English Dictionary: ballyrag | by the DICT Development Group |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Rape \Rape\, n. [L. rapa, rapum, akin to Gr. [?], [?], G. r[81]be.] (Bot.) A name given to a variety or to varieties of a plant of the turnip kind, grown for seeds and herbage. The seeds are used for the production of rape oil, and to a limited extent for the food of cage birds. Note: These plants, with the edible turnip, have been variously named, but are all now believed to be derived from the {Brassica campestris} of Europe, which by some is not considered distinct from the wild stock ({B. oleracea}) of the cabbage. See {Cole}. {Broom rape}. (Bot.) See {Broom rape}, in the Vocabulary. {Rape cake}, the refuse remaining after the oil has been expressed from the seed. {Rape root}. Same as {Rape}. {Summer rape}. (Bot.) See {Colza}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
d8Brassica \[d8]Bras"si*ca\, n. [L., cabbage.] (Bot.) A genus of plants embracing several species and varieties differing much in appearance and qualities: such as the common cabbage ({B. oleracea}), broccoli, cauliflowers, etc.; the wild turnip ({B. campestris}); the common turnip ({B. rapa}); the rape or coleseed ({B. napus}), etc. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Cole \Cole\, n. [OE. col, caul, AS. cawl, cawel, fr. L. caulis, the stalk or stem of a plant, esp. a cabbage stalk, cabbage, akin to Gr. [?]. Cf. {Cauliflower}, {Kale}.] (Bot.) A plant of the {Brassica} or Cabbage genus; esp. that form of {B. oleracea} called {rape} and {coleseed}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Balearic \Bal`e*ar"ic\, a. [L. Balearicus, fr. Gr. [?] the Balearic Islands.] Of or pertaining to the isles of Majorca, Minorca, Ivica, etc., in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia. {Balearic crane}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Crane}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Balearic \Bal`e*ar"ic\, a. [L. Balearicus, fr. Gr. [?] the Balearic Islands.] Of or pertaining to the isles of Majorca, Minorca, Ivica, etc., in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia. {Balearic crane}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Crane}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Crane \Crane\ (kr[amac]n), n. [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav[icr], Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. [root]24. Cf. {Geranium}.] 1. (Zo[94]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Grus}, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck. Note: The common European crane is {Grus cinerea}. The sand-hill crane ({G. Mexicana}) and the whooping crane ({G. Americana}) are large American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is {Balearica pavonina}. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and cormorants. 2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of {Derrick}. 3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire. 4. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask. 5. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See {Crotch}, 2. {Crane fly} (Zo[94]l.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus {Tipula}. {Derrick crane}. See {Derrick}. {Gigantic crane}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Adjutant}, n., 3. {Traveling crane}, {Traveler crane}, {Traversing crane} (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry. {Water crane}, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Ballarag \Bal"la*rag\, v. i. [Corrupted fr. bullirag.] To bully; to threaten. [Low] --T. Warton. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bee larkspur \Bee" lark`spur\ (Bot.) See {Larkspur}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bell \Bell\, n. [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See {Bellow}.] 1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. Note: Bells have been made of various metals, but the best have always been, as now, of an alloy of copper and tin. {The Liberty Bell}, the famous bell of the Philadelphia State House, which rang when the Continental Congress declared the Independence of the United States, in 1776. It had been cast in 1753, and upon it were the words [bd]Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof.[b8] 2. A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved. 3. Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower. [bd]In a cowslip's bell I lie.[b8] --Shak. 4. (Arch.) That part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital. 5. pl. (Naut.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated. Note: On shipboard, time is marked by a bell, which is struck eight times at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock. Half an hour after it has struck [bd]eight bells[b8] it is struck once, and at every succeeding half hour the number of strokes is increased by one, till at the end of the four hours, which constitute a watch, it is struck eight times. {To bear away the bell}, to win the prize at a race where the prize was a bell; hence, to be superior in something. --Fuller. {To bear the bell}, to be the first or leader; -- in allusion to the bellwether or a flock, or the leading animal of a team or drove, when wearing a bell. {To curse by bell}, {book}, {and candle}, a solemn form of excommunication used in the Roman Catholic church, the bell being tolled, the book of offices for the purpose being used, and three candles being extinguished with certain ceremonies. --Nares. {To lose the bell}, to be worsted in a contest. [bd]In single fight he lost the bell.