book I

., chap. ii. Charity took to husband an eminent gentleman whose name I cannot learn; but who was famous for so friendly a disposition, that he was bail for above a hundred persons in one year. He had likewise the remarkable honour of walking in Westminster Hall with a straw in his shoe. At present lawyers use straw-bail to designate insufficient bail. Closely allied to this term, and used much in the same manner, is ‘a man of straw.’ The figure is the effigy of a man, stuffed with straw; hence, ‘a man of straw,’ the semblance of a man—a person of neither substance nor responsibility; or one put forward to screen a real delinquent. A curious usage, akin to the foregoing, is also sometimes heard among sailors. For example, a strike for wages having taken place amongst the crew of a ship, ‘blacklegs’ (q.v.), or ‘straw-yarders’ as they were called in nautical phraseology, took the place of the strikers. On the meaning of the expression being asked, it was explained that a ‘straw-yarder’ was a man about the docks who had never been to sea, and knew little or nothing of the duties of a seaman. To give or take leg-bail, phr. (common).—To escape, either from arrest, or from prison; literally, to be indebted to one’s legs for flight. For exhaustive list of synonyms, see Amputate. 1775. Adair, American Indians, 277. I had concluded to use no chivalry, but give them leg-bail instead of it, by ... making for a deep swamp. [M.] 1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. iii. ‘I e’en gae them leg-bail, for there’s nae ease in dealing wi’ quarrelsome fowk.’ 1848. Marryat, Poacher, xxii. Given them leg-bail, I swear. The phrase is sometimes amplified thus:—to take leg-bail and give land security. Bail Up! also Bale Up! intj. (Australian).—A bushranger’s phrase for ‘stand and deliver’! ‘Shell out’! 1880. Blackwood’s Mag., July, p. 91. [Australian loq.] ‘Bail up! Bail up!’ shout the two red-veiled attackers, revolvers in hand. 1887. G. L. Apperson, All the Year Round, July 30, p. 68, col. 1. In times gone by, it was by no means an uncommon occurrence [in Australia] for a coach to be ‘stuck up’ by a band of bushrangers, whose shouts of bail up, an invitation equivalent to our ‘shell out,’ supported by revolver barrels, terrified the hearts of the passengers. But a coach is now seldom interfered with, and to ‘stick up’ is applied to less daring attempts to rob. 2. Hence, colloquially, a demand for instant payment. Equivalent to the English fork out! stump up! etc. For synonyms, see Shell out. Bait, subs. (common).—Anger; rage; indignation. Derived from the figurative sense of ‘to bait,’ i.e., to worry; harass; or tease. 1882. F. Anstey, Vice-Versâ, ch. v. ‘I went calmly on, smoking my cigar as if nothing was the matter. That put the Proctor in a bait, I can tell you!’ Baitland, subs. (nautical).—Admiral Smyth in his Sailors’ Word Book quotes this as ‘an old word, formerly used to signify a port where refreshments could be procured.’ Bake, verb. (Winchester College).—To rest, or lie down. Baked, ppl. adj. (common).—Collapsed; exhausted; done up; e.g., ‘toward the end of the course the crew were regularly baked.’ A common colloquialism at the beginning of the present century; but the punning idea involved is very ancient. To bake one’s bread in the sense of ‘to do for one’ occurs as early as 1380, as will be seen from the following quotation. 1380. Sir Ferumb, 577. For euere my bred had be bake; myn lyf dawes had be tynt. Half-baked (common) is said of a dull-witted or imbecile person, i.e., one who is ‘soft’ or inexperienced, in contrast to one who is baked in the sense of ‘seasoned,’ quick-witted, etc. 1864. Notes and Queries, 3 S., vi., 494, 2. He is only half-baked—put in with the bread, and taken out with the cakes. Baker, subs. (Winchester College).—A cushion. These were of two kinds; that used in ‘College’ was of large size, oblong in shape, and green in colour. The other used in ‘Commoners’ was thin, narrow, much smaller, and of red colour. The term baker is also applied to anything placed upon a form to sit upon, e.g., a blotting book or other article; in short, anything comfortable to sit upon. (American).—A loafer. The word is generally attributed to Baron de Mandat Grancey, who, in his work Cowboys and Colonels, innocently translated the word ‘loafer’ as baker. To spell baker (colloquial).—To attempt a difficult task. In the old spelling books ‘baker’ was frequently the first word of two syllables to which a child came when learning to spell. Baker-Kneed, also Baker-legged, adj. (common).—1. Knock-kneed; disfigured by crooked legs. This deformity, incident to bakers, arising from the constrained position in which they knead bread, is said to be the almost certain penalty of habitually bearing any burden of bulk in the right hand, or of excessive force constantly exerted by the right side of the body. The knees gradually incline inwards until they closely resemble the right side of the letter K. 1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, Act ii., Sc. 2. Will women’s tongues, like bakers’ legs, never go straight? 1692. L’Estrange, Life of Æsop. Æsop ... was ... flat-nos’d, hunch-back’d, blabber-lipp’d, a long misshapen head; his body crooked all over, big-belly’d, baker-legg’d, and his complexion so swarthy that he took his very name from ’t; for Æsop is the same with Æthiop. 1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bakes-legg’d, straddling, with the legs bowing outward. 1812. Colman, Poetical Vagaries, p. 13. His voice had broken to a gruffish squeak. He had grown blear-eyed, baker-kneed, and gummy. 2. Effeminate. Either an attributive usage of the foregoing, or an allusion to the popular belief that a woman’s legs are never straight. Compared physiologically with those of a man this is doubtless true; but otherwise most women would resent the imputation as a libel. 1652. Gaule, Hagastrom, 186. Baker-kneed signifies effeminate. Baker Layer, subs. (Winchester College).—A Junior who used to take a prefect’s green baker (q.v.) in and out of ‘Hall’ at meal times. The term is now obsolete. Baker’s Dozen, subs. (colloquial).—Thirteen reckoned as twelve. Formerly, so careful were ‘the powers that be’ regarding the supply of bread, that bakers were liable to heavy penalties for any deficiency in the weight of loaves. So hedged in, indeed, was the sale of bread, that the weight of loaves was fixed by law, for every price from eighteenpence down to twopence, but penny loaves or rolls were not specified in the statute. Bakers, therefore, when selling the latter, in order to be on the safe side, gave, for a dozen of bread, an additional loaf, known as ‘inbread.’ A similar custom of giving extra quantity was formerly observed with regard to coal, and publishers nowadays reckon thirteen copies of a book as twelve. That the term baker’s dozen was thoroughly colloquial at the latter end of the sixteenth century is apparent from the first of the following quotations: 1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in works III., ii. Conioyning with his aforesaid Doctor Brother in eightie eight browne baker’s dozen of Almanackes. 1639. Will of Francis Pynner, of Bury, Gent., dated April 26 [Camden Society’s ‘Bury Wills’]. The yerely sume of ffiue pounds p’cell of the said yerely rents to be bestowed in wheaten bread, to be made into penny loaves, and upon eu’y Lord’s day, called Sonday, throughout eu’y yere of the said terme [40 years or thereabouts], fowre and twenty loaves of the said bread, with the inbread allowed by the baker for those twoe dosens of bread, to be timely brought and sett vpon a forme towards the vpp’end of the chancell of the said p’ish church of St. Marie, and ... the same twoe dosens of bread to be giuen and distributed ... to and amongst fowre and twentie poore people.... And they, the said clarke, sexton, and bedell, shall alwaies haue the inbread of all the bread aforesaid ovr and besides their shares in the said twoe dosens of bread. 1733. Fielding, Don Quixote, III., vi. I could not number them. I dare swear there were a good round baker’s dozen, at least. 1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxviii. ‘As to your lawyer, you get just your guinea’s worth from him—not even so much as the baker’s bargain, thirteen to the dozen.’ Baker’s dozen is occasionally used in a somewhat more figurative sense, and is not confined to the technicalities of trade. It is employed to signify thirteen or fourteen. It is so quoted in Grose (1785), but the usage is apparently much older than that, for Hudson, the navigator, when he discovered the bay to which his name is given, designated a cluster of thirteen or fourteen islands on the east shore of it. The Baker’s Dozen, as may be seen on the charts; and even French atlases exhibit these islands as La Douzaine du boulanger. To give one a baker’s dozen is to pummell a man well; to thrash him soundly—a humorous allusion to the good measure implied by the phrase. Bakes, subs. (American thieves’).—A schoolboy. Bakester, subs. (Winchester College).—One who bakes (see Bake); a sluggard. The term is now obsolete. Baking Leave, subs. (Winchester College).—Permission to bake (q.v.) in a study in ‘Commoners,’ or in a ‘scob’ place in College. In this sense the term is obsolete; but it is now used of leave to sit in any other person’s ‘toys’ (q.v.)—a sort of bureau. Baking Place, subs. (Winchester College).—A kind of sofa in ‘Studies’ of ‘Commoners.’ Balaam, subs. (journalistic).—A term applied to all kinds of miscellaneous matter, generally of a trumpery and indifferent character, used as ‘padding’ in periodical publications. Evidently from Numbers xxii., 30, in which the ass spoke ‘with man’s voice.’ Balaam hence denotes ‘the speech of an ass,’ and is well applied to the stupid jokes, and silly paragraphs with which odd corners and short columns are often lengthened out. Brewer claims an American origin, but Webster only calls it ‘a cant term.’ In any case the term has clearly reference to nonsense to be thrown in to fill space, or nonsense thrown out as refuse. The curious point in the story of Balaam is that the ass talks like a philosopher and the prophet behaves like a donkey. The term was popularised by its frequent use in Blackwood’s Magazine. 1826. Scott, Mal. Malagr. iii., 3. How much Balaam (speaking technically) I have edged out of your valuable paper. 1839. Lochart, Scott, lxx. (1842), 622. Balaam is the cant name for asinine paragraphs about monstrous productions of nature and the like, kept standing in type to be used whenever the real news of the day leave an awkward space that must be filled up somehow. [M.] Balaam-Basket or Balaam-Box, subs. (journalistic).—1. The receptacle for Balaam (q.v.). 2. When articles or other contributions are rejected they are put in the Balaam-basket, which may either be a pigeon-hole (to await return to the author); the waste paper basket; or, as the readiest mode of extinction, the flames. In any case, the destination is said to be the Baalam-basket or box. 1827. Blackw. Mag., xxi., 340. Several dozen letters on the same subject now in our Balaam-box. 1873. Hall, Modern English, p. 17. An essay for the Edinburgh Review, in ‘the old unpolluted English language,’ would have been consigned by the editor to his Balaam-basket. 1877. Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii., 270, 2. At the risk of getting into your Balaam-box, I venture to record the whole contents of my bundle as they lie before me. Balaclava-Day, subs. (military).—A soldier’s pay day. Balaclava, in the Crimean War [1854–6], was the base of supply for the English troops; and, as pay was drawn, the men went down to make their purchases. Balance, subs. (American).—A balance properly is that which balances or produces equilibrium. It is the difference between two sides of an account—the amount of which is necessary to make the one equal to the other. It is not the rest or the remainder, yet we continually hear of the balance of this or that thing. In the sense of ‘rest,’ ‘residue,’ or ‘remainder,’ balance is the purest slang. 1846. Albany Journal, Jan. 7. The yawl returned to the wreck, took ten or eleven persons and landed them, and then went and got the balance from the floating cabin. [b.] 1861. Boston Transcript, Dec. 27. ‘We listened to Wendell Phillips for about half an hour, and having an engagement elsewhere, we were forced to leave, and so lost the balance of his oration.’ [de v.] The word is thus used very much like the Scottish lave (what is left), employed by Burns in the line— ‘I’ll get a blessing with the lave, And never miss it.’ In some parts of Virginia the word ‘shank’ is quaintly used for the same purpose, and one friend will say to another, ‘Suppose you come in and spend the shank of the evening with me?’ The vulgarism is becoming common in England, as witness the following:— 1875. Blackwood’s Magazine, April, 443. Balance, long familiar to American ears, is becoming so to ours. In an account of a ship on fire we read ‘Those saved remained the balance of the night watching the burning wreck.’ [M.] 1883. P. Fitzgerald, Recreations of a Literary Man, 170. Everyone is away shooting or riding; a balance of the ladies is left. [M.] Balbus, subs. (University).