Bell n. 1.A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck. Note: Bells have been made of various metals, but the best have always been, as now, of an alloy of copper and tin.
The Liberty Bell, the famous bell of the Philadelphia State House, which rang when the Continental Congress declared the Independence of the United States, in 1776. It had been cast in 1753, and upon it were the words "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof."
2.A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved.
3.Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower. "In a cowslip's bell I lie."
4.(Arch.) That part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.
5.pl. (Naut.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated. Note: On shipboard, time is marked by a bell, which is struck eight times at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock. Half an hour after it has struck "eight bells" it is struck once, and at every succeeding half hour the number of strokes is increased by one, till at the end of the four hours, which constitute a watch, it is struck eight times.
To bear away the bell, to win the prize at a race where the prize was a bell; hence, to be superior in something.
To bear the bell, to be the first or leader; in allusion to the bellwether or a flock, or the leading animal of a team or drove, when wearing a bell.
To curse by bell, book and candle, a solemn form of excommunication used in the Roman Catholic church, the bell being tolled, the book of offices for the purpose being used, and three candles being extinguished with certain ceremonies.
To lose the bell, to be worsted in a contest. "In single fight he lost the bell."
To shake the bells, to move, give notice, or alarm. Note: Bell is much used adjectively or in combinations; as, bell clapper; bell foundry; bell hanger; bell-mouthed; bell tower, etc., which, for the most part, are self-explaining.
Bell arch (Arch.), an arch of unusual form, following the curve of an ogee.
Bell cage, or Bell carriage (Arch.), a timber frame constructed to carry one or more large bells.
Bell cot (Arch.), a small or subsidiary construction, frequently corbeled out from the walls of a structure, and used to contain and support one or more bells.
Bell deck (Arch.), the floor of a belfry made to serve as a roof to the rooms below.
Bell founder, one whose occupation it is to found or cast bells.
Bell foundry, or Bell foundery, a place where bells are founded or cast.
Bell gable (Arch.), a small gable-shaped construction, pierced with one or more openings, and used to contain bells.
Bell glass. See Bell jar. Bell hanger, a man who hangs or puts up bells.
Bell pull, a cord, handle, or knob, connecting with a bell or bell wire, and which will ring the bell when pulled.
Bell punch, a kind of conductor's punch which rings a bell when used.
Bell ringer, one who rings a bell or bells, esp. one whose business it is to ring a church bell or chime, or a set of musical bells for public entertainment.
Bell roof (Arch.), a roof shaped according to the general lines of a bell.
Bell rope, a rope by which a church or other bell is rung.
Bell tent, a circular conical-topped tent.
Bell trap, a kind of bell shaped stench trap.
Liberty n. (pl. liberties) 1.The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection. "But ye... caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection." "Delivered fro the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God."
2.Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion. "Being pent from liberty, as I am now."
3.A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like.
4.Privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as, the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe. "His majesty gave not an entire county to any; much less did he grant... any extraordinary liberties."
5.The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised. (Eng.) "Brought forth into some public or open place within the liberty of the city, and there... burned."
6.A certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also, the place or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as, the liberties of a prison.
7.A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty. "He was repeatedly provoked into striking those who had taken liberties with him."
8.The power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing. "The idea of liberty is the idea of a power in any agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, whereby either of them is preferred to the other." "This liberty of judgment did not of necessity lead to lawlessness."
9.(Manege) A curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse.
10.(Naut.) Leave of absence; permission to go on shore.
Civil liberty, exemption from arbitrary interference with person, opinion, or property, on the part of the government under which one lives, and freedom to take part in modifying that government or its laws.
Liberty bell. See under Bell. Liberty cap. (a)The Roman pileus which was given to a slave at his manumission.
(b)A limp, close-fitting cap with which the head of representations of the goddess of liberty is often decked. It is sometimes represented on a spear or a liberty pole.
Liberty of the press, freedom to print and publish without official supervision.
Liberty party, the party, in the American Revolution, which favored independence of England; in more recent usage, a party which favored the emancipation of the slaves.
Liberty pole, a tall flagstaff planted in the ground, often surmounted by a liberty cap. (U. S.)
Moral liberty, that liberty of choice which is essential to moral responsibility.
Religious liberty, freedom of religious opinion and worship.
Synonyms: Leave; permission; license. Liberty, Freedom. These words, though often interchanged, are distinct in some of their applications. Liberty has reference to previous restraint; freedom, to the simple, unrepressed exercise of our powers. A slave is set at liberty; his master had always been in a state of freedom. A prisoner under trial may ask liberty (exemption from restraint) to speak his sentiments with freedom (the spontaneous and bold utterance of his feelings). The liberty of the press is our great security for freedom of thought. 
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