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B cell
One of the two types of lymphocytes (the others being T cells).
B-17
U.S. heavy bomber used in World War II.
B-52
U.S. long-range heavy bomber, designed in 1948 by the Boeing Company and first flown in 1952.
Baader-Meinhof Gang
West German leftist terrorist group formed in 1968 and popularly named after two of its early leaders, Andreas Baader (1943–1977) and Ulrike Meinhof (1934–1976).
Baal
God worshiped in many ancient Middle Eastern communities, especially among Canaanites, for whom he was a fertility deity.
ba'al shem
In Judaism, a title bestowed on men who worked wonders and cures through secret knowledge of the names of God.
Ba'al Shem Tov
Charismatic founder of Hasidism (c. 1750).
Baalbeck
Large archaeological complex, eastern Lebanon.
Bab, the
Iranian religious leader who founded the Babi religion and was one of the central figures of Baha'i.
Babbage, Charles
British mathematician and inventor.
Babbitt, Milton (Byron)
U.S. composer.
Babel, Isaak (Emmanuilovich)
Russian short-story writer.
Babel, Tower of
In the Hebrew scriptures, a high tower built in Shinar (Babylonia).
Babenberg, House of
Austrian ruling house in the 10th–13th century.
Babeuf, François-Noël
French political journalist and agitator.
Babington, Anthony
English conspirator.
Babism
Religion that developed in Iran around Mirza 'Ali Muhammad's claim (1844) to be the Bab.
baboon
Any of five species of robust monkeys (genus Papio) of Arabia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Babur
Emperor (1526–30) and founder of the Mughal dynasty of India.
Babuyan Islands
Island group, northern Philippines.
baby boom
In the U.S., increase in the birth rate between 1946 and 1964; also, the generation born in the U.S. during that period.
Baby Yar
Large ravine near Kiev, Ukraine, the site of a mass grave of some 100,000 people killed by German Nazi SS squads between 1941 and 1943.
Babylon
Ancient Middle Eastern city.
Babylonia
Ancient cultural region of the Tigris and Euphrates river system.
Babylonian Exile
Forced detention of Jews in Babylonia following Babylonian conquest of Judah in 598/597 and 587/586 BC.
baby's breath
Either of two species of herbaceous plants of the genus Gypsophila (pink family), having profuse small blossoms.
Bacall, Lauren
U.S. actress.
baccarat
Casino card game that resembles a simpler version of blackjack
Baccarat glass
Glassware manufactured since 1765 in Baccarat, France.
Bacchanalia
In Greco-Roman religion, any of the festivals of the wine god Bacchus (Dionysus), which probably originated as fertility rites.
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