—A Latin prose composition. In Arnold’s well-known text book, Latin Prose Composition, balbus turns up at every corner; he is here, there, and everywhere; he appears to be willing and able to do anything, and go anywhere; in fact it is balbus this, and balbus that, until the wonder is whether balbus was not something of a prig or bore, or both. At all events those who used the text book in question, cannot fail to remember that doughty old fossil of a Roman to their dying day. 1870. Quarterly Review. Balbus was in constant use. Balderdash, subs. (old).—1. Adulterated wine; a mixture of liquors such as wine and beer, milk and beer, etc. 2. (colloquial).—Frothy talk; nonsense; a jumble of words. 1885. Murray, New English Dictionary, Art. Balderdash, vol. I., p. 633, col. 3. From the evidence at present, the inference is that the current sense was transferred from 1 or 2 [i.e., Froth, frothy liquid, or a jumbled mixture of liquids] either with the notion of ‘frothy talk,’ or of ‘a senseless farrago,’ or ‘jumble of words.’ Most etymologists have, however, assumed 3 [nonsense; frothy talk, etc.] to be the original sense, and sought its explanation in the obvious similarity of balder to dialectical balder, ‘to use coarse language’; Dutch, balderen, ‘to roar, thunder’; Norwegian, baldra; Icelandic, baldrast, ballrast, ‘to make a clatter,’ and of -dash to the verb dash in various senses. The Welsh baldorddus, adj., f. baldordd, ‘idle, noisy talk, chatter,’ has also been adduced.... Other conjectures may be found in Wedgwood, Skeat, and E. Müller. Bald-Face, subs. (American).—New whiskey; so villainous is the compound, that only by courtesy can it be recognised as at all approaching the Simon Pure. For synonyms, see Drinks. Bald-Faced Shirt, subs. (American).—In cowboy lingo, a white shirt; from the fact of being white on the face or front. Ordinarily bald-face is used of animals, e.g., a bald-faced stag. Hereford cattle, too, have white faces, and as cowboys are brought into close contact with all kinds of cattle, the term as applied to a linen shirt is possibly a mere transference in sense. Cf., Boiled shirt. Bald-Faced Stag, subs. (common).—A bald-headed man; [from bald-faced, having white on face + stag, a slang term for a man. Cf., Stag party.] For synonyms, see Bladder of lard. Baldheaded.—To go it baldheaded, phr. (American).—With eager impetuosity, or great haste; to do a thing with all one’s might and main. A suggestion of action without stopping to cover one’s head, i.e., on the spur of the moment. 1848–62. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, p. 6. It ain’t by princerples nor men My preudunt course is steadied,— I scent which pays the best, an’ then Go into it baldheaded. 1869. Our Young Folks. Whenever he had made up his mind to do a thing he went at it baldheaded. [de v.] 1888. Pall Mall Gazette, June 22. The Chicago Republicans, to use an Americanism, have gone baldheaded for protection. If shouting could win a Presidential contest, Blaine and Protection would be certain. To snatch baldheaded, phr. (American).—To defeat a person in a street fight. 1871. R. Grant White, Words and Their Uses. The crowd than gave a specimen of calumny broke loose, And said I’d snatched him baldheaded, and likewise cooked his goose. Bald-Headed Row, subs. phr. (American).—The first row of stalls at theatres, especially those which make a feature of ballets. The term is a cynical allusion to the fact that these seats are generally occupied by men of mature age; the innuendo is obvious.—See Frog-salad. Balditude, subs. (American).—A state of baldness. Probably a nonce word. 1882. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 187. Trouble has done it, Bilgewater, trouble has done it; trouble has brung these gray hairs and this premature balditude. Baldober or Baldower, subs. (thieves’).—A leader; a head man; a spokesman. This term has been imported into the lingo of English thieves from the German Gaunersprache, in which it has very much the same meaning. Balductum, subs. (old).—Nonsense; rubbish. Cf., Balderdash. Baldy, subs. (American).—A colloquial vulgarism for a bald-headed man. Cf., Balditude. Balfour’s Maiden, subs. (Parliamentary).—A nickname given to a kind of covered battering-ram used by the Royal Irish Constabulary in carrying out evictions in Ireland in the years 1888–9. On many estates the tenants made most desperate resistance to all attempts on the part of the landlords to recover possession, upon which the latter appealed for, and obtained the assistance of the authorities. This but served to intensify the struggle, and the tenants, driven to extremities, in some cases resisted all endeavours, even to throwing boiling water over the soldiers and police employed against them. To protect the evictors, and also to render easier the demolition of the cabins of the wretched people, a kind of covered battering-ram was made, whereupon the Home Rule Party sarcastically gave it, amongst other nick-names, that of Balfour’s maiden. The term was first used by Sir Wm. Harcourt in a speech at a monster Home Rule meeting, held at St. James’s Hall, on Wednesday, April 10, 1889. An account of the incident runs as follows:— 1889. Daily News, April 11. Resolute government has not been absolutely extinguished. Now at Letterkenny, Mr. Balfour has introduced a new invention, the latest development of resolute government. The Government were questioned on the subject, and they accepted the responsibility for the facts. It stated that in view of the Olphert estate evictions, there reached there an iron-headed spiked battering-ram to be used in carrying out the evictions. Why, really, gentlemen, when you read of these things they are like the pictures one sees of the Siege of Jerusalem—(loud laughter)—of the implements, which the Latins called tormenta. We are familiar with them in old mediæval castles. You find instruments called ‘The Scavenger’s Daughter,’ and ‘The Maiden,’ and other implements of that character. I think this last pattern of ram of Mr. Balfour’s might be called ‘The Unionist’s Daughter’—(loud laughter)—or it might be christened ‘Balfour’s Maiden.’ (Cheers and laughter.) But not to deprive the Liberal Unionists of their share we might call it ‘Chamberlain’s Tenants’ Protector.’ (Renewed merriment.) Ball, subs. (thieves’).—1. A prison ration. 2. A drink. To open the ball, phr. (common).—To commence an undertaking; to start off. 1876. Eton Chronicle, July 20. ... Whatever may seem the mishaps of his team, Whatever their failings and sinnings, He who opened the ball and who saw them all fall, Scarce deserved that defeat in one innings. Ballad-Basket, subs. (old).—A street singer.—See Street pitcher. A French equivalent is un braillard. Ballambangjang, subs. (nautical).—The Straits of Ballambangjang, though unnoticed by geographers, are frequently mentioned in sailors’ yarns as being so narrow, and the rocks on each side so crowded with trees inhabited by monkeys, that the ship’s yards cannot be squared, on account of the monkey’s tails getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace blocks.—Hotten. Ballast, subs. (common).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual. Well-ballasted, adj. (common).—A rich man is said to be well-ballasted. English Synonyms. ‘To be flush’; also ‘to have brass; brads,’ etc. See synonyms for money generally under Actual. Among French equivalents for the solidity arising from the possession of wealth may be mentioned:—Être zingué (popular: literally ‘to be covered with zinc’); avoir des monacos (popular: monaco is an ironical term for a sou); daim huppé (popular: daim, a slang term for a swell, is properly a ‘buck,’ and huppé also signifies high in station, well-off); homme au sac (familiar: ‘a man with a bag,’—presumably of money); avoir des picaillons (popular: picaillons is thought to be a corruption of picarons, a Spanish coin); être de la fête (popular: i.e., ‘to be in luck’s way’); être sacqué (popular: meaning obvious); rupin (thieves’ term); avoir de ce qui sonne (popular: ‘to have that which chinks’); tailler en plein drap (popular). In the Spanish Germania a rich or well-ballasted man is florido, i.e., ‘flowery’ or ‘agreeable.’ Ball Face, subs. (American).—A contemptuous epithet applied by negroes to white persons. Salem, Mass., 1810–1820. Ball-Keeper, subs. (Winchester College).—In ‘Commoners’ an ‘Inferior’ appointed to look after cricket and footballs. In return for this service he was exempted from ‘kicking in’ and ‘watching out.’ ‘Junior in College’ has to bring through balls every evening.—See Balls. Ball of Fire, subs. phr. (popular).—A glass of fiery and pungent brandy. For all synonyms, see Drinks. Ballooning, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Inflating the price of stocks by fictitious means, such as newspaper articles, bogus sales, etc. Balloon It, verb. (American).—To indulge in rhodomontade; to draw the long bow; to talk big. Obviously from ‘to puff or swell out’ as a balloon. 1878. T. Sinclair, Mount, 33. Gas-brained, ballooning wandering men. [M.] Ball O’ Wax, subs. (common).—A snob, or shoe-maker.—See Snob. Balls. To bring through balls, phr. (Winchester College).—‘Junior in College’ collects footballs from the lockers in school, and brings them through at six o’clock to be blown, or repaired, if necessary. To make balls of, verb. phr. (popular).—To go wrong; to do what ‘lands’ one in trouble; generally, to make a mistake. All balls, adv. (popular).—All rubbish; nonsense. For synonyms, see All my eye. Ballum Rancum, subs. (old).—A hop or dance, where the women are all prostitutes; a dance at a brothel. These orgies sometimes take the form of ‘buff-balls,’ all present dancing in the nude. Bally, adj. (popular).—A comparatively recent coinage, it is said, of the Sporting Times, from ‘bally-hooly.’ Generally, though not always, used as is ‘bloody,’ in the lower strata of the body politic. It also signifies intensity, and in cases where the vocabulary at command is limited, bally does yeoman’s service for such words as ‘fearful,’ ‘dreadful,’ ‘terrible,’ ‘outrageous,’ ‘confounded.’ 1889. Sporting Times, July 6 (Answers to Correspondents). H. G. Steele.—Thanks. What a bally idiot you must be. 1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 5. Newman Noggs, bringing small boy to carry master’s bag, and inculcating manners at the same time, ‘Now, what would you say if I was to give you sixpence for taking it?’ ‘I should say ’twasnt half enough, and you can bally well take it yourself,’ was the prompt reply. Boys are boys nowadays, and no error, thinks Newman. Bally-Bounder.—See Bally and Bounder. Bally-Fellow.—See Bounder and Bally. Bally Flat.—See Bounder and Bally. Bally Fool.—See Bounder and Bally. Ballyrag.—See Bullyrag. Balm, subs. (old).—A lie.—Duncombe. Balmy, subs. and adj. (common).—Sleep; sleepy. [From the figurative sense of balmy, i.e., deliciously soft and soothing.] To have a dose of the balmy; i.e., ‘to go to sleep.’ 1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. viii., p. 42. ‘As it’s rather late, I’ll try and get a wink or two of the balmy.’ English Synonyms. To doss; to go to Bedfordshire (q.v.)—a play upon words. French Synonyms. La pionce or pionçage (popular: subs., see pioncer); le somno (popular: an abbreviated form of somnolence); piquage de romance (a military term); casser une canne, or sa canne (popular: this also means ‘to die.’ In French as in other languages the analogy between Sleep and Death is fully recognised. Many of the French slang phrases for the former are also used to express the latter. Mors janua vitæ!); casser son pif (popular: pif in French argot = ‘the nose.’ Amongst the peasants of Normandy and Berry it signifies a ‘grog-blossom’); pioncer (popular: from piausser, a provincialism for ‘to sleep’); piquer un chien (popular: piquer a canting verb of action, ‘to do’; therefore ‘to do as a dog’); piquer une romance (popular); faire son lézard (popular: Cf., piquer un chien); faire son michaud (thieves’: i.e., ‘to rest one’s head or knowledge box’); roupiller (this term is in general colloquial use); se recueillir (popular: ‘to wrap oneself in meditation’); compter des pauses (musicians’: ‘to count the beats.’ Cf., various suggested remedies for overcoming insomnia; e.g., counting slowly up to a hundred, etc., etc.); taper de l’œil (popular: ‘to rub the eyes.’ Cf., English ‘to have sleepy dust in one’s eyes’); mettre le chien au cran de repos (popular: ‘to curl oneself up like a dog’); souffler ses clairs (popular: ‘to blow or put out one’s light,’ i.e., ‘to shut the eyes’); fermer maillard (popular: to close one’s shutters, i.e., eyelids. Maillard was the inventor of a particular kind of shutter. Other analogous expressions are être terrassé par maillard, i.e., ‘to be extremely sleepy.’ Sleep is expressed by fermeture); faire schloff or schloffer, from the German schlafen. Spanish Synonym. In the Germania difunto, properly ‘defunct,’ is used for asleep. A Portuguese Synonym for sound sleep is a bom sornar, i.e., ‘to sleep on both ears.’ 2. Dull-witted; thick-skulled. In this sense balmy is used up and down the whole gamut of imbecility from mere stolidity to downright insanity. Popularly used, it signifies in most cases little more than shallow-brained or muddle-headed; or, to use slang equivalents in their most familiar sense, ‘to be touched,’ ‘to be wrong in the upper story,’ ‘dotty.’ Among thieves, however, it is usually applied to insanity, to put on the balmy stick being, among convicts, to feign madness. 1851. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of patterers’ words. Balmy—Insane. A large number of synonyms will be found under apartments to let, but in addition to those there mentioned may be instanced the following in the French slang:—Demenager (popular: ‘to remove one’s furniture.’ It also means ‘to die’); paumer la sorbonne (i.e., ‘to punch the head,’ sorbonne being a slang term for that part of the human body. The Sorbonne is a well-known university and seat of learning. Among thieves, too, sorbonner is used in the sense of ‘to think’); être un peu toc (i.e., slightly crazy; toc in slang = ridiculous); avoir une pomme de canne felée (popular: a rather opprobrious expression, meaning ‘to have a slate off.’ Cf., ‘to have a tile loose’); avoir une fissure (literally ‘to have a crack’); avoir un grain. Balmy Cove, subs. (common).—A weak-minded individual; one who has ‘a tile loose.’ [From balmy (q.v.) + cove, a man.] Among French thieves such an individual is called un hurlubier (hurlublu is an obsolete term used jestingly for a giddy goose or hair-brained person); also biscayen from the Bicêtre prison which has a lunatic ward for demented convicts. The prison itself is called La Biscaye, but this name has no connection with the province of Biscay as might be supposed. Balsam, subs. (thieves’ and popular).—One of the many generic names for money. A full list of synonyms will be found under Actual. The allusion of course is obvious, i.e., a healing soothing agent or agency; but, in its secondary signification of impertinence, ‘brass,’ ‘cheek,’ etc., the reverse of the shield is given. Such reversals in the legitimate meanings of words are not uncommon in slang. Bam, subs. (old slang).—1. A cheat; an imposition; a story intended to hoax the credulous; what nowadays generally goes under the name of chaff or humbug [bam is thought to be an abbreviated form of bamboozle (q.v.)]. Murray has traced it back to 1762, but it appears nearly twenty years previous in Dyche’s dictionary, and also in Martin’s, the second edition of which was published in 1754.—See verb To bam. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bam (s.), a sham or pretence, a lying excuse. 1762. Foote, Orators, Act ii. Why I know that man, he is all upon his fun; he lecture—why ’tis all but a bam. 1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and a bite, that affair of his illness.’ Verb.—To hoax, to bamboozle; to wheedle; to cheat. [Of same formation as substantive, which see above, and Cf., Bamboozle.] The first trace of it appears in Cibber’s Double Gallant [1707], and is discussed by Swift in his introduction to Polite Conversation [1738], where he mentions among ‘the exquisite refinements’ then in vogue,—bam for bamboozle, and bamboozle for, God knows what. Whereupon a correspondent of Notes and Queries [2 S., Jan. 10, ’57, p. 31] alluding to the despair of etymologists in regard to these words remarked that if from was put in the place of for, it would describe the predicament in which philologists are placed. 1754. H. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. To bam, or to bamboozle, to fun, to fib, to sham. 1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 43. Lord, how well he behaves! We shall certainly bam the old gentleman. 1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. xlix. ‘Now, you’re bamming me—don’t attempt to put such stories off on your old granny.’ 1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xxxix. For a moment the thought flashed across him whether ‘that tale of Gordon Frere was all a bam, and had the girl taken a liking for himself?’ Bamblustercate, verb. (nonce-word).—A factitious creation signifying to embarrass; confuse; or hoax in a blustering manner. [From bam, to hoax, or confuse + bluster, noisy assertion + cate, a termination in imitation of ‘conglomerate’.]—See also Comflogisticate. Bamboo, verb. (American).—A corruption of bamboozle. To cheat; to victimize; to hoax.—See, however, Bam and Bamboozle. Bamboozle, verb. (familiar).—To hoax; deceive; or impose upon. Philologists are all confessedly at sea in regard to the derivation of bamboozle and its attributive forms, but the general tendency of evidence is to refer it to a gypsy origin. Johnson states it to be a cant word; and Bouchier, in his glossary says, ‘it has with great propriety long had a place in the gypsy or canting dictionaries,’ it being in his opinion ‘the sole invention of gypsies or vagrants.’ Leland thinks it ‘possibly’ the Hindu word bambhorna, to humbug, with the gypsy terminative āsel. Wedgwood suggests its origin in the Italian bamboccio, a young babe, and metaphorically an old dotard or babyish gull; imbambolare, to blear or dim one’s sight, also with flatteries and blandishments, to inveigle and make a fool of one. If a verb were made of bambocciolo in the same way as bambocciolare, it would have much the sense of bamboozle. A. E. Quekett (N. and Q., 5 S., xii., 488) throws a side-light upon this last theory by pointing out that in Shakspeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Katharina says, ‘Belike you mean to make a puppet of me,’ and Petruchio replies, ‘Why true; he means to make a puppet of thee.’ Comparing this passage with the rest of the scene it would seem that Petruchio’s answer is not a mere repetition of Katharina’s words, but contains a double entendre of some kind. He (Quekett) then hazards that perhaps she meant to say, ‘Perhaps you mean to treat me as a doll without a will of its own,’ while Petruchio appears to mean something very like, ‘He wishes to bamboozle you.’ Be all this as it may, bamboozle first came into vogue during the early part of the last century; for in the Tatler No. 230 [1710], we read, ‘The third refinement observable in the letter I send you consists in the choice of certain words invented by some pretty fellows, such as banter, bamboozle, country-put, and kidney, some of which are now struggling for the vogue, and others are in possession of it’! So also with the derivatives; e.g., bamboozle (subs.); Bamboozled; bamboozlement; bamboozler; bamboozling. 1703. Cibber, She Would and She Would Not, II., i. (1736), 34. Sham proofs, that they propos’d to bamboozle me with. [M.] 1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 31. But, says I, sir, I perceive this is to you all bamboozling. 1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. III., ch. vi. There are a sort of fellows that they call banterers and bamboozlers, that play such tricks; but it seems these fellows were in earnest! 1731. Coffey, Devil to Pay, Act i., Sc. 3. You juggler, you cheating, bamboozling villain! 1754. Foote, Knights, Act ii. You are tricked, imposed on, bamboozled! 1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fortune, Act ii., Sc. 1. You know I love you, Emily, ... and therefore you baffle and bamboozle and make a bumpkin of me. 1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and a bite, that affair of his illness.’ 1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. xxxvi. ‘One does not like to be bamboozled out of one’s right of election, by a smooth-tongued fellow, who sends one to the devil the moment the election is over.’ 1886. Sat. Review, No. 1587, p. 423. The public is a great bamboozable body. (Nautical).—To decoy the enemy by hoisting false colours—merely an extension of the popular sense. English Synonyms. ‘To throw dust in the eyes’; ‘to use the pepper-box’; ‘to gild the pill’; ‘to throw a tub to a whale’; ‘to make believe the moon is made of cream cheese’; ‘to jockey’; ‘to stick’; ‘to bilk’; ‘to do’; ‘to best’; ‘to do brown’; ‘to bounce’; ‘to take in’; ‘to kid’; ‘to gammon.’ French Synonyms. Une monteuse de coups (a woman who bamboozles her lovers); monter des couleurs (popular: ‘to deceive by false representations’; couleur signifies ‘pretence,’ ‘semblance’); faire la queue à quelqu’un (popular); tirer la carotte (thieves’); faire voir le tour (popular); canarder (popular: literally ‘to shoot at one from a sheltered position’; i.e., to have an advantage, and thus to be able to hoax or humbug); dindonner (popular: from dindon, a ‘goose’); faire le coup, or monter le coup à quelqu’un (popular: coup in French slang is ‘a secret process,’ ‘a knack’ or ‘dodge’—hence ‘to deal one an underhand blow,’ or ‘to serve one a trick’); empaler (popular: ‘to deceive by false representations’; literally ‘to empale’); passer des curettes (popular: ‘to make a fool of one’); monter une gaffe (popular: gaffe in French slang = ‘a joke’; a piece of deceit); monter le job or jobarder (popular: job is equivalent to ‘simpleton’ or ‘flat,’ and is the same as jobelin); mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire (thieves’: ‘to deceive a man in order to rob him’); monter un batteau (popular); donner un pont à faucher (thieves’: ‘to lay a trap or snare’); promener quelqu’un (popular: ‘to make a fool of one.’ Cf., ‘to rush’); compter des mistouffles (familiar: mistouffle = ‘a scurvy trick’; ‘a joke’); gourrer (popular: ‘to stick’; ‘to kid’; ‘to deceive’); affluer (from à flouer, ‘to cheat’; ‘to diddle out of’); roustir (popular and thieves’: ‘to cheat’); affûter (thieves’: ‘to make unlawful profits’); bouler (popular); juiffer (popular: literally ‘to Jew’ as in English); pigeonner (familiar: ‘to do,’ ‘to pluck.’ In English slang the victims of card and other sharpers are called ‘pigeons’); flancher (popular: ‘to laugh at’ or ‘ridicule’); faire la barbe (popular: Cf., faire la queue); hisser un gandin (thieves’: literally ‘to hoist a dandy’ or ‘swell’); mettre dedans (popular: to take a rise out of one; literally to ‘take in’); être l’autre (popular: Cf., ‘to get left.’ The phrase also signifies ‘to be the lover,’ the mistress); planter un chou (familiar). German Synonyms.—See Jockey. Italian Synonyms. Traversare (literally ‘to cross over’); dar la stolfa. Spanish Synonym. Encantar (literally ‘to enchant,’ ‘to entertain with soft words’). Bambosh, subs. (nonce word).—Apparently a variation of bamboozling, as follows. [Bam + bosh.] Humbug; deceit; hoaxing. 1865. Day of Rest, Oct., 585. I was deaf to all that bambosh. [M.] Bambsquabbled.—This coined word, which is, however, rarely used except in humorous writings, first saw the light in The Legend of the American War. It signifies discomfiture and defeat, or stupefaction; sometimes written bumsquabbled. 1835–40. T. C. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ii. The judge said, ‘He had got too much already, cut him off the other two-thirds, and make him pay all costs.’ If he didn’t look bumsquabbled it’s a pity. Banaghan. He beats Banaghan, phr. (old).—An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories; Banaghan, thought Grose, was a minstrel famous for dealing in the marvellous—a kind of prototype of Baron Munchausen. Of this, deponent knowing nothing, says the same. Banagher, verb. (old).—To bang. Bananaland, Bananalander, subs. (Australian).—Queensland, and a native of Queensland respectively. Apparently from a large portion of that section of the fifth continent lying within the tropics, thus allowing of the cultivation of the banana tree (Musa sapientum). 1886. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 20, p. 124. Booted and spurred ‘Cornstalks’ and Banana-men (natives of New South Wales and Queensland respectively). 1887. Melbourne (Victoria) Sportsman, 23 March, p. 7, col. 2. Paddy Slavin came from Queensland with the reputation of having beaten all the Bananalanders. 1887. Sydney (N.S.W.) Bulletin, 26 Feb., p. 6. His friends rallied up to congratulate him, and see him through, after the custom of the simple Bananalander. It may be interesting to note that a native of New South Wales is nicknamed a ‘cornstalk’ because built somewhat tall and thin. Those whose stature is shorter, with circumference of wider dimensions in proportion to their height are said to be ‘nuggety.’ The gum trees of Tasmania give the elegant nickname ‘gumsucker’ to its inhabitants. In this practice antipodean colonists follow suit with their cousins across the Atlantic.—See Nicknames. Banco, subs. (Charterhouse School).—Evening preparation down at ‘house’ each day, superintended by a monitor. It answers to the Winchester toy-time. Banco-Steerer.—See Bunco-steerer. Bandanna, subs. (common).—Formerly a silk handkerchief with white, yellow, or other coloured spots on a dark ground. Now applied to handkerchiefs of all kinds. The name is thought to come from the Spanish bandano, a neckerchief. 1752. J. Long, Bengal (1870), 31. Plain taffaties, ordinary bandannoes, and chappas. 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. The Colonel was striding about the room in his loose garments, puffing his cigar fiercely anon, and then waving his yellow bandanna. Banded, ppl. adj. (old).—Hungry. To mitigate the pangs of hunger, starving men tighten the belt round the ‘middle.’ Bamfylde Moore Carew, the king of the beggars, mentions the practice. Cf., Caffre’s tightener and bands. Bandero, subs. (American).—Widows’ weeds; a corruption of the now obsolete ‘bandore,’ a widow’s head-dress. Bandore was itself a corruption of the French bandeau, given by Littré as anciennement, coiffure des veuves. The term was current about the beginning of the last century, but in 1785 we find it quoted as slang. It appears, however, to have survived in America whilst dropping entirely out of use in the Mother Country. In the English drapery trade mourning goods are sometimes called afflictions (q.v.). Ban-Dog, subs. (old).—A bailiff, or his assistant. Originally, says Murray, a dog tied or chained up either to guard a house, or on account of its ferocity; hence generally a mastiff or bloodhound. The transition from this point to the slang sense is clear. 