branches

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

“branches” is listed under Branch.

Origin: OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.

1. Botany 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.— Washington Irving

3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a section or subdivision; a department. “Branches of knowledge.” William Hickling Prescott

It is a branch and parcel of mine oath.— William Shakespeare

4. Geometry 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, Richard

6. Nautical 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.

Synonyms: Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54