{Musical}, or {Music}, {box}, a box or case containing
apparatus moved by clockwork so as to play certain tunes
automatically.
{Musical fish} (Zo["o]l.), any fish which utters sounds under
water, as the drumfish, grunt, gizzard shad, etc.
{Musical glasses}, glass goblets or bowls so tuned and
arranged that when struck, or rubbed, they produce musical
notes. CF. {Harmonica}, 1.
{Box elder}, the ash-leaved maple ({Negundo aceroides}), of
North America.
{Box holly}, the butcher's broom ({Russus aculeatus}).
{Box thorn}, a shrub ({Lycium barbarum}).
{Box tree}, the tree variety of the common box.
2. To furnish with boxes, as a wheel.
3. (Arch.) To inclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to
bring to a required form.
{To box a tree}, to make an incision or hole in a tree for
the purpose of procuring the sap.
{To box off}, to divide into tight compartments.
{To box up}.
(a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had boxed
up twelve score pounds.
(b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in narrow quarters.
2. The quantity that a box contain.
3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or
other place of public amusement.
Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage.
--Dorset.
The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges.
--Dryden.
4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a
poor box; a contribution box.
Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks,
Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box. --J.
Warton.
5. A small country house. ``A shooting box.'' --Wilson.
Tight boxes neatly sashed. --Cowper.
6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box.
7. (Mach)
(a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing.
(b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works;
the bucket of a lifting pump.
8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach.
9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or
gift. ``A Christmas box.'' --Dickens.
10. (Baseball) The square in which the pitcher stands.
11. (Zo["o]l.) A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.
Note: Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box
lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying
substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox
or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox.
{Box beam} (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have
the form of a long box.
{Box car} (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and
inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.
{Box chronometer}, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals,
to preserve its proper position.
{Box coat}, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a
heavy cape to carry off the rain.
{Box coupling}, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or
other parts in machinery.
{Box crab} (Zo["o]l.), a crab of the genus {Calappa}, which,
when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.
{Box drain} (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides,
and with flat top and bottom.
{Box girder} (Arch.), a box beam.
{Box groove} (Metal Working), a closed groove between two
rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between
collars on another. --R. W. Raymond.
{Box metal}, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead,
and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.
{Box plait}, a plait that doubles both to the right and the
left.
{Box tortoise} (Zo["o]l.), a land tortoise or turtle of the
genera {Cistudo} and {Emys}; -- so named because it can
withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by
hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an
exceedingly reticent person. --Emerson.
{In a box}, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in
difficulty. (Colloq.)
{In the wrong box}, out of one's place; out of one's element;
awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) --Ridley (1554)
A good-humored box on the ear. --W. Irving.
{To box off} (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel either way
by bracing the headyards aback.
{To box the compass} (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points
of the compass in their order.