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Webster 1913 Edition

Boom

Boom

(boōm)
,
Noun.
[D.
boom
tree, pole, beam, bar. See
Beam
.]
1.
(Naut.)
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.
(Mech.)
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.
[Obs.]
4.
(Mil. & Naval)
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.
(Lumbering)
A line of connected floating timbers stretched across a river, or inclosing an area of water, to keep saw logs, etc., from floating away.
Boom iron
,
one of the iron rings on the yards through which the studding-sail booms traverse.
–
The booms
,
that space on the upper deck of a ship between the foremast and mainmast, where the boats, spare spars, etc., are stowed.
Totten.

Boom

(boōm)
,
Verb.
T.
(Naut.)
To extend, or push, with a boom or pole;
as, to
boom
out a sail; to
boom
off a boat
.

Boom

(boōm)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Boomed
,
p. pr. & vb. n.
Booming
.]
[Of imitative origin; cf. OE.
bommen
to hum, D.
bommen
to drum, sound as an empty barrel, also W.
bwmp
a hollow sound;
aderyn y bwmp
, the bird of the hollow sound, i. e., the bittern. Cf.
Bum
,
Bump
,
Verb.
I.
,
Bomb
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the bittern, and some insects.
At eve the beetle
boometh

Athwart the thicket lone.
Tennyson.
2.
To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.
Alarm guns
booming
through the night air.
W. Irving.
3.
To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail, before a free wind.
She comes
booming
down before it.
Totten.
4.
To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular favor; to go on rushingly.

Boom

,
Noun.
1.
A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry of the bittern; a booming.
2.
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
.
[Colloq. U. S.]

Boom

,
Verb.
T.
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
.
[Colloq. U. S.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Boom

BOOM

,
Noun.
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. &c.
1.
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.
2.
A pole set up as a mark to direct seamen how to keep the channel, in shallow water.

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