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 12. ‘But where are the lurchers?’ ‘Who?’ asked Wood. ‘The traps!’ responded a bystander. ‘The shoulder-clappers!’ added a lady, who, in her anxiety to join the party, had unintentionally substituted her husband’s nether habiliments for her own petticoats. ‘The ban-dogs!’ thundered a tall man whose stature and former avocations had procured him the nickname of ‘The long drover of the Borough market.’ ‘Where are they?’ ‘Ay. where are they?’ chorused the mob, flourishing their various weapons, and flashing their torches in the air; ‘we’ll sarve ’em out.’ Bands, subs. To wear the bands (old cant).—To be hungry.—See Banded. B. and S. (popular).—An everyday colloquialism, in the abbreviated form, for brandy and soda. 1868. Whyte Melville, White Rose, ch. xiii. Before the b. and s.—signifying a beaker of brandy and soda-water—could make its appearance. 1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. v. ‘Come away, and I will get you some tea, though what would be better for you still, would be some b. and s.’ 1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 1. I’ll sing you a fine new song, all about a fine young spark, Who’s a fine young London gentleman, quite up to any lark, Who takes supper very early, and breakfasts in the dark; Who’s a real ‘dear old chappie,’ as I needn’t perhaps remark. * * * * * He will say that port and sherry his nice palate always cloy; He’ll nothing drink but ‘b. and s.’ and big magnums of ‘the boy’; He’s the darling of the barmaid and the honest waiter’s joy, As he quaffs his Pommery, ‘Extra Sec,’ his ‘Giesler,’ or ‘Ivroy.’ Bandy, subs. (thieves’).—A sixpence; so called, in the first instance, from these coins being often thin, worn, and bent. Also called a cripple and bender, but, for synonyms, see the latter. The term appears in Grose [1785]. 1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 25, n. A bandy or cripple, a sixpence. 1885. Household Words, June 20, p. 155. The sixpence is a coin more liable to bend than most others, so it is not surprising to find that several of its popular names have reference to this weakness. It is called a bandy, a ‘bender,’ a ‘cripple.’ Bang, subs. (colloquial).—1. A blow; Old Norse, bang, a hammering. Though a dictionary word, bang has not yet succeeded in passing from the limbo of vulgarism in many of its uses. For example, a ‘bang of the door’ sounds legitimate enough, and is an expression to which even the most pronounced stickler for linguistic purity would scarcely object; yet, a ‘bang on the nose’ or ‘jaw’ would, doubtless, be looked upon as low and vulgar. Only to illustrate such variations, can the word find a fitting entry into these pages. Amongst pugilists and the vulgar, bang is, without doubt, closely identified with personal castigation; and, in this connection. English Synonyms are not rare. To bang one in the jaw; to spoil one’s picture; to give a wipe on the nose; to fetch one a stinger, etc. The blow itself is designated a whopper; wipe; clout; prop; cant; dig; corker; shooting stars (in allusion to the dazed condition of a person so struck, stars being seen dancing before one’s eyes). French Synonyms. Un gnon (popular); un écopage (familiar); une dandine (popular); un cabochon (common); un estaffion (popular: may be rendered ‘a bang on the nut’); un coup de gilquin (popular); un renfoncement (colloquial: ‘a blow with the fist’; lit. ‘an indentation’); une beugne (common); une beigne (popular); une dariole (familiar: properly a kind of pastry); un coup de tampon (popular: ‘a hard shove’; tampon, ‘a buffer’); une balle de coton (popular); une baffre (popular: ‘a blow in the face with the fist’); un pétard (familiar: either ‘a box on the ear’ or ‘a cant on the gills’); une paraphe (popular: paraphe is properly the flourish added to one’s signature); dégrader le portrait à quelqu’un (popular: ‘to fetch one a bang in the mug.’ Cf., ‘to spoil one’s picture’); détacher un coup de pinceau sur la frimousse (popular: ‘to make pencil marks upon the face’; i.e., ‘to spoil one’s physiognomy,’—the allusion presumably being to the face as the work of the Divine Artist). For other synonyms, see Wipe. 2. A style adopted by women in dressing the hair upon the forehead, generally curled and frizzed, the process being thus described. To make the bang, one must begin by dividing the front hair at half-inch distances from ear to ear, combing the rest back. This is repeated until the whole front hair has been successfully banged. In England these fringes are also called toffs (q.v.). 1880. W. D. Howell, The Undiscovered Country, ch. viii. When one lifted his hat to wipe his forehead, he showed his hair cut in front like a young lady’s bang. 1883. Pall Mall Gazette, Dec. 19, p. 4, col. 1. It was no doubt unfortunate that when the Empress Eugenie cut her hair across her forehead from sorrow of heart, the women of five continents should imitate her until the bang became universal. Verb.—1. To deliver a blow as described under bang (subs. 1); generally, to thump or strike violently; to thrash. 1588. Marprelate’s Epistle, p. 4 (ed. Arber). His grace will cary to his grave I warrant you the blowes which M. Cartwright gave him in this cause: and, therefore, no marvell though he was loth to have any other so banged as he himselfe was to his woe. 1592. John Day, Blind Beggar, Act ii., Sc. 2, p. 37. I am sure my cloak cannot go without hands; and I’ll have it again, or I’ll bang it out of the coxcombs of some of them. b. 1719. H. Carey, Sally in our Alley, st. 3. My master comes, like any Turk, And bangs me most severely. 1731. Fielding, The Lottery, Sc. 2. Ah, think, my lord! how I should grieve to see your lordship bang’d. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 47. ‘It was good stuff and good make at first, and hasn’t been abused, and that’s the reason why it always bangs a slop, because it was good to begin with.’ 1884. Cornhill Mag., April, p. 442. ‘Davis,’ said Toddy, ‘you haven’t had a banging this term, and you’re getting cocky.’ 2. To dress the hair with a fringe on the forehead, cut squarely across, so that it ends abruptly. 1882. Century Mag., XXV., 192. He was bareheaded, his hair banged even with his eyebrows in front. 1888. Detroit Free Press. Bang, Sister, bang with care; If your poker’s too hot you’ll lose your hair. 3. To surpass; to excel. So also banging, adj., great or thumping. 4. (Stock Exchange.)—To loudly offer stock with the intention of lowering the price. To be banged up to the eyes, phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed. Bang-Beggar, subs. (old).—A constable or beadle. It is not quite clear whether this is not merely a dialecticism. In Lowland Scotch it signifies a strong staff. Banger, subs. (common).—A lie. Generally, that’s a banger! This elegant phrase is sometimes varied by ‘that’s a whopper’ (q.v.); or the now classical ‘thumper’ (q.v.), an invention of the late Lord Iddesleigh. (Yale College).—A club-like cane or stick; a bludgeon. This word is one of the Yale vocables.—Hall’s College Words and Customs. Yale Lit. Mag., vol. XX., p. 75. The Freshman reluctantly turned the key, Expecting a Sophomore gang to see, Who, with faces masked and bangers stout, Had come resolved to smoke him out. Bang-Off, adv. (familiar).—Without stopping; right away; e.g., ‘I wrote as promised bang-off,’ i.e., without delay. [From bang, a loud, sudden sound + off, movement from a place or thing.] Bang-Out. To bang-out, verbal phr. (common).—To depart hurriedly and with noise. Adv. phr.—Completely, entirely, combined with suddenness; e.g., ‘the candle went bang-out.’ Bang-Pitcher, subs. (old).—A drunkard. Possibly only dialectical. Bangster subs. (provincial).—According to Jamieson:—1. A violent and disorderly person, who regards no law but his own will. 2. A victor. 3. A braggart. 4. A loose woman. 1820. Scott, The Abbot, ch. xix. If the Pope’s champions are to be bangsters in our very change houses, we shall soon have the changelings back again, [h.] 1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxiii. If you are so certain of being the bangster—so very certain, I mean, of sweeping stakes, what harm will Miss Clara come to by your having the use of her siller. Bang-Straw, subs. (old).—A nickname for a thresher of corn; a provincialism. Bang-Tailed, adj. (popular).—Short tailed. Usually applied to horses. 1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. vi. ‘These bang-tailed little sinners any good?’ said Drysdale, throwing some cock-a-bondies across the table. ‘Yes, I never like to be without them and a governor or two.’ Bang-Up, adj. phr. (common).—First-rate; quite up to the mark; A 1; slap up; in the height of fashion. Also banged-up. 1812. H. and J. Smith, Rejected Addresses, p. 188. Dance a bang-up theatrical cotillion. 1842. Lever, Jack Hinton, ch. vii. His hat set jauntily on one side, his spotted neckcloth knotted in bang-up mode. 1844. Quarterly Review, XXIV., 368. We could not resist giving a specimen of John Thorpe ... altogether the best portrait of a species which, though almost extinct, cannot yet be quite classed among the Palæotheria, the bang-up Oxonian. 1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, vol. I., ch. xxxiv. There appeared on the cliff in a tax cart, drawn by a bang-up pony ... his friends, the Sutbury Pet and the Rottingdean Fibber. Subs.—Also used substantively as in the following example; that which is quite right; the ‘thing’; the ‘go.’ 1882. Punch, LXXXII., 185, 1. Modern Life in London, or Tom and Jerry back again. The trio turned into the Arcade, and saw a number of gay sparks and fair ones promenading. ’Twas a curious sight, a glimpse of Life in London, one of its primest features, and yet, as the Corinthian remarked to his Coz, these people seemed like the ‘ghosts of a former generation.’ ‘These then are the dandies, the fops, the goes and the bang-ups, these the Corinthians of to-day,’ was also Tom’s exclamation to young Bob, who said, ‘I don’t know about being Corinthians, but some of these fellows are very ‘good form,’ and as to being bang-up, a good many poor old chappies are deuced hard-up.’ Verb tr.—To make smart; produce in first-rate style. 1821. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Tour iii., c. v. Pat to his neckcloth gave an air In style, and á la militaire; His pocket too a kerchief bore With scented water sprinkled o’er; Thus banged-up, sweeten’d, and clean shav’d, The sage the dinner-table braved. Bangy, subs. (Winchester College).—‘Brown’ sugar. From Bangalore, a once coarse-growing sugar country. Adj.—Colour of brown sugar; e.g., bangy bags, brown trousers. These were also called bangies. So universally was the term bangy used to designate a brownish hue, that a gate of that colour at Winchester College, formerly leading from Grass Court into Sick House Meads, was called the Bangy Gate. The name is now often used for the gate by Racquet Court, into Kingsgate Street. Banian-Days or Banyan-Days, subs. (nautical).—Those days in which sailors have no flesh meat. Probably derived from the practice of the Banians, a caste of Hindoos, traders or merchants, who entirely abstained from all animal food. 1690. Ovington, in Yules’ Anglo-Indian Glossary. Of kitcheney (butter, rice, and dai) the European sailors feed in these parts, and are forced at such times to a Pagan abstinence from flesh, which creates in them an utter detestation to those banian-days as they call them. 1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxv. They told me that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the ship’s company had no allowance of meat, and that these meagre days were called banyan-days, the reason of which they did not know; but I have since learned they take their denomination from a sect of devotees in some parts of the East Indies, who never taste flesh. 1820. Lamb, Elia (Christ’s Hospital). We had three banyan to four meat days in the week. 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. lxiii. If he might be so bold as to carry on the Eastern metaphor, he would say, knowing the excellence of the Colonel’s claret and the splendour of his hospitality, that he would prefer a cocoanut day at the Colonel’s to a banyan-day anywhere else. 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. [From Strolling Players’ bill.] Wooldridge’s Theatre. Wanted 700 men, to man that splendid first-class, Frigate, ‘The Theatre,’ commanded by A. J. Wooldridge, now lying at her moorings, in Cheapside. Mr. Wooldridge, with all due respects to his brother Tars, hopes they will lend a hand to man his Vessel. He cannot offer them a barrel of Ale, but he will make them a promise of his unfeigned thanks and gratitude for this and past favours, with his hearty good wishes for the prosperity of the Town and Trade of Brighton; that his Shipmates, wherever bound, may set sail with fair wind and good passage; that they may never have short allowance—banyan days; or a southerly wind in the Bread Basket. Banjo, subs. (common).—A bed-pan; also called a fiddle or slipper (q.v.)—the latter from an improved shape which allows of its being slipped in without disturbing the patient. Bank, subs. (common).—A lump sum of money; one’s fortune. Verb (thieves’).—1. To secure; to obtain (in a pilfering sense). 2. To put in a place of safety. 3. To go shares; to divide fairly with confederates. 4. (prison.)—Millbank prison. 