berteroa

[Named after Charles Joseph Bertero, a friend of De Candolle's.] Bot.: A genus of cruciferous plants. B. in can a , or Hoary Berteroa, has been found in one or two places in the south of England, but is certainly not indigenous. berth (1), † birth (2), s . [Etym. doubtful. Wedgwood considers it the same word with the provincial barth = a shelter for cattle, and derives it from A.S. be organ = to defend (BARROW, BURROW); Mahn, Skeat, ., deduce it from Eng. birth .] [BIRTH.] A. Technically: I. Nautical: 1. A proper distance between ships lying at anchor or under sail. ( Harris.) To give a wide berth to: To keep far away from. ( Lit. & fig .) 2. A convenient place to moor a ship in. 3. The berth of a me : The proper place on board for the me to put their chests in. ( Harris .) 4. A sleeping-place of limited dimensions on board ship. It consists of a box or shelf, usually permanent, occupying a space against the wall of a state-room or cabin. II. Railway travelling: A sleeping place, like that described under A., 4, in a Pullman's or other railway sleeping-car. In railway cars berths are usually made at two elevations; the lower one is made up by bridging the space between two adjacent seats, the upper berth by letting down a shelf from above. [SLEEPING-CAR.] B. Ord. Lang. A situation, an appointment. (Used specially in the phrase, "A comfortable berth ," by which is meant an official situation in which the pay is handsome and the duties light.) berth and space. Ship-building: The distance between the moulding-edge of one bent or frame of a ship and the moulding of another bent or frame. The same as ROOM AND SPACE.