[b8] --Fairfax. {To shake the bells}, to move, give notice, or alarm. --Shak. Note: Bell is much used adjectively or in combinations; as, bell clapper; bell foundry; bell hanger; bell-mouthed; bell tower, etc., which, for the most part, are self-explaining. {Bell arch} (Arch.), an arch of unusual form, following the curve of an ogee. {Bell cage}, or {Bell carriage} (Arch.), a timber frame constructed to carry one or more large bells. {Bell cot} (Arch.), a small or subsidiary construction, frequently corbeled out from the walls of a structure, and used to contain and support one or more bells. {Bell deck} (Arch.), the floor of a belfry made to serve as a roof to the rooms below. {Bell founder}, one whose occupation it is to found or cast bells. {Bell foundry}, or {Bell foundery}, a place where bells are founded or cast. {Bell gable} (Arch.), a small gable-shaped construction, pierced with one or more openings, and used to contain bells. {Bell glass}. See {Bell jar}. {Bell hanger}, a man who hangs or puts up bells. {Bell pull}, a cord, handle, or knob, connecting with a bell or bell wire, and which will ring the bell when pulled. --Aytoun. {Bell punch}, a kind of conductor's punch which rings a bell when used. {Bell ringer}, one who rings a bell or bells, esp. one whose business it is to ring a church bell or chime, or a set of musical bells for public entertainment. {Bell roof} (Arch.), a roof shaped according to the general lines of a bell. {Bell rope}, a rope by which a church or other bell is rung. {Bell tent}, a circular conical-topped tent. {Bell trap}, a kind of bell shaped stench trap. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
d8H91matozo94n \[d8]H[91]m`a*to*zo"[94]n\, n.; pl. {H[91]matozoa}. [NL., fr. Gr. [?], blood + [?] animal.] (Zo[94]l.) A parasite inhabiting the blood; esp.: (a) Certain species of nematodes of the genus {Filaria}, sometimes found in the blood of man, the horse, the dog, etc. (b) The trematode, {Bilharzia h[91]matobia}, which infests the inhabitants of Egypt and other parts of Africa, often causing death. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Biliary \Bil"ia*ry\ (b[icr]l"y[adot]*r[ycr]; 106), a. [L. bilis bile: cf. F. biliaire.] (Physiol.) Relating or belonging to bile; conveying bile; as, biliary acids; biliary ducts. {Biliary calculus} (Med.), a gallstone, or a concretion formed in the gall bladder or its duct. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Rudd \Rudd\, n. [See {Rud}, n.] (Zo[94]l.) A fresh-water European fish of the Carp family ({Leuciscus erythrophthalmus}). It is about the size and shape of the roach, but it has the dorsal fin farther back, a stouter body, and red irises. Called also {redeye}, {roud}, {finscale}, and {shallow}. A blue variety is called {azurine}, or {blue roach}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Boule \Boule\, Boulework \Boule"work`\, n. Same as {Buhl}, {Buhlwork}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Buhl \Buhl\, Buhlwork \Buhl"work\, n. [From A. Ch. Boule, a French carver in wood.] Decorative woodwork in which tortoise shell, yellow metal, white metal, etc., are inlaid, forming scrolls, cartouches, etc. [Written also {boule}, {boulework}.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Boule \Boule\, Boulework \Boule"work`\, n. Same as {Buhl}, {Buhlwork}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Buhl \Buhl\, Buhlwork \Buhl"work\, n. [From A. Ch. Boule, a French carver in wood.] Decorative woodwork in which tortoise shell, yellow metal, white metal, etc., are inlaid, forming scrolls, cartouches, etc. [Written also {boule}, {boulework}.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Finger \Fin"ger\, n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.] 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb. 2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. 3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins. 4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] She has a good finger. --Busby. {Ear finger}, the little finger. {Finger alphabet}. See {Dactylology}. {Finger bar}, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. {Finger board} (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. {Finger} {bowl [or] glass}, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. {Finger flower} (Bot.), the foxglove. {Finger grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Panicum sanguinale}) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See {Crab grass}, under {Crab}. {Finger nut}, a fly nut or thumb nut. {Finger plate}, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. {Finger post}, a guide post bearing an index finger. {Finger reading}, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind. {Finger shell} (Zo[94]l.), a marine shell ({Pholas dactylus}) resembling a finger in form. {Finger sponge} (Zo[94]l.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. {Finger stall}, a cover or shield for a finger. {Finger steel}, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. {To burn one's fingers}. See under {Burn}. {To have a finger in}, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] {To have at one's fingers' ends}, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Buhl \Buhl\, Buhlwork \Buhl"work\, n. [From A. Ch. Boule, a French carver in wood.] Decorative woodwork in which tortoise shell, yellow metal, white metal, etc., are inlaid, forming scrolls, cartouches, etc. [Written also {boule}, {boulework}.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bullary \Bul"la*ry\, n.; pl. {Bullaries} (-r[icr]z). [Cf. {Boilary}.] A place for boiling or preparing salt; a boilery. --Crabb. And certain salt fats or bullaries. --Bills in Chancery. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bullirag \Bul"li*rag\, v. t. [Cf. bully,n.& v., and rag to scold, rail. Cf. {Ballarag}.] To intimidate by bullying; to rally contemptuously; to badger. [Low] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bullyrag \Bul"ly*rag\, v. t. Same as {Bullirag}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bullyrock \Bul"ly*rock`\, n. A bully. [Slang Obs.] --Shak. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bulrush \Bul"rush`\, n. [OE. bulrysche, bolroysche; of uncertain origin, perh. fr. bole stem + rush.] (Bot.) A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water. Note: The name bulrush is applied in England especially to the cat-tail ({Typha latifolia} and {T. angustifolia}) and to the lake club-rush ({Scirpus lacustris}); in America, to the {Juncus effusus}, and also to species of {Scirpus} or club-rush. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bulwark \Bul"wark\, n. [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk, Dan. bolv[84]rk, bulv[84]rk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk work, defense. See {Bole} stem, and {Work}, n., and cf. {Boulevard}.] 1. (Fort.) A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork. 2. That which secures against an enemy, or defends from attack; any means of defense or protection. The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defense, . . . the floating bulwark of our island. --Blackstone. 3. pl. (Naut.) The sides of a ship above the upper deck. Syn: See {Rampart}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bulwark \Bul"wark\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bulwarked}; p. pr. & vb.n. {Bulwarking}.] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect. Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers. --Glover. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bulwark \Bul"wark\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bulwarked}; p. pr. & vb.n. {Bulwarking}.] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect. Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers. --Glover. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bulwark \Bul"wark\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bulwarked}; p. pr. & vb.n. {Bulwarking}.] To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by fortification; to protect. Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers. --Glover. | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Baylor County, TX (county, FIPS 23) Location: 33.62666 N, 99.21552 W Population (1990): 4385 (3006 housing units) Area: 2255.5 sq km (land), 78.3 sq km (water) | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Bel Air South, MD (CDP, FIPS 5950) Location: 39.50403 N, 76.31810 W Population (1990): 26421 (10296 housing units) Area: 41.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Belle Rose, LA Zip code(s): 70341 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Belleair Shore, FL (town, FIPS 5150) Location: 27.91742 N, 82.84945 W Population (1990): 60 (34 housing units) Area: 0.1 sq km (land), 1.0 sq km (water) | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Bellerose, NY (village, FIPS 5639) Location: 40.72430 N, 73.71673 W Population (1990): 1101 (359 housing units) Area: 0.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 11426 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Billerica, MA Zip code(s): 01821 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blair County, PA (county, FIPS 13) Location: 40.47052 N, 78.35084 W Population (1990): 130542 (54349 housing units) Area: 1362.0 sq km (land), 3.4 sq km (water) | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairs, VA Zip code(s): 24527 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairs Mill, KY Zip code(s): 41472 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairs Mills, PA Zip code(s): 17213 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairsburg, IA (city, FIPS 6760) Location: 42.47953 N, 93.64261 W Population (1990): 269 (95 housing units) Area: 1.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 50034 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairstown, IA (city, FIPS 6805) Location: 41.90584 N, 92.08176 W Population (1990): 672 (290 housing units) Area: 1.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 52209 Blairstown, MO (city, FIPS 6238) Location: 38.55739 N, 93.95743 W Population (1990): 185 (81 housing units) Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 64726 Blairstown, NJ Zip code(s): 07825 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blairsville, GA (city, FIPS 8480) Location: 34.87363 N, 83.95158 W Population (1990): 564 (250 housing units) Area: 3.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 30512 Blairsville, PA (borough, FIPS 6904) Location: 40.43151 N, 79.26010 W Population (1990): 3595 (1780 housing units) Area: 3.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 15717 | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Blue Rock, OH Zip code(s): 43720 | |
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]: | |
blargh /blarg/ n. [MIT; now common] The opposite of {ping}, sense 5; an exclamation indicating that one has absorbed or is emitting a quantum of unhappiness. Less common than {ping}. | |
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]: | |
