in physics, an extended solid substance, of itself utterly passive and inactive, indifferent either to motion or rest.

Colour of Bodies. See Chromatics.

Body, with regard to animals, is used in opposition to soul, in which sense it makes the subject of anatomy. The height of the human body is said to be different in different parts of the day; ordinarily it is an inch more in the morning than at night+. The body ceases to grow in height when the bones are arrived at a degree of firmness and rigidity which will not allow of farther extension by the effort of the heart and motion of the blood.

Body, among painters, as to bear a body, a term signifying that the colours are of such a nature, as to be capable of being ground so fine, and mixing with the oil so entirely, as to seem only a very thick oil of the same colour.

the manege. A horse is chiefly said to have a good body, when he is full in the flank. If the last of the short ribs be at a considerable distance from the haunch-bone, although such horses may for a time have pretty good bodies, yet, if they are much laboured, they will lose them; and these are properly the horses that have no flank. It is also a general rule, that a man should not buy a light-bodied horse, and one that is fiery, because he will soon destroy himself.

the art of war, a number of forces, horse and foot, united and marching under one commander.

Main Body of an army, the troops encamped in the centre between the two wings, and generally infantry; the other two bodies are the vanguard and the rear-guard; these being the three into which an army, ranged in order of battle, is divided.

matters of literature, denotes much the same with system, being a collection of every thing belonging to a particular science or art, disposed in proper order: thus we say, a body of divinity, law, physic, &c.

Body-Corporate. See Corporation.