1889. Answers, May 25, p. 412. We approached our destination, Millbank—the bank in a convict’s parlance. Bankers, subs. (old).—Clumsy boots and shoes; now called beetle-crushers. For synonyms generally, see Trotter-cases. Bank Shaving, subs. phr. (American).—Before banks were regulated by Act of Congress, a practice prevailed among the least reputable of such institutions of purchasing notes of hand and similar documents at enormously usurious rates of discount. Many were the facilities for sharp practice of every kind. Such banks were called shaving banks, and the unfortunate wretch who thus ‘raised the wind’ was said to get his paper shaved. The origin of the phrase may be looked for in maritime nomenclature, a shaver from a sailor’s point of view being a man who is cute and unscrupulous—possibly from the unpleasant operation of shaving on board ship when crossing the line. Bankside Ladies, subs. phr. (old).—Ladies of more complaisance than virtue. Bankside, Southwark, was once the fashionable theatrical quarter of London. There stood once the Globe, the Swan, the Rose, and the Hope theatres. On the boards of the first-named originally appeared most of Shakspeare’s plays. In Old London the neighbourhoods of the principal theatres appear to have been noted for anything but vestal virtue. Covent Garden and Drury Lane, like Bankside, have entered largely into the vicious slang of the past. 1638. Randolph, Muses’ Looking-Glass, O. Pl., 9., 206. Come, I will send for a whole coach or two of Bankside ladies, and we will be jovial. Bank-Sneak, subs. (American).—A variety of the genus thief who confines his attention to bank robberies. Smart, clever, well-dressed, they usually work in gangs, two or three confederates being employed as cover whilst the leader does the work. In large towns considerable finesse is exhibited by these men in effecting their purpose; but in the more thinly populated districts polish and ruse are abandoned in favour of more drastic methods. The bank-sneak of the West pursues his depredations more as a bandit; his city confrère is more adroit, and therefore infinitely more dangerous. For synonyms, see Area-sneak. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Feb. 16. Buffalo officers to-day picked out from a batch of Erie convicts Watt N. Jones, the notorious bank-sneak and burglar so widely known professionally in every city of the United States and Canada. Banner, subs. (American news-boys’).—The money paid for board and lodging at the homes frequented by these flying mercuries. The origin of the term is unknown. Bant, verb (common.)—To follow the dietary prescribed by Mr. Banting.—See Banting. Banting, subs. (common).—A course of diet by which fat people seek to reduce their bulk. It consists in strictly discarding as food all articles known to favour the development of adipose tissue. It was introduced about the year 1864 by a Mr. W. Banting—hence the name. The dietary recommended was the use of butcher’s meat principally, and abstinence from beer, farinaceous food, and vegetables. Also figuratively, to reduce in any way. 1864. Times, 12 Aug., 4. The classics seemed to have undergone a successful course of banting. 1868. Miss Braddon, Only a Clod, p. 114. She was a rigid disciplinarian of the school formed by Mr. Banting. Ibid., p. 113. A parlour where all the furniture seemed to have undergone a prolonged course of banting. 1883. Knowledge, 27 July, p. 49, col. 2. Bantingism excludes beer, butter, and sugar. Bantling, subs. (old).—A young, or small child. This word, once slang, is now a received dictionary word. It is stated in Bacchus and Venus [1737], and by Grose, to be a cant term. It was formerly synonymous with bastard. Appended are a few examples of its use when knocking for admittance at the doors of the dictionaries. 1593. Drayton, Eclog., vii., 102. Lovely Venus ... smiling to see her wanton bantlings game. 1635. Quarles, Emblems, II., viii. (1718), 93. See how the dancing bells turn round ... to please my bantling. 1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xlvii. ‘That he may at once deliver himself from the importunities of the mother and the suspense of her bantling.’ 1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxx. ‘Let the bantlings,’ said she, ‘be sent to the hospital ... and a small collection be made for the present support of the mother.’ 1758. Goldsmith, Essays, x. Who follow the camp, and keep up with the line of march, though loaded with bantlings and other baggage. 1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxi. ‘Sell me to a gipsy, to carry pots, pans, and beggars bantlings.’ Banty, adj. (American thieves’).—Saucy; impudent. Baptised or Christened, ppl. adj. (old).—Mixed with water; spirits and wines are said to be baptised when diluted. The French equivalent is chrétien; also baptisé. 1636. Healey, Theophrastus, 46. He wil give his best friends his baptized wine. Bar, verb and prep. (colloquial and racing).—1. Used as a verb bar signifies to exclude; to prohibit; also to object to a person or action. Its lineage is of undoubted respectability, but its usage is now but little removed from the vulgar. As a preposition it is synonymous with ‘except’—mainly used in racing; e.g., ‘Four to one bar one.’ c. 1598. Shakspeare, M. of Venice, ii., 2, 207. Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me by what we do to-night. 1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, wks. III. (1712), 382. That were as hard as to bar a young parson in the pulpit, the fifth of November,—railing at the Church of Rome. 1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, Act ii. What I have in my mind, out it comes: but bar that; I’se an honest lad as well as another. 1752. Foote, Taste, Act ii. I don’t suppose now, but, barring the nose, Roubiliac could cut as good a head every whit. 1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iii. ‘I should like to try that daisy-cutter of yours upon a piece of level road (barring canter) for a quart of claret at the next inn.’ 1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. lv., p. 483. ‘I’ll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. ‘Done,’ replied Mr. Simmery. ‘Stop! I bar,’ said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully. ‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’ 2. (American thieves’.)—To stop; to cease. Obviously an attributive meaning of the legitimate word. 3. (American colloquial.)—A spurious verb, the signification of which is derived from the drinking-bar. Thus a tippler is said to bar too much when given to inordinate drinking. Baragan Tailor, subs. (tailors’).—A rough-working tailor. Barb, verb (old cant).—To barb gold was heretofore a cant term for clipping or shaving it. The modern term is to sweat (q.v.). [Apparently from to barber, to shave or trim.] 1610. Ben Jonson, Alchemist, I., i. Ay, and perhaps thy neck within a noose, for laundring gold, and barbing it. Barber, verb. (University).—When impositions are worked off by deputy they are said to be barberised. Tradition relates that a learned barber was at one time frequently employed as a scapegoat in working off this species of punishment inflicted on peccant students—hence the expression. A story ben trovato esd non e vero! That’s the barber.—A street catch-phrase, says Grose, about the year 1760. There is nothing new under the sun; not even idiotic and wearisome street cries, which so many good philologists deplore as a sign of the depravity of the times. That’s the barber, like ‘Who’s your hatter?’ and ‘How’s your poor feet?’ meant nothing, save a general and indefinite comment on any action, measure, or thing. ‘All serene!’ (q.v.) is presumably its nearest modern street equivalent. Barber’s-Cat, subs. (old).—A weak, sickly looking individual. In French such a person is called un faiblard and un astec, the latter an allusion to the Mexican dwarfs. According to Hotten, the term is also ‘used in connexion with an expression too coarse to print.’ Barber’s-Chair, subs. (old).—A prostitute; a drab; a strumpet. So called from a barber’s-chair being common to all comers. It will be remembered that Shakspeare in All’s Well [ii., 2.] likens an all-embracing answer to a question to ‘a barber’s-chair that fits all buttocks; the pin-buttock, the quatch-buttock, the brawn-buttock, or any buttock.’ 1621. Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, III. iv., i, iii. (1651), 665. A notorious strumpet as common as a barber’s-chair. [M.] 1708. Motteux, Rabelais’ Pantagr., Prognost. v. Bonarobaes. Barber’s-chairs, hedge whores. Barber’s-Clerk, subs. (common).—A term of reproach generally applied by mechanics and artisans to overdressed and vaunting clerks and shopmen. In a secondary sense it is used of anyone over-particular in his personal appearance. The phrases ‘oh, he’s just come from the barber’s,’ and ‘one of Truefitt’s young men’ are common enough. 1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 155. ‘Tailor!’ screamed a third. ‘Barber’s-clerk!’ shouted a fourth. ‘Throw him o-ver!’ roared a fifth, [d.] Barber’s Music, subs. (old).—Harsh and roughly discordant music. Barber’s shops were formerly places of great resort, and the old plays are full of references to the means by which customers, while waiting their turn, wiled away the time. Amongst other things it was usual to provide a cittern, a musical instrument similar to a guitar, upon which any who chose could try their skill. Many of the old proverbs refer to this circumstance. Ben Jonson in The Silent Woman [iii., 5] makes Morose say of his wife whom his barber had recommended, ‘I have married his cittern that is common to all men’; and Matheo, in The Honest Whore, speaks of a barber’s citterne for every serving man to play upon. Therefore, it is little wonder that barber’s music should be synonymous with discord. 1660. Pepys, June 5. My lord called for the lieutenant’s cittern, and with two candlesticks with money in them for symbols (cymbals) we made barber’s music. Barefooted on the Top of Ones Head, phr. (American).—Bald-headed. The application of the simile is obvious. Bargain. Selling a bargain, phr. (old).—A species of low wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, but which is of much more ancient usage. It is frequently alluded to by Swift, who remarks that ‘the maids of honor often amused themselves with it.’ If so, it seems incredible; and one would say so much the worse for the ‘maids of honor.’ It is thus described: A person would come into a room full of company, apparently in a fright, crying out, ‘It is white, and follows me!’ On any of the company asking what? the bargain was sold by the first speaker naming a certain portion of the body. In another, and happily more decent form, this somewhat senseless ‘sell’ still has a vogue. This slang expression and practice was apparently well known to Shakspeare, who makes Costard use it in Love’s Labour Lost [Act iii., Sc. 1], ‘The boy hath sold him a bargain.’ Barge, subs. (printers’).—1. A ‘case’ in which there is an undue proportion of some letters, and a corresponding shortness of those which are most valuable. 2. The term is also applied among printers to a card or small box on or in which ‘spaces’ are put while correcting formes away from ‘case.’ Verb.—To abuse; to slang. Cf., Bullyrag. The allusion is, of course, to the rough mode of speaking peculiar to bargees or bargemen. 1861. Albert Smith, Medical Student, p. 102. ‘Whereupon they all began to barge the master at once; one saying “his coffee was all snuff and chick-weed.”’ (Uppingham School.)—To knock against a person; to come into collision with. Barge-Arse, subs. (common).—A man or woman of rotund development at the back. [From barge, a clumsy vessel, + arse, O.E., posterior or buttock.] A low term of ridicule. Also used as an adjective, barge-arsed. Barge-pole, subs. (Winchester College).—A large stick or thick bough, of which there was one in each fagot. Also generally used for any large piece of wood. Bark, subs. (common).—1. An Irishman or Irishwoman. Cf., Barkshire. 1869. Notes and Queries, 4 S., iii., 406. In Lancashire an Irishman is vulgarly called a bark. 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 191. Mike when asked by some of his countrymen why he called Fairbanks a ‘bark,’ i.e., an Irishman, said, ‘If I had not put the ‘bark’ on him he would have put it on me, so I had the first pull.’ 2. The skin. This occurs also dialectically. In Alan Ramsay’s poems [1758] it is so used. 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xx., p. 209. To the great detriment of what is called by fancy gentlemen the bark upon his shins, which were most unmercifully bumped against the hard leather and the iron buckles. 1876. Family Herald, 2 Dec., p. 80, col. 1. With the bark all off his shins from a blow with a hockey stick. 3. (colloquial.)—A cough. Cf., verb, To bark, sense 2. Verb.—1. To scrape; or rub off the skin; to abraise. 1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 227. So, after getting up [the tree] three or four feet, down they came slithering to the ground, barking their arms and faces. 1859. Macmillan’s Magazine, Nov., p. 18. The knuckles of his right hand were barked. 1872. Mark Twain, Roughing It, p. 16 (Routledge’s ed.). Every time we avalanched from one end of the stage to the other, the ‘Unabridged Dictionary’ would come too; and, every time it came, it damaged somebody. One trip it barked the Secretary’s elbow; the next trip it hurt me in the stomach, and the third, it tilted Bemis’s nose up till he could look down his nostrils—he said. 2. To cough; generally applied when it is persistent and hacking. The word with the bark on it, phr. (American).