blurgle /bler'gl/ n. [UK] Spoken {metasyntactic variable}, to indicate some text that is obvious from context, or which is already known. If several words are to be replaced, blurgle may well be doubled or tripled. "To look for something in several files use `grep string blurgle blurgle'." In each case, "blurgle blurgle" would be understood to be replaced by the file you wished to search. Compare {mumble}, sense 7. | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
blargh /blarg/ [MIT] The opposite of {ping}. An exclamation indicating that one has absorbed or is emitting a quantum of unhappiness. Less common than {ping}. [{Jargon File}] | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
blurgle /bler'gl/ [Great Britain] Spoken {metasyntactic variable}, to indicate some text that is obvious from context, or which is already known. If several words are to be replaced, blurgle may well be doubled or trebled. "To look for something in several files use "{grep} string blurgle blurgle"." In each case, "blurgle blurgle" would be understood to be replaced by the file you wished to search. Compare {mumble}. [{Jargon File}] | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Bulrush (1.) In Isa. 58:5 the rendering of a word which denotes "belonging to a marsh," from the nature of the soil in which it grows (Isa. 18:2). It was sometimes platted into ropes (Job. 41:2; A.V., "hook," R.V., "rope," lit. "cord of rushes"). (2.) In Ex. 2:3, Isa. 18:2 (R.V., "papyrus") this word is the translation of the Hebrew _gome_, which designates the plant as absorbing moisture. In Isa. 35:7 and Job 8:11 it is rendered "rush." This was the Egyptian papyrus (papyrus Nilotica). It was anciently very abundant in Egypt. The Egyptians made garments and shoes and various utensils of it. It was used for the construction of the ark of Moses (Ex. 2:3, 5). The root portions of the stem were used for food. The inside bark was cut into strips, which were sewed together and dried in the sun, forming the papyrus used for writing. It is no longer found in Egypt, but grows luxuriantly in Palestine, in the marshes of the Huleh, and in the swamps at the north end of the Lake of Gennesaret. (See {CANE}.) | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Bulwarks mural towers, bastions, were introduced by king Uzziah (2 Chr. 26:15; Zeph. 1:16; Ps. 48:13; Isa. 26:1). There are five Hebrew words so rendered in the Authorized Version, but the same word is also variously rendered. | |
From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: | |
Belarus Belarus:Geography Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States Area: total area: 207,600 sq km land area: 207,600 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: total 3,098 km, Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland Natural resources: forest land, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 0% other: 55% Irrigated land: 1,490 sq km (1990) Environment: current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: landlocked Belarus:People Population: 10,437,418 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (female 1,126,062; male 1,166,439) 15-64 years: 65% (female 3,494,891; male 3,293,196) 65 years and over: 13% (female 913,508; male 443,322) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 12.98 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 11.23 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.03 years male: 66.36 years female: 75.93 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9% Religions: Eastern Orthodox, other Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% Labor force: 4.887 million by occupation: industry and construction 40%, agriculture and forestry 21%, other 39% (1992) Belarus:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: none former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic Digraph: BO Type: republic Capital: Minsk Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk) note: the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in parentheses Independence: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 27 July (1990) Constitution: adopted 15 March 1994; replaces constitution of April 1978 Legal system: based on civil law system Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994); election held June 24 and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 80%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 14% head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail CHIGIR (since July 1994); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir GARKUN, Viktor GONCHAR, Sergey LING, Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH, Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994 Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Soviet: elections last held 4 April 1990 (next to be held 14 May 1995); results - Communists 87%; seats - (360 total) number of seats by party NA; note - 50 seats are for public bodies; the Communist Party obtained an overwhelming majority Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), Zenon POZNYAK, chairman; Party of Popular Accord, Gennadiy KARPENKO; Union of Belarusian Entreprenuers, V. N. KARYAGIN; Belarusian Party of Communists, Vasiliy NOVIKOV, Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen; Belarus Peasant Party, Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman; Belarusian Socialist Party, Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV, chairman; Belarusian Social Democrat Party (SDBP), Oleg TRUSOV, Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairmen; Agrarian Party of Belarus, Aleksandr DUBKO; United Democratic Party of Belarus (UDPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY, chairman; Independent Trade Unions, Sergey ANTONCHIK, chairman Member of: CCC, CE (guest), CEI (associate