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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.
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 (&?;; 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.
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