—Without mincing the matter; without circumlocution. 1872. Mark Twain, Roughing It, chap. xv. If ever another man gives a whistle to a child of mine, and I get my hands on him, I will hang him nigher than Haman! That is the word with the bark on it. To take the bark off, phr. (popular).—To reduce in value, either deliberately, or by accident; a figurative usage of ‘to graze,’ ‘to take the skin off.’ 1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, p. 310. I rode my gallant grey so close to the wheel, that I grazed his near foreleg against it and took the bark off, as his owner told me, to the tune of three pun’ sivin. 1853. Rev. Ed. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Further Adventures of Verdant Green, p. 31. That’ll take the bark from your nozzle, and distil the Dutch pink for you, won’t it? To bark at the moon (colloquial).—To clamour uselessly; to agitate to no effect; to labour in vain. 1630. Taylor’s Workes. And thus my booke and comparisons end together; for thus much I know, that I have but all this while bark’d at the moone, throwne feathers against the winde, built upon the sands, wash’d a blackmore, and laboured in vaine. Barker, subs. (popular).—1. A pistol. [From barker, a noisy assailant, i.e., one who barks like a dog.] Sometimes called barking iron (q.v.). The latter, as far as is known, is the oldest term. An early use of barkers bears date of 1815, whilst barking iron occurs in Parker’s Life’s Painter, 1789. 1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiii. ‘Had he no arms?’ asked the Justice. ‘Ay, ay, they are never without barkers and slashers.’ 1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xxii. ‘Barkers for me, Barney,’ said Toby Crackit. ‘Here they are,’ replied Barney, producing a pair of pistols. 1857. C. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, ch. xxiv. I’ll give you five for those pistols ... being rather a knowing one about the pretty little barkers. English Synonyms. ‘Meat in the pot.’ (A Texan term, alluding to the means by which meat is literally provided for the pot. Texan figures of speech are often startling enough in originality and sententiousness. Nor is the moral ingenuity revealed by this vernacular less striking; e.g., when revolvers are said ‘to make all men equal.’) Other synonyms for revolvers of similar character are ‘my unconverted friend’; ‘a one-eyed scribe’ (an argument always persuasive and sometimes unanswerable); ‘blue lightning’ (sometimes a tragedy in three acts: Act i., a word; Act ii., a flash of blue lightning; and Act iii., certain death); ‘whistler’ (from the sharp hissing sound of a bullet in its flight); ‘peace-maker’ (a sarcastic commentary on the proverb that ‘short reckonings make long friends’); dag; pop; etc. French Synonyms. Un aboyeur (popular: a literal translation of ‘barker’; also ‘a tout’); un pitroux (thieves’: in the old Provencal, pitrou bore the sense of a piece of wood or stick, and it is possible that French thieves have here merely transferred the name from one weapon to another); un pétouze (a play upon words. In the old cant pétouze signified the ancient coin known as a pistole); un bayafe (thieves’: formerly baillaf, a term employed by the robbers who infested the highways of Southern France. It is thought to be derived from two words bailler, to give, and affe or rather affre, signifying fear); un mandolet (thieves’); pied de cochon (military: literally ‘a pig’s foot’; a variety of weapon of large size and calibre); un crucifix or un crucifix à ressort (thieves’: literally ‘a crucifix,’ or ‘a crucifix with a spring’); un soufflant (thieves’: soufflet = to whisper); les burettes (thieves’ and popular: literally ‘phials’). 2. (common.)—A man employed to stand in front of shops and shows to attract the attention of passers-by, and if possible to entice them inside, where he can safely leave them to the tender mercies of the salesmen. The origin of the term is obvious; and, it is interesting to note that barker has its exact equivalent in the French aboyeur. Amongst touting photographers, in low neighbourhoods, this individual is called a doorsman, and the term is likewise applied to auction-room touts. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Barker (s.), a salesman’s servant that walks before his door, to invite customers in to buy cloaths. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Barker. The shopman of a dealer in second-hand clothes, particularly about Monmouth St., who walks before his shop and deafens every passenger with his cries of clothes, coats, or gowns, ‘what d’ye want gemmen, what d’ye buy?’ 1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 109. Mock-auctions and ‘selling-off’ shops are not the only pests where barkers are kept at the doors to invite unwary passengers to ‘walk in, walk in, sale just begun.’ 1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. I am a barker by profession. The pedestrian agility required to pace up and down before the ‘Half-dime Museum of Anatomy and Natural History,’ soliciting passers-by to enter, is of itself enormous; but where it gets in its base hit is when it increases the appetite. McGinty knows this. McGinty is my friend, but I wouldn’t serve a tenth of his unexpired terms for ten dollars. I have peddled clams with McGinty and have seen him eat three bushels of our stock. That is nothing. When the show isn’t paying, I have to go out and eat grass. This shows you what nickel-plated, back-action appetites we have. 3. A man with a troublesome cough; his complaint is otherwise known as a ‘churchyard cough,’ or a ‘notice to quit’ (q.v.). 4. (nautical.)—Besides being used as a designation for a pistol, barker is also employed for lower deck guns on board ship. 1842. Cooper, Jack O’ Lanthorne, I., 151. Four more carronades with two barkers for’ard. 5. See quotation, as follows:— 1879. Greenwood, Outcasts of London. But what was barking? I thought a great deal about the matter, and could arrive at no more feasible conclusion than that a barker was a boy that attended a drover, and helped him to drive his sheep by means of imitating the bark of a dog. 6. (University.)—A noisy assertive individual; and, in a complimentary sense, a great swell. 7. (American.)—A noisy coward; a blatant bully. Barkey (nautical).—A term of endearment in use amongst seafaring men when speaking of a vessel to which they have got attached. ‘She’s a barkey—she is, my lads!’ Barking-Irons, subs. (thieves’).—Pistols. Cf., Barker, sense 1. Barking-iron is, historically, an older term than barker by about a quarter of a century. Formerly applied, in the navy, to large duelling pistols. 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173. Pistols, barking-irons. 1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. II., ch. vi. ‘And look you, prick the touch-hole, or your barking-iron will never bite for you.’ Barking through the Fence, phr. (American).—A taking advantage of some obstacle or shield for saying or doing something, which, but for such protection, would not be said or done; or which if done or said might entail unpleasant consequences upon the sayer or doer. Barkshire, subs. (common).—Ireland.—See Bark. Bark up the Wrong Tree, verbal phr. (American).—Of trapper and pioneer derivation, and idiomatically used to signify that a person is at fault as to his purpose, or the means by which he is endeavouring to attain his object. The expression arose in this way: the Western huntsman found that his prey gradually became more and more wily and cunning in eluding pursuit, and frequently he and his dogs were at fault, supposing they had ‘treed’ their game when in reality, especially in the case of opossums and squirrels and such-like animals, it had escaped by jumping from the boughs of one tree to another. The dogs consequently were left barking up the wrong tree. 1835. Richmond Enquirer, Sep. 8. ‘You didn’t really go to old Bullion,’ said a politician to an office-seeker, ‘Why, he has no influence there, I can tell you. You barked up the wrong tree there, my friend, and you deserve to fail.’ 1888. Detroit Free Press, Oct. Professor Rose who ‘hit’ this town last spring is around calling us a fugitive from justice, and asking why the police don’t do something. Gently, Professor. When we left Xenia, O., the Sheriff patted us on the back and lent us half-a-dollar. We are the only man in this town who doesn’t turn pale when the stage comes in, and the only one who doesn’t break for the sage brush when it is announced that the United States Marshal is here. We ain’t rich or pretty, but we are good, and the Professor is barking up the wrong tree. Barnaby. To dance barnaby, phr. (popular).—To move expeditiously; irregularly. Barnacle, subs. (old cant).—1. A pickpocket. For synonyms, see Area sneak. b. 1809, d. 1870. Mark Lemon, Leyton Hall. The man that stood beside thee is old Crookfinger, the most notorious setter, barnacle and foist in the city. 2. (old.)—A good job, or snack easily got.—Lexicon Balatronicum (1811). 3. (old.)—A gratuity given to grooms by the buyers and sellers of horses.—Lexicon Balatronicum (1811). 4. (old.)—A constant attendant; he who, or that which sticks to one like a barnacle to a ship’s bottom. 1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe! III., wks., 1873, III., 39. Ile cashiere all my yong barnicles. [M.] 1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, I., i., 7. Slopper found him a species of barnacle rather difficult to shake off. 5. (old cant.)—A decoy swindler; from the pertinacity with which such a one fastens on to a victim, and will not be shaken off until the purpose in view is effected. Cf., senses 1 and 4. 1591. Greene, Notable Discovery of Coosnage (1859), 23. Thus doth the Verser and the Setter feign a kind friendship to the Cony.... As thus they sit tippling, coms the barnackle and thrusts open the doore ... steps back again: and very mannerly saith I cry you mercy, Gentlemen. I thoght a frend of mine had bin heere. 1608. Dekker, Belman of London, wks. (1885) III., 131. He that ... before counterfeited the dronken Bernard is now sober and called the barnacle. 6. (old.)—An individual speaking with a nasal twang; one who speaks through his nose. 1591. Percivall, Sp. Dictionary. Gango, a barnacle, one that speaketh through the nose, Chenolopex. [Chenalopex in Pliny, a species of goose.] [M.] Barnacles, subs. (popular).—1. Spectacles. Formerly applied only to spectacles with side pieces of coloured glass, and used more as protectors from wind, dust, and glaring light than as aids to the sight. Hence used popularly for all kinds of glasses. The derivation seems uncertain. The principal suggested origins are:—(1) a corruption of binoculis [from Latin bini, double, + oculus, an eye]; (2) an attributive usage of barnacles, which, with ‘horse-twitchers’ or ‘brakes,’ are tools put on the nostrils of horses when they will not stand still to be shooed; and in support of this it has been pointed out [N. and Q., 1 S., v., 13] the figure of the barnacle borne in heraldry sufficiently shows why the term has been transferred to spectacles, which were formerly only kept in position by the manner in which they clipped the nose; (3) that barnacles are so called from the similarity in shape to the black streak which proceeds from the upper part of the beak in a line to the corner of, and right round the eye of the bernicle, or barnacle goose (Anser bernicla). There is a strong resemblance in the mark to a pair of spectacles. 1571. Damon and Pythias (Dodsley’s Old Plays), Hazlett IV., 81. These spectacles put on. Grim. They be gay barnacles, yet I see never the better. 1653. Sir Thomas Urquhart, Translation of Rabelais, bk. V., ch. xxvii. They had barnacles on the handles of their faces, or spectacles at most. The difference between spectacles and barnacles seems to be indicated in this passage. In the original French the phrase reads ‘bezicles au nez.’ A later quotation illustrative of the usage is: 1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. i. ‘Give me the barnacles, my good youth, and who can say what nose they may bestride in two years hence?’ English Synonyms. ‘Bossers’; ‘gig-lamps’; ‘goggles.’ A man wearing these aids to sight is sometimes called ‘four eyes’ (q.v.). French Synonyms. Les persiennes (popular: properly ‘venetian shutters’); une vitrine (popular: literally ‘a shop window,’ or glass case in a museum). 2. (old cant.)—See quotation. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Barnacles (s.) ... in the Canting Language, a pair of spectacles; also the irons or fetters worn by felons are so called; also the gratuity or reward that jockies have for buying horses for gentlemen. Barndoor, subs. (sporting).—1. A facetious term for a target too large to be missed; i.e., as large as a barndoor. Hence barndoor practice as applied to organised battues, in which game is driven within a range from which it is impossible to escape. This can hardly be called sport; rather let it be known as ‘slaughter.’ 2. (cricket.)—A player who blocks every ball. Barnet! intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Nonsense! humbug! Now obsolete. Barnet Fair, subs. (thieves’).—The hair; part of the rhyming slang (q.v.). For synonyms see Top dressing. Barney, subs. (popular).