members), CIS, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, ILO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOV chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZ embassy: Starovilenskaya #46, Minsk mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (0172) 34-65-37 Flag: three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and white Economy Overview: Belarus ranks among the most developed of the former Soviet states, with a relatively modern - by Soviet standards - and diverse machine building sector and a robust agriculture sector. It also serves as a transport link for Russian oil exports to the Baltic states and Eastern and Western Europe. The breakup of the Soviet Union and its command economy has resulted in a sharp economic contraction as traditional trade ties have collapsed. The Belarusian government has lagged behind the governments of most other former Soviet states in economic reform, with privatization almost nonexistent. The system of state orders and distribution persists. In mid-1994, the Belarusian government embarked on an austerity program with IMF support to slash state credits and consumer subsidies in order to bring down the budget deficit and reduce inflation. However, despite its promising start, the regime's drive to reinvigorate the economy has fallen short, and the IMF has criticized its failure to implement the reforms that the Fund had negotiated. As a result, the IMF has suspended talks on introducing a stand-by arrangement. Economic relations with Russia, which will have an important bearing on the future course of the economy, will be strengthened if Minsk adopts the necessary legislation to implement a customs union agreed to in January 1995. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $53.4 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992) National product real growth rate: -20% (1994) National product per capita: $5,130 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% per month (1994) Unemployment rate: 1.4% officially registered unemployed (December 1993); large numbers of underemployed workers Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Exports: $968 million to outside of the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria Imports: $534 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles, sugar partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland External debt: $1.5 billion (July 1994 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -19% (1994); accounts for about 40% of GDP (1992) Electricity: capacity: 7,010,000 kW production: 31.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,010 kWh (1994) Industries: employ about 40% of labor force and produced a wide variety of products including (in percent share of total output of former Soviet Union): tractors (12%); metal-cutting machine tools (11%); off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity (100%); wheel-type earthmovers for construction and mining (100%); eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas (100%); equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding (25%); motorcycles (21.3%); television sets (11%); chemical fibers (28%); fertilizer (18%); linen fabric (11%); wool fabric (7%); radios; refrigerators; and other consumer goods Agriculture: accounts for almost 25% of GDP and 5.7% of total agricultural output of former Soviet Union; employs 21% of the labor force; in 1988 produced the following (in percent of total Soviet production): grain (3.6%), potatoes (12.2%), vegetables (3.0%), meat (6.0%), milk (7.0%); net exporter of meat, milk, eggs, flour, potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis; mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: $NA Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR) Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 10,600 (end December 1994) Fiscal year: calendar year Belarus:Transportation Railroads: total: 5,570 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 5,570 km 1.520-m gauge (1990) Highways: total: 98,200 km paved: 66,100 km unpaved: earth 32,100 km (1990) Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural gas 1,980 km (1992) Ports: Mazyr Merchant marine: note: claims 5% of former Soviet fleet Airports: total: 118 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 11 with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 9 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 62 Belarus:Communications Telephone system: 1,849,000 telephones (December 1991); 18 telephones/100 persons; telephone service inadequate for the purposes of either business or the population; about 70% of the telephones are in homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephones remain unsatisfied (1992); new investment centers on international connections and business needs; the new BelCel NMT 450 cellular system (a joint venture) is now operating in Minsk local: NA intercity: NA international: international traffic is carried by the Moscow international gateway switch and also by 2 satellite earth stations near Minsk - INTELSAT (through Canada) and EUTELSAT (through the UK) Radio: broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0 radios: 3.14 million (5,615,000 with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion) Television: broadcast stations: NA televisions: 3.538 million Belarus:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,550,500; males fit for military service 1,999,138; males reach military age (18) annually 71,808 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: 56.5 billion rubles, NA% of GDP (1993 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results |