Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume AB

-- B --

B (bē) is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 196, 220.) It is etymologically related to p, v, f, w, and m, letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. ferre; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It. gomito; Eng. seven, Anglo-Saxon seofon, Ger. sieben, Lat. septem, Gr. επτα, Sanskrit saptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from the Greek B (Beta), of Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the capital B.

In Music, B is the nominal of the seventh tone in the model major scale (the scale of C major), or of the second tone in its relative minor scale (that of A minor). B stands for B flat, the tone a half step , or semitone, lower than B. In German, B stands for our B, while our B natural is called H (pronounced hä).

Ba (bä), v. t. [Cf. OF. baer to open the mouth, F. bayer.] To kiss. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Baa (bä), v. i. [Cf. G. bäen; an imitative word.] To cry baa, or bleat as a sheep.

He treble baas for help, but none can get.
Sir P. Sidney.

Baa (bä), n.; pl. Baas (bäz). [Cf. G. bä.] The cry or bleating of a sheep; a bleat.

Baa"ing, n. The bleating of a sheep. Marryat.

Ba"al (bā"al), n.; Heb. pl. Baalim (-ĭm). [Heb. ba'al lord.]

1. (Myth.) The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations.

The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and elsewhere with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering to the different ideas of his character; ; as, Baal-berith (the Covenant Baal), Baal-zebub (Baal of the fly).

2. pl. The whole class of divinities to whom the name Baal was applied. Judges x. 6.