1. [n]  a blow with the hand (usually on the ear); "I gave him a good box on the ear"
2. [n]  a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid; "he rummaged through a box of spare parts"
3. [n]  separate partitioned area in a public place for a few people; "the sentry stayed in his box to avoid the cold"
4. [n]  private area in a theater or grandstand where a small group can watch the performance; "the royal box was empty"
5. [n]  the driver's seat on a coach; "an armed guard sat in the box with the driver"
6. [n]  any one of several designated areas on a ball field where the batter or catcher or coaches are positioned; "the umpire warned the batter to stay in the batter's box"
7. [n]  evergreen shrubs or small trees
8. [n]  the quantity contained in a box; "he gave her a box of chocolates"
9. [n]  a rectangular drawing; "the flowchart contained many boxes"
10. [n]  a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible; "his lying got him into a tight corner"
11. [v]  engage in a boxing match; in sport
12. [v]  hit with the fist; "I'll box your ears!"
13. [v]  put into a box; "box the gift, please"

1. \Box\ (b[o^]ks), n. [As. box, L. buxus, fr. Gr. ?. See {Box}
   a case.] (Bot.)
   A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world.
   The common box ({Buxus sempervirens}) has two varieties, one
   of which, the dwarf box ({B. suffruticosa}), is much used for
   borders in gardens. The wood of the tree varieties, being
   very hard and smooth, is extensively used in the arts, as by
   turners, engravers, mathematical instrument makers, etc.
   {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. \Box\, n.; pl. {Boxes} [As. box a small case or vessel with
   a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. b["u]chse; fr. L. buxus
   boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See {Pyx}, and cf. {Box} a
   tree, {Bushel}.]
   1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various
      shapes.
   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 turtle} or
   {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)
   

3. \Box\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Boxed} (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Boxing}.]
   1. To inclose in a 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.
   

4. \Box\, n. [Cf.Dan. baske to slap, bask slap, blow. Cf.
   {Pash}.]
   A blow on the head or ear with the hand.
         A good-humored box on the ear.           --W. Irving.
   

5. \Box\, v. i.
   To fight with the fist; to combat with, or as with, the hand
   or fist; to spar.
   

6. \Box\, v. t.
   To strike with the hand or fist, especially to strike on the
   ear, or on the side of the head.
   

7. \Box\, v. t. [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.]
   To boxhaul.
   {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.
   

1. A computer; especially in the construction "foo box" where foo is some functional qualifier, like "graphics", or the name of an operating system (thus, "Unix box", "MS-DOS box", etc.) "We preprocess the data on Unix boxes before handing it up to the mainframe." The plural "boxen" is sometimes seen.

2. Without qualification in an IBM SNA site, "box" refers specifically to an IBM front-end processor.

[Jargon File]

for holding oil or perfumery (Mark 14:3). It was of the form of a flask or bottle. The Hebrew word (pak) used for it is more appropriately rendered "vial" in 1 Sam. 10:1, and should also be so rendered in 2 Kings 9:1, where alone else it occurs.