n. a European country east of Poland, formerly a part of the Soviet Union. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the name was changed to Belarus.
Syn. -- Belarus, Belorussia, White Russia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. a native or inhabitant of Byelorussia.
Syn. -- Belorussian, White Russian. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the language spoken in Belarus.
Syn. -- Belarusian. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. (Min.) Native lead carbonate; a mineral occurring in colorless, white, or yellowish transparent crystals, with an adamantine, also massive and compact. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ferri- + prussiate. ] (Chem.) A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Ferri- + prussic. ] (Chem.) Ferricyanic. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Ferro- + prussiate. ] (Chem.) A ferrocyanate; a ferocyanide. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Ferro- + prussic. ] (Chem.) Ferrocyanic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Nitro- + prussic. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a complex acid called nitroprussic acid, obtained indirectly by the action of nitric acid on potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate), as a red crystalline unstable substance. It forms salts called nitroprussides, which give a rich purple color with alkaline sulphides. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Nitroprussic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Prussia, the country: cf. F. prussien. ] Of or pertaining to Prussia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Prussia. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prussian blue (Chem.), any one of several complex double cyanides of ferrous and ferric iron; specifically, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery luster, obtained by adding a solution of potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of potash) to a ferric salt. It is used in dyeing, in ink, etc. Called also Williamson's blue, insoluble Prussian blue, Berlin blue, etc. --
Prussian carp (Zool.) See Gibel. --
Prussian green. (Chem.) Same as Berlin green, under Berlin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prussiate. ] (Chem.) A salt of prussic acid; a cyanide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Red prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferricyanide, under Ferricyanide. --
Yellow prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferrocyanide, under Ferrocyanide. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. prussique. ] (Old Chem.) designating the acid now called hydrocyanic acid, but formerly called prussic acid, because Prussian blue is derived from it or its compounds. See Hydrocyanic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A country of Europe and Asia. [ 1913 Webster ]

Russia iron, a kind of sheet iron made in Russia, having a lustrous blue-black surface. --
Russia leather, a soft kind of leather, made originally in Russia but now elsewhere, having a peculiar odor from being impregnated with an oil obtained from birch bark. It is much used in bookbinding, on account of its not being subject to mold, and being proof against insects. --
Russia matting, matting manufactured in Russia from the inner bark of the linden (Tilia Europaea). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Russia, its inhabitants, or language. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Russia; the language of Russia.

Russian bath. See under Bath. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make Russian, or more or less like the Russians; as, to Russianize the Poles. [ 1913 Webster ]

. The established church of the Russian empire up to the revolution of 1917, at which time the ruling Communist party tried to suppress all religious worship. The czar was the nominal head of the church, but he never claimed the right of deciding questions of theology and dogma. It still forms a portion, by far the largest, of the Orthodox (Eastern) Church and is governed by the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. In 1988 the church, with official approval, celebrated the 1000 year anniversary of the baptism of Russia. After breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 the Russian Church began to regain some its old influence in Russian life, and the government turned over some of the confiscated churches back to church control. The Russian Church was recognized anew as the official church of Russia, with special priveleges, by an act of the Russian Duma in 1997. The Metropolitan of Moscow, as Patriarch of the church, is regarded as the first among equals in order of deference among bishops of the church. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

(a) An act of bravado played by loading one bullet into one chamber of a revolver in which the cylinder has five or six positions, spinning the cylinder (thus moving the bullet randomly to one of the six positions of the cylinder), pointing the gun to one's head, and pulling the trigger. If the bullet is in firing position, the "player" is usually killed. Such a "game" may be played on a dare, or, in some places, as part of a gamble. (b) (Fig.) Any dangerous act resembling Russian roulette in the acceptance of a high risk of serious negative consequences, usually unnecessarily. “The congress is playing Russian roulette with the economy by enacting such large tax reductions without spending cuts.” [ PJC ]

n. [ Russia + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy. ] The act or process of Russifying, or the state of being Russified. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. russifier. See -fy. ] To Russianize; as, to Russify conquered tribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Arch. & Engin.) The timbers, etc., which form a truss, taken collectively. Weale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch. & Engin.) The art of stiffening or bracing a set of timbers, or the like, by putting in struts, ties, etc., till it has something of the character of a truss. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of a hawk, or other bird of prey, in seizing its quarry, and soaring with it into air. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]