Branch (&?;), n.; pl.
Branches (&?;). [OE. braunche, F. branche,
fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor.
brank branch, bough.] 1. (Bot.) A shoot
or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or
bough of a tree or other plant.
2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or
part connected with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the
branch of an antler; the branch of a chandelier; a
branch of a river; a branch of a railway.
Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up.
W. Irving.
3. Any member or part of a body or system; a
distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department.
"Branches of knowledge." Prescott.
It is a branch and parcel of mine oath.
Shak.
4. (Geom.) One of the portions of a curve
that extends outwards to an indefinitely great distance; as, the
branches of an hyperbola.
5. A line of family descent, in distinction from
some other line or lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a
line; as, the English branch of a family.
His father, a younger branch of the ancient
stock.
Carew.
6. (Naut.) A warrant or commission given to
a pilot, authorizing him to pilot vessels in certain waters.
Branches of a bridle, two pieces of bent iron,
which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb. -- Branch
herring. See Alewife. -- Root and
branch , totally, wholly.
Syn. -- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
Branch (&?;), a. Diverging from, or
tributary to, a main stock, line, way, theme, etc.; as, a branch
vein; a branch road or line; a branch topic; a branch
store.
Branch, v. i. [imp. & p. p.
Branched (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Branching.]
1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into
branches; to ramify.
2. To divide into separate parts or
subdivision.
To branch off, to form a branch or a separate
part; to diverge. -- To branch out, to speak
diffusively; to extend one's discourse to other topics than the main one;
also, to enlarge the scope of one's business, etc.
To branch out into a long disputation.
Spectator.
Branch, v. t. 1. To
divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in.
2. To adorn with needlework representing branches,
flowers, or twigs.
The train whereof loose far behind her strayed,
Branched with gold and pearl, most richly wrought.
Spenser.
