SG Heritage Dictionary

Boom [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. A long pole or spar, run out from various parts of a ship, or other vessel, for the purpose of extending the bottom of particular sails; as the jib-boom, studding-sail boom main-boom, square-sail boom etc.

2. A strong iron chain, fastened to spars, and extended across a river, or the mouth of a harbor, to prevent an enemy's ships from passing.

3. A pole set up as a mark to direct seamen how to keep the channel, in shallow water.

Boom [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. In marine language, to rush with violence, as a ship under a press of sail.

2. To swell; to roll and roar, as waves.

3. The hoarse waves booming to the ocean shore.

4. To cry as the bittern.

5. The Dutch use bom for the sound of an empty barrel, and bommen is to drum.

Boom [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. A long pole or spar, run out for the purpose of extending the bottom of a particular sail; as, the jib boom, the studding-sail boom, etc.

2. A long spar or beam, projecting from the mast of a derrick, from the outer end of which the body to be lifted is suspended.

3. A pole with a conspicuous top, set up to mark the channel in a river or harbor.

4. A strong chain cable, or line of spars bound together, extended across a river or the mouth of a harbor, to obstruct navigation or passage.

5. A line of connected floating timbers stretched across a river, or inclosing an area of water, to keep saw logs, etc., from floating away.

6. A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry of the bittern; a booming.

7. A strong and extensive advance, with more or less noisy excitement; -- applied colloquially or humorously to market prices, the demand for stocks or commodities and to political chances of aspirants to office; as, a boom in the stock market; a boom in coffee.

Boom [Verb intransitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the bittern, and some insects.

2. To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.

3. To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail, before a free wind.

4. To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular favor; to go on rushingly.

Boom [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To extend, or push, with a boom or pole; as, to boom out a sail; to boom off a boat.

2. To cause to advance rapidly in price; as, to boom railroad or mining shares; to create a "boom" for; as to boom Mr. C. for senator.

Boom Encyclopedia Britannica

BOOM, a town of Belgium, in the province of Antwerp, and 12 miles S. of that city, at the junction of the Brussels Canal with the River Rupel. It is an active industrial town, possessing tanneries, salt-works, starch-factories, breweries, and brick and tile works, and carries on a considerable trade. Population of the commune, 10,064.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 4, p. 48
[58 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Boomdas [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A small African hyracoid mammal (Dendrohyrax arboreus) resembling the daman.

Boomed [Imperfect tense and past participle] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Boom

Boomer [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. One who, or that which, booms.

2. A North American rodent, so named because it is said to make a booming noise. See Sewellel.

3. A large male kangaroo.

4. One who works up a "boom".

Boomerang [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A very singular missile weapon used by the natives of Australia and in some parts of India. It is usually a curved stick of hard wood, from twenty to thirty inches in length, from two to three inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick. When thrown from the hand with a quick rotary motion, it describes very remarkable curves, according to the shape of the instrument and the manner of throwing it, often moving nearly horizontally a long distance, then curving upward to a considerable height, and finally taking a retrograde direction, so as to fall near the place from which it was thrown, or even far in the rear of it.

Boomerang Encyclopedia Britannica

BOOMERANG, a missile instrument of the Australian aborigines, in the use of which they are very dexterous. It consists of a piece of hard wood, with the curve of a parabola, and is about 2 feet long, 2∣ inches broad, ⅜ inch thick, and rounded at the extremities. One side is flat, the other is rounded, and it is brought to a bluntish edge. It is discharged with the hand by one end, the convex edge being forward and the flat side upwards. After advancing some distance, and ascending slowly in the air with a quick rotatory motion, it begins to retrograde, and finally falls to the ground behind the thrower. A weapon of similar form, but wanting the return flight, has been found in use among sιvage tribes both in India and Africa. A very full comparative account of the boomerang is contained in Colonel A. H. Lane Fox’s lecture on “Primitive Warfare” {Jour. of the Royal United Service Institution, vol. xii. No. 51).

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 4, p. 48
[166 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Booming [Adjective] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. Rushing with violence; swelling with a hollow sound; making a hollow sound or note; roaring; resounding.

2. Advancing or increasing amid noisy excitement; as, booming prices; booming popularity.

Booming [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act of producing a hollow or roaring sound; a violent rushing with heavy roar; as, the booming of the sea; a deep, hollow sound; as, the booming of bitterns.

Booming [Present participle and verbal noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

of Boom

Boomkin [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Same as Bumkin.

Boomorah [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A small West African chevrotain (Hyaemoschus aquaticus), resembling the musk deer.

Boomslange [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A large South African tree snake (Bucephalus Capensis). Although considered venomous by natives, it has no poison fangs.