Candidates had further to be fugitives (probably slaves), and as a preliminary had to break off a bough from a specified tree.

In some birds, such as the herons, certain down-feathers or plumulae break off into a fine dust as fast as they are formed and form tracts defined in size and situation and known as "powder-down patches."

The rupture of the concordat at once terminates the obligations which resulted from it on both sides; but it does not break off all relation between the church and the state, since the two societies continue to coexist on the same territory.

Asa utilized the treasure of the Temple and palace to induce the Syrians to break off their relations with Baasha.

Baker induced the king to break off his connection with the Wesleyan body in Sydney, and to set up a state church.