Bath (&?;; 61), n.
A city in
the west of
England, resorted to for its hot springs, which has given its name to various objects.
Bath brick, a preparation of calcareous earth, in the
form of a brick, used for cleaning knives, polished metal, etc. --
Bath chair, a kind of chair on wheels, as used by invalids at Bath. "People walked out, or drove out,
or were pushed out in their
Bath chairs." Dickens. -- Bath metal, an alloy consisting of four and a half ounces of zinc and one
pound of copper. -- Bath note, a folded writing paper, 8 1/2 by 14 inches. -- Bath stone, a species of limestone (oölite) found near Bath, used for building.
Bath (&?;), n. [Heb.]
A Hebrew measure containing the tenth of a homer, or five gallons and three pints, as a measure for
liquids; and two pecks and five quarts, as a dry measure.
Bath (b&adot;th; 61),
n.; pl. Baths
(b&adot;&thlig;z). [AS. bæð; akin to OS. & Icel. bað, Sw., Dan., D., & G. bad, and perh. to G. bähen to foment.]
1. The act of
exposing the body, or part of the body, for
purposes of cleanliness,
comfort, health, etc., to water, vapor, hot air, or the like; as, a cold or a hot bath; a medicated bath; a steam bath; a hip
bath.
2. Water or other liquid for bathing.
3. A receptacle or place where persons may immerse or wash their
bodies in water.
4. A building containing an apartment or a series of
apartments arranged for bathing.
Among the ancients, the public baths were of amazing extent and magnificence.
Gwilt.
5. (Chem.) A medium, as
heated sand, ashes, steam, hot air, through which heat is
applied to a body.
6. (Photog.)
A solution in which plates or prints are immersed; also, the receptacle holding the solution.
&fist;
Bath is used adjectively or in combination, in an obvious
sense of or for baths or bathing; as, bathroom, bath tub, bath keeper.
Douche bath. See Douche. -- Order of the Bath, a high order of
British knighthood, composed of three classes, viz., knights grand cross, knights commanders,
and knights companions, abbreviated thus: G. C. B., K. C. B., K. B. -- Russian bath, a kind of vapor bath which consists in a prolonged exposure of the body to the influence of the steam of
water, followed by washings and shampooings. -- Turkish bath, a kind of bath in which
a profuse perspiration is produced by hot air, after which the body is washed and shampooed. --
Bath house, a house used for the purpose of bathing; -- also a small house, near a
bathing place, where a bather undresses and
dresses.
Hear it pronounced