me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To come to pass; to happen. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have revealed . . . the discord which befell. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Buffaloes [ Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. &unr_; buffalo, prob. fr. &unr_; ox. See Cow the animal, and cf. Buff the color, and Bubale. ] 1. (Zool.) A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (Bubalus bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A very large and savage species of the same genus (Syncerus Caffer syn. Bubalus Caffer) found in South Africa; -- called also Cape buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any species of wild ox. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The bison of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) The buffalo fish. See Buffalofish, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

Buffalo berry (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri (Sherherdia argentea) with acid edible red berries. --
Buffalo bird (Zool.), an African bird of the genus Buphaga, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. --
Buffalo bug, the carpet beetle. See under Carpet. --
Buffalo chips, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo clover (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium reflexum and Trifoliumsoloniferum) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. --
Buffalo cod (Zool.), a large, edible, marine fish (Ophiodon elongatus) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also blue cod, and cultus cod. --
Buffalo fly, or
Buffalo gnat (Zool.), a small dipterous insect of the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. --
Buffalo grass (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass (Buchloë dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo nut (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. --
Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) 1. any of several large carplike North American fish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Zool.) Any of several large fresh-water fishes of the family Catostomidæ (also called suckers see Sucker family), of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown (Ictiobus bubalus), the big-mouthed buffalofish (Ictiobus cyrinellus, formerly called Bubalichthys urus), the black buffalofish (Ictiobus niger), and the small-mouthed buffalofish (Ictiobus bubalus, formerly called Bubalichthys altus), are among the more important species used as food. [ PJC ]

A United States five-cent coin minted from 1913 to 1937 having an image of an American bison (“buffalo”) on its reverse, and an American Indian on the obverse. [ PJC ]

A black soldier of the United States army who served in the American west in the late 1800's, often as an indian fighter, and usually as part of an all-black troop; -- the name was given by the indians due to their their kinky hair, and the name was believed also to be a compliment on their courage. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ It. ] See Catafalque. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso, cadahalso, cadalso, Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf. Scaffold. ] A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the lower chap or jaw drooping, -- an indication of humiliation and dejection; crestfallen; discouraged. See Chopfallen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the lower chop or jaw depressed; hence, crestfallen; dejected; dispirited; downcast. See Chapfallen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Confalon. ] (R. C. Ch.) One of a fraternity of seculars, also called Penitents. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let it make thee crestfullen;
Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side; -- said of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defalcated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defalcating. ] [ LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct, orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, falcis, a sickle. See Falchion. ] To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; -- used chiefly of money, accounts, rents, income, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated from them [ the estimates ]. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. “Some partner defalcating, or the like.” Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. defalcatio: cf. F. défalcation. ] 1. A lopping off; a diminution; abatement; deficit. Specifically: Reduction of a claim by deducting a counterclaim; set- off. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is lopped off, diminished, or abated. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent having it in trust; an embezzlement. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A defaulter or embezzler. [ Modern ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. défalquer. See Defalcate. ] To lop off; to abate. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sudden fall; a body of things falling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those cataracts or downfalls aforesaid. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

Each downfall of a flood the mountains pour. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin; as, the senator's unrestrained sexual escapades led to his downfall. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Fallen; ruined. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Falling down. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Beginning of evening. “At the quiet evenfall.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A viverrine mammal of Madagascar (Eupleres Goudotii), allied to the civet; -- called also Falanouc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., ultimately fr. L. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe. ] (Man.) The action of a horse, when he throws himself on his haunches two or three times, bending himself, as it were, in very quick curvets. Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. falcatus, fr. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe. ] Hooked or bent like a sickle; as, a falcate leaf; a falcate claw; -- said also of the moon, or a planet, when horned or crescent-formed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being falcate; a bend in the form of a sickle. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. falx, falcis, a sickle. ] (Zool.) One of the mandibles of a spider. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. fauchon, OF. fauchon, LL. fälcio, fr. L. falx, falcis, a sickle, cf. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a ship's rib, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; bandy-legged; perh, akin to E. falcon; cf. It. falcione. Cf. Defalcation. ] 1. A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A name given generally and poetically to a sword, especially to the swords of Oriental and fabled warriors. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Falcidius. ] Of or pertaining to Publius Falcidius, a Roman tribune. [ 1913 Webster ]

Falcidian law (Civil Law), a law by which a testator was obliged to leave at least a fourth of his estate to the heir. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. falx, falcis, a sickle + -form: cf. F. falciforme. ] Having the shape of a scithe or sickle; resembling a reaping hook; as, the falciform ligatment of the liver. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. faucon, faucoun, OF. faucon, falcon, &unr_;. faucon, fr. LL. falco, perh. from L. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe, and named from its curving talons. Cf. Falchion. ] 1. (Zool.) (a) One of a family (Falconidæ) of raptorial birds, characterized by a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight. (b) Any species of the genus Falco, distinguished by having a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the language of falconry, the female peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is exclusively called the falcon. Yarrell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gun.) An ancient form of cannon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chanting falcon. (Zool.) See under Chanting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. fauconer, OF. falconier, fauconier, F. fauconnier. See Falcon. ] A person who breeds or trains hawks for taking birds or game; one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of falcon: cf. F. fauconneau, LL. falconeta, properly, a young falcon. ] 1. One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) (a) One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus Microhierax. (b) One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus, resembling shrikes and titmice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. faucon-gentil. See Falcon, and Genteel. ] 1. (Zool.) any female falcon; especially -- [ PJC ]

2. (Zool.) a female peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
Syn. -- falcon-gentil. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. (Zool.) The female or young of the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis, formerly Astur palumbarius). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Like a falcon or hawk; belonging to the Falconidæ [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fauconnerie. See Falcon. ] 1. The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild fowl or game. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sport of taking wild fowl or game by means of falcons or hawks. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a small sickle, a billhook. ] (Zool.) A curved and sharp-pointed claw. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Curved and sharppointed, like a falcula, or claw of a falcon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. faldagium, fr. AS. fald, E. fold. Cf. Foldage. ] (O. Eng. Law) A privilege of setting up, and moving about, folds for sheep, in any fields within manors, in order to manure them; -- often reserved to himself by the lord of the manor. Spelman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Nonsense; foolish talk. [ Also spelled folderol and falderol. ] [ Colloq. ]
Syn. -- humbug; balderdash; poppycock. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a knickknack; a gew-gaw. [ PJC ]

n. [ AS. fald (E.fold) + E. fee. See Faldage. ] (O. Eng. Law) A fee or rent paid by a tenant for the privilege of faldage on his own ground. Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A frieze or rough-napped cloth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. faldistorium, faldestorium, from OHG. faldstuol; faldan, faltan, to fold (G. falten) + stuol stool. So called because it could be folded or laid together. See Fold, and Stool, and cf. Faldstool, Fauteuil. ] The throne or seat of a bishop within the chancel. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Faldistory. ] A folding stool, or portable seat, made to fold up in the manner of a camo stool. It was formerly placed in the choir for a bishop, when he offciated in any but his own cathedral church. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the modern practice of the Church of England, the term faldstool is given to the reading desk from which the litany is read. This esage is a relic of the ancient use of a lectern folding like a camp stool. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Mount Falernus, in Italy; as, Falernianwine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The razorbill. [ Written also falc, and faik. ] [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]