—1. A word which varies in sense according to the predelictions of the person using it. Generally speaking it means a jollification; ‘lark’; pleasurable outing; picnic. The ’Arries and roughs of London, however, always associate it with a certain amount of rowdyism. Its derivation is unknown, although Barrère gives a long dissertation concerning its origin in the Yiddish. As, however, this is founded mainly upon a misreading of a quotation from Punch, it is somewhat beside the mark. 2. Humbug; cheating; a hoax; something pre-arranged—not genuine. In sporting circles it signifies an unfair race of any kind. 1865. B. Brierley, Irkdale, II., 19. I won thee i’ fair powell one toss an’ no barney. 1882. Evening News, 2 Sept., p. 1, col. 6. Blackguardly barneys called boxing competitions. [M.] Murray gives this last in illustration of the secondary sense which he applies to the word, viz., a prize-fight. Barney, it is true, does signify a prize-fight, but it means more than that. A fair contest would not be so named; there must be an element of chicanery in the matter. Besides which, barney is applied to unfair sporting competitions of any kind. A comparison of the different quotations given under this heading will clearly prove that point. 1884. Referee, April 13, p. 7, col. 4. Who would believe that Mr. Gladstone shammed being ill, and that Sir Andrew Clark issued false bulletins, and that the whole thing was a barney from beginning to end. 1885. Bell’s Life, Jan. 3, p. 3, col. 4. Few genuine matches have taken place this season on the Transatlantic waters, though exhibitions and barney contests have been plentiful. 3. (American.)—At Harvard College, about the year 1810, this word was used to designate a bad recitation. To barney was to recite badly.—Hall’s College Words and Customs. Barn-Mouse. To be bitten by a barn-mouse, phr. (old).—To be tipsy; ‘screwed.’ The Lexicon Balatronicum says ‘it is probably an allusion to barley,’ presumably as the source of malt liquor. Cf., ‘To have on’ Or ‘wear a barley-cap,’ to be tipsy; also barley-cap = a tippler. Barn-stormer, subs. (theatrical).—A deprecatory epithet applied to strolling players. 1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 6 June, p. 5, col. 1. If this be barn-storming, Betterton and Garrick were barn-stormers. 1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. Travelling players who acted short and highly tragic pieces to audiences of clodpoles in any barn or shed they could get, used to be known as barn-stormers, and a ranting, noisy style of acting and speaking is still called ‘barn-storming.’ 1887. Referee, 21 August, p. 3, col. 1. Mr. Edward Terry has again been elected at the head of the poll as trustee of the charities of Barnes. He is not the first clever actor who has been known as a Barnes-stormer. The French term for one of such a troupe is cabotin. Barnumese, subs. (American).—Barnum, the proprietor of ‘the greatest show upon earth,’ has at any rate one claim to immortal fame in having, like Boycot, Burke, and Balfour, added a new word to the English tongue. The ‘high falutin,’ bombastic style of the great man’s announcements are notorious; as much so, in fact, as is the diction of the great London newspaper which claims ‘the largest circulation in the world.’ From such circumstances we get words like barnumese and telegraphese, to signify exaggeration of style—what in slang parlance is known as the ‘putting on of side.’ Verb.—To Barnumize is to talk or assert oneself in the style popularly attributed to Barnum. Baronet, subs. (old).—A humorous variation for sirloin [of beef]. 1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. IV., ch. x. The sight of the roast beef struck him dumb, permitting him only to say grace, and to declare he must pay his respects to the baronet, for so he called the sirloin. Barrack-Hack, subs. (familiar).—1. In an inoffensive sense applied to young women who attend garrison balls year after year. So used there is no such imputation of lax morals as occurs in sense 2. 2. A soldier’s prostitute. There are but few classes of persons to whom a greater number of slang epithets have been applied than to the poor wretched creatures, who from choice, bad-treatment, or as a means of subsistence abandon themselves to a life of prostitution. These names are to be found in plenty for all grades of semi-public or public women. They run the gauntlet from the gilded courtezan to the veriest drab in the last stages of destitution and disease. The list of synonyms is both long and grim; the names in many cases speaking volumes on a subject which it would be painful as well as needless to pursue farther in this place, inasmuch as the epithets both in French and English, and, it must be added, those of other languages as well, speak with a brutal cynicism to which it would be out of place to add a comment. English Synonyms. Ladies of accommodating morals; ladies of more complaisance than virtue; anonyma; pretty horsebreaker; artichoke; columbine; common Jack; convenient; cow; crack; aunt; ladies of easy virtue; bangster; blowen; garrison-hack; bat; bawdy-basket; bed-fagot; fireship; bit o’ muslin; laced mutton; mot; bobtail; bona roba; brevet wife; grass widow; brimstone; black Bess; brown Bessy; bulker; bunter; burick; buttock; cab moll; cat; chauvering donna; chauvering moll; barber’s chair; demi-rep; tartlet; trollop; shake; poll; dolly-mop; gay woman; unfortunate; dress-lodger; mauks; quædam (obsolete); woman; bitch; perfect lady; public ledger; necessary; warming-pan; nun. French Synonyms. Une persilleuse (familiar); une mal peignée (popular: ‘a dirty ill-dressed woman; drab; or draggletail’); une moellonneuse (a prostitute who frequents builders’ yards); hirondelle de goguenot (military: ‘a barrack-hack’; in French soldiers’ slang un goguenot is a tin can used for making coffee or soup); un chausson (literally ‘a sock’ or ‘stocking’); almanach de trente six mille adresses (popular: literally ‘a directory.’ Cf., English ‘public-ledger’); une génisse (popular: literally ‘a heifer.’ Cf., English ‘cow’); une raccrocheuse (popular: raccrocher, ‘to hook’); une vache à lait (popular: literally ‘a milch cow’); une fleur de macadam (popular: ‘a roadside flower’; ‘a street walker’); une roulante (popular: in old French slang un roulant = a vehicle. Cf., English ‘cab’); une camelote (popular: a prostitute of the lowest class; a draggletail); une morue (popular: literally ‘a cod-fish’); une marcheuse (popular: properly ‘a walker’; in theatrical parlance, a female super); une piqueuse de trains (popular: one who prowls about railway stations. Piqueuse = needlewoman); un pigeon voyageur (familiar: a girl who travels up and down a railway seeking clients; literally ‘a carrier pigeon’); une pieuvre (familiar: a kept woman; properly ‘an octopus’); un carcan à crinoline (popular: carcan, applied to either sex is an opprobrious epithet; the phrase also signifies ‘a gaunt-woman’); un omnibus (popular: i.e., ‘one who may be ridden by all’); un cul crotté (low: properly ‘a dirty bottom’); une trychine (popular: an allusion to trichina spiralis, the disease-germ in bad pork); une fenêtrière (popular: an allusion to the custom of this class to watch at windows and invite passers-by to visit them); une traîneuse (familiar: a prostitute who plies her trade at railway stations); un trumeau (popular: literally ‘a leg of beef’); une crevette (popular: ‘a prawn’ or ‘shrimp’); une boulonnaise (a girl who ‘walks’ the Bois de Boulogne); un matelas ambulant (popular: properly ‘a walking mattress.’ Cf., English ‘bed-fagot’); une demoiselle du Pont-Neuf (popular: this kind haunt the bridge of the name over the Seine); un demi-castor (popular: a woman of the demi-monde); une laqueuse (familiar: a prostitute frequenting the lake in the Bois de Boulogne); une pailletée (common: properly ‘spangled’); un pelican (familiar: a dressy courtesan); une ningle (a literary term); une maquillée (popular: ‘one with painted face’); une gueuse (popular: gueuse = beggarly, wretched); une fille or femme du trottoir (popular: ‘a girl’ or ‘woman of the pavement’); une vieille garde (familiar: an old worn-out prostitute); une biche (popular: ‘a hind’ or ‘roe’); une déhanchée (popular: ‘a waddler’); une demi-mondaine (general: a woman of the demi-monde; a fashionable prostitute); une portion (military: literally ‘a share’ or ‘portion’; one who is shared by many); une limace (popular: properly ‘a slug’); une terrinière (the lowest sort of prostitute; terrine = earthen pan); une terreuse (a woman who prowls about lonely spots); une terrière (popular); une fille à parties (popular); une rivette; une voirie (popular: ‘a common sewer’); une boule rouge (familiar: a frequenter of the Quartier de la Boule Rouge, Fanbourg Montmartre); une vessie (popular: a very low prostitute; vessie applied to either sex is an offensive epithet); une demoiselle de bitume (familiar); un pont d’Avignon (popular); une pontonnière (popular: a prostitute who plies her trade under the arches of bridges; ponton = pontoon, ‘a bridge of boats’; pontonnier = ‘a toll gatherer’); une polisseuse de tuyaux de pipe (literally ‘a polisher of pipe stems’); une pompe funèbre (familiar: properly ‘funeral pomp’); une polisseuse de mâts de cocagne en chambre (popular: an extremely degraded variety of prostitute; literally ‘a polisher of greasy poles in a room’); une punaise (general: ‘a bug’—a public woman of the lowest grade); une dessalée (popular: literally ‘a knowing woman’); une mangeuse de viande crue (popular: ‘a devourer of raw meat’); une cité d’amour (literally ‘a city of love’); autel de besoin (popular: ‘an altar of necessity’; Cf., English ‘necessary’); une vésuvienne (familiar: literally ‘a vesuvian,’ either in allusion to the volcano or the well-known brand of matches; in either case the epithet comes very close to the old English slang ‘fireship,’ an old and diseased prostitute); peau, or peau de chien (popular: literally ‘dog’s skin’); un grenier à coups de sabre (a soldiers’ term: grenier, a granary; coups de sabre, thrusts with a broad sword); une rempardeuse (a woman who frequents the ramparts); une femme de terrain (a draggletailed woman; femme, woman, terrain, ground); une saucisse (popular: i.e., ‘a small sausage’); une trainée (familiar); une baleine (popular: ‘a whale’); une lésé-bombe (popular); une fille en brème (a registered prostitute; la brème is the card given to such women by the police); une fille en carte (a registered woman: see preceding); une boutonnière à pantalons (familiar: a kind of semi-prostitute; a sempstress who walks the streets at night; in their own words, they ‘work for their living, but do the naughty for their clothes’); une fille de maison or une fille à numéro (familiar: these names are given to girls in brothels; Cf., English ‘dress-lodgers’); une fille de tournure (familiar: this also is applied to the inmate of a brothel; literally ‘a girl of figure’); une poupée (popular: ‘a doll’); une mouquette (popular); des poules (popular: the inmates of a brothel are so called; literally ‘hens’); une galvaudeuse (popular: galvauder, ‘to scold’); une planche à boudin (familiar: literally ‘a slice of pudding’; in English harlotry ‘to take one’s pudding’ or ‘greens’ is to have sexual connection); une blanchisseuse en chemise (blanchisseuse = laundress; être dans la chemise de quelqu’un is to be constantly with one); un lard (literally ‘bacon’ or body); une gadoue (properly ‘street refuse’ or ‘mud’); un sommier de caserne (military: sommier means ‘hair-mattress,’ and caserne = ‘barracks’; applied to girls who prowl about barracks); une grivoise (this term is now obsolete, but was formerly applied to a garrison town prostitute. It means, literally, ‘a jolly canteen woman’); une paillasse à soldats (a barrack-hack; literally ‘a straw mattress for soldiers’); un passe-lacet (properly ‘a bodkin’—i.e., ‘something to be threaded’); un chameau (the term was originally applied to a gaunt, ungainly woman; it now signifies a prostitute also); un membre de la caravane (a euphemism for un chameau, q.v.); un lolo (popular); une grue (popular: a kept woman; faire le pied de grue, ‘to dance attendance’); une soupeuse (literally ‘one who takes supper’; an allusion to the ‘cabinets particuliers’ of French restaurants); une belle petite (a young and pretty prostitute of the superior class; literally ‘a pretty darling’); une pêche à quinze sous (a literary term); une boulevardière (a superior class of prostitute frequenting the boulevards); un camélia (a kept woman; a reference to the heroine of La Dame aux camélias by A. Dumas fils); une lorette (a variety of prostitute named after the Quartier Notre Dame de Lorette, the Paris Pimlico); une petite dame (literally ‘a little lady’); une impure (a kept woman; properly ‘an unchaste one’); une agenouillée (journalistic); une verticale; une horizontale de grande marque (a fashionable courtezan); une cocotte (a generic term); une pierreuse (a public woman of the lowest grade who plies her hideous trade in houses in course of building, etc.); une chamègue; un bourdon (thieves’: literally ‘a drone’); une lipète (popular); une magneuse (popular: a woman who depraves herself with members of her own sex. The name is said to be in allusion to a religious community who derived their cognomen from that of their founder, Jeanne Canart, the daughter of Nicholas Colbert, who was the Seigneur de Magneux); une vielle lanterne (popular: an old prostitute; lanterne = ‘window’); une feuille (literally ‘a leaf’; the term is one used at the Saumur School of Cavalry); un blanc (literally ‘blank’ or ‘white’; the derivation is somewhat obscure, but the term is a very ancient one for a public woman. Mangeur de blanc is a man who lives upon the earnings of prostitutes and ruins them. Formerly, the expression mettre à blanc was used in the sense of ‘to ruin’); une vache (this term in its popular signification merely means ‘a woman of indifferent character’; if a prostitute is intended, the expression is une vache à lait, a milch cow); un veau (literally ‘a calf’; the phrase is applied to a young prostitute. Cf., ‘vache à lait’); une retapeuse (popular); un wagon (popular: a dirty prostitute. Cf., wagon, ‘a railway carriage’ and un omnibus); une taupe (familiar: literally a mole, an animal that works in the dark; also ‘a cunning fox’); une Jeanneton (popular: a chambermaid at an inn); une andre (an old word; see Fourbesque landra); une roulure (popular: a public woman of the lowest description. Rouler signifies ‘to roll,’ ‘to wander,’ ‘to stroll,’ ‘to keep going’); une fille de barrière (popular: a prostitute plying her trade at the barriers or gates of the city); une dossière (thieves’: literally ‘a back’); une rouleuse (familiar: an abandoned woman; literally the name of a species of caterpillar); une paillasse à troufion (a soldier’s woman); une paillasse de corps de garde (military: literally ‘a guard-room mattress’); une marneuse (popular: a variety of low class prostitute frequenting the river-side; literally ‘clayey’); une Louis (a bully’s mistress; the allusion is to the fancy which women in brothels often have of powdering and dressing the hair in the fashion of the times of Louis XV.); une ouvrière (also a ‘bully’s’ mistress. The term signifies, literally, ‘a workwoman.’ These wretched creatures support their companions who live and batten on what the woman earns in the sale of her person); une fesse (popular: properly ‘a breech’); une marmite (harlotry: ‘a flesh pot’); un torchon (a low class of woman; torchon = ‘a dish clout’); une sauterelle (familiar: ‘a grass-hopper’); un prat; une femme de cavoisi (thieves’: a well dressed prostitute of the boulevards); une louille; une larque (a registered woman; a corruption of largue); une menesse (a thieves’ term); une larguèpe; une magnuce (see une magneuse); une casserole (thieves’: literally ‘a saucepan’); une goipeuse (thieves’: a name given to prostitutes who wander about the country); une ronfle; une ronfle à grippart; un ronfleur (thieves’: ronfler is properly ‘to snore’); un grippeur (gripper = ‘to nab’; crib; clutch); une panterne; une bourre de soie (a kept woman; bourre = floss + soie = silk); un asticot (a bully’s or thief’s mistress; literally ‘a maggot’; it may be stated that asticot is also used for both the membrum virile, and for vermicelli); une panuche (thieves’: a term applied to showily dressed women who live in brothels); une calège (thieves’: a kept woman; cale, a kind of head-dress); une ponante (thieves’: a low-class prostitute); une môme or mômeresse (thieves’); une lutainpem (thieves’); une laissée (thieves’ and roughs’); une galupe (popular: a street walking prostitute); une ponife, poniffe, or poniffle (thieves’). For German Synonyms, see Tart. Italian Synonyms. Una sbriso (this term has another cant signification, viz., ‘to be naked’; hence, probably, its attributive usage for a prostitute); una losena (this, like other Fourbesque terms for a woman, also means ‘a woman of the town’; indeed in most argots there seems to be little, if any distinction drawn between women of easy virtue, and the sex as a whole); una guagnastra (i.e., one who acts as a sheath; the allusion is obvious. Cf., English ‘broom’ and ‘broom-handle’ for the female pudenda and the male penis respectively); una marcona (said to be an allusion to a certain incident in the history of the Papal States); una landra (curiously enough this term signifying, in orthodox Italian, a prostitute is, in the Fourbesque, synonymous also with ‘woman.’ The French andre, a woman of the town, dates back to the sixteenth century); una brocca (literally a jug, pitcher, or stupid person); una brocchiera (from Italian brocchiere, ‘a buckler’ or ‘shield’); una baia (i.e., a mistress); una farfoia (also a nun, in which connection compare with English abbess); una chierlera (this term likewise is also used in the sense of a female devotee. Both the English and French slang have ‘nun’ as an equivalent for a prostitute); una carniera or carnifica (cant terms for a ‘sister,’ and ‘fox’ also); una cara (literally ‘dear.’ Cf., French belle petite, ‘little darling.’) The Spanish Germania has gaya to signify a prostitute. This is an exact equivalent of the French fille de joie or ‘gay girl’; gaya in Spanish signifies ‘gay.’ Another name is found in germana, in explanation of which it may be briefly explained that the Spanish argot or Germania took its name from a band or brotherhood of thieves and robbers; and it would thus appear that germana, the name for a female member of the band was also used generically for a prostitute! Marca, or marquida and marquisa are also all used in the sense of a public woman. It may be noted that in the Italian marchesata stands for a woman when under menstruation, the physiological fact itself being called marchese; mercenario, a street walker, also signifies a nun of the religious order of La Merced. Barracking, subs. (Australian).—Banter; chaff. Cf., Barrikin. Barrel-Boarder, subs. (American).—A loafer in low drinking-saloons. Barrel-Campaign, subs. (American).—Political contests in which bribery and corruption go hand-in-hand with canvassing and voting. A wealthy candidate for office is said to have originated the phrase by remarking, ‘Let the boys know that there’s a bar’l o’ money ready for ’em,’ or words to that effect. The use of the term in this sense became general about 1876.—See Boodle. 1884. Boston (Mass.) Journal, 1 Nov., 1. We are accustomed to barrel-campaigns here. Nobody supposes this district to be Democratic, but the Democrats depend upon carrying it with money. 1888. Florida Times Union, Feb. 11, p. 4. It will be remembered that Mr. Flower was the nominal candidate of the anti-Cleveland men four years ago, and with the aid of his barrel they really did achieve some show of success. Barrel-Fever, subs. (popular).—An indisposition caused by excessive drinking. ‘He died of barrel-fever’; i.e., ‘he killed himself through drink.’ For synonyms, see Gallon distemper. Barrel-House, subs. (American).—A low groggery. 1888. Missouri Republican, Feb. 11. The West-Side police are still arresting barrel-house loafers in the hope of catching an expert cracksman among them. Barrell’s Blues, subs. phr. (military).—A nickname given to the Fourth Foot. [From its facings and Colonel’s name from 1734 to 1739.] They are also called ‘the Lions,’ from the ancient badge of the regiment. Barres, subs. (gaming).—Money lost at play, but not paid. The term is an old one, and has long been obsolete. A corrupt form of ‘barrace,’ an obsolete plural of ‘bar.’ Barrikin, subs. (common).—Gibberish; jargon; a jumble of words. For usage, see quotation. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 15. ‘The high words in a tragedy we call jaw-breakers, and say we can’t tumble to that barrikin.’ Ibid, p. 25. Can’t tumble to your barrikin [i.e., can’t understand you]. Ibid, p. 27. The rich has all that barrikin to themselves. Barring.—See To bar. Barring Out, subs. phr. (old).—Exclusion from a place by means of locks and bars. More particularly applied to a half serious but oftentimes jocular rebellion of schoolboys against the schoolmaster. 1728. Swift, Journal of a Modern Lady. Not schoolboys at a barring-out, Raised ever such incessant rout. 1847. Tennyson, Princess, conclusion. Revolts, republics, revolutions, most, No graver than a schoolboys’ barring-out. Barrow-Bunter, subs. (old).—A barrow-woman; a female costermonger. 1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, i., 140. I saw a dirty barrow-bunter in the street cleaning her dusty fruit with her own spittle. Barrow-Man, subs. (old).—1. A man who hawks his wares on a barrow; a costermonger. The term dates back to the middle of the seventeenth century. Un marottier is the French equivalent for one species of the fraternity, better known in England as a dudsman (q.v.). 2. Also formerly a man under sentence of transportation. Barrow-Tram, subs. (familiar).—An ungainly person; one awkward in gait, and coarse and rawboned in feature. Barter, subs. (Winchester College).—A half volley. From the Warden of that name famous for disposing of them. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 133. What a noble game cricket must be when one loved it so much, notwithstanding the previous training! What genuine excitement when College and Commoners was played; what frantic shouting when Rapid got well hold of a ‘barter’ ... and sent the ball from ‘Spanish Poplar,’ right over Mead’s wall by ‘Log pond.’ 1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 327. Barter was the most popular boy of his day with his schoolfellows. Wonderful things are told of his scores at cricket at which he is supposed to have been the hardest hitter of his own times, or of any near him.... He was so renowned for the tremendous force with which he was wont to swipe the ball, commonly known to cricketers as a ‘half-volley,’ that it actually changed its name in the Wykehamical vocabulary, and for fully half a century afterwards—and, for all I know, to the present day—bore the name of a Barter. Verb.—To hit a ball hard at cricket. Hitting barters.—Practice catching; full pitches hit from the middle of ‘Turf’ towards Ball-Court for catching practice towards the end of ‘Long Meads.’ Bartholomew Baby, subs. (old).—A gaudily dressed doll, such as appears to have been commonly sold at Bartholomew Fair.—See Bartholomew-pig. Also applied to a person gaudily dressed. 1682. Wit and Drollery, p. 343. Her petticoat of sattin, Her gown of crimson tabby, Lac’d up before, and spangl’d ore, Just like a Bartholomew baby. Bartholomew-Pig, subs. (old).—Roasted pigs, says Nares, were formerly among the chief attractions of Bartholomew Fair, West Smithfield, London: they were sold piping hot, in booths and on stalls, and ostentatiously displayed, to excite the appetite of passengers. Hence a Bartholomew-pig became a common subject of allusion: the Puritan railed against it. 1614. B. Jons., Bart. Fair, i., 6. For the very calling it a Bartholomew-pig, and to eat it so, is a spice of idolatry. Falstaff, in coaxing ridicule of his enormous figure, is playfully called by his favourite, 1598. Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV., ii., 4. Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew-boar-pig. Dr. Johnson thought that paste-pigs were there meant: but the true Bartholomew-pigs were substantial, real, hot, roasted pigs; as may be seen throughout the above play of old Ben, where Ursula, the pig-woman, is no inconsiderable personage. Gayton also speaks of the pig-dressers. Like Bartholomew Fair pig-dressers, who look like the dams, as well as the cooks of what they roasted. Fest. N., p. 57. The young wife in Jonson’s play pretends a violent longing for pig, that she may be taken to the fair; and it seems that her case was far from uncommon. Davenant speaks of the Bartlemew-pig, That gaping lies on every stall, Till female with great belly call. The fair in its later days got to be a place of too much mobbing and riot for ladies in that condition. There might also be paste-pigs, but, if so, they were very inferior objects, and meant only for children. Mrs. Ursula also tells us the price of her pigs; namely, five shillings, five shillings and sixpence, or even six shillings! This was surely as dear in James I.’s time, as a guinea lately. The highest price, of course, was to be asked of a longing woman. The fair was abolished in 1854, having been inaugurated in 1133.—Nares. Barts., subs. (medical students’).—An abbreviation of ‘St. Bartholomew Hospital.’ Bash, verb (popular).—To beat; thrash; or crush out of shape. Possibly from the Scandinavian bask, a slap; ‘box’ also seems to have the same derivation. Chiefly appearing in the northern dialects, bash is regarded nowadays in the light of a vulgar colloquialism. Thieves use it synonymously with ‘to flog.’—See Bashing. In older writers the word appears as pash, the ‘p’ in this case being simply a harder form than ‘b.’ An alternative onomatopoetic derivation has, however, been suggested, the ‘b’ of such words as ‘beat’ and ‘bang’ being transferred to the terminal letters of ‘dash,’ ‘gash,’ ‘smash,’ etc. 1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, in wks. II., 272. A leane arme put out of the bed shall grind and pash euerie crum of thy booke into pin-dust. 1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr, II., ii. Jove’s artillery shot down at once, to pash your gods in pieces. 1882. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 9, p. 2, col. 6. A man ... told witness that he would earn a sovereign if he cared to give a certain woman—the complainant—a couple of black eyes.... His instructions were to follow the man he met in the public-house in Bear Street, and to bash the woman he would point out to him in Portland Street. 1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xii. ‘If you have got bashed about pretty well since you came back, it’s been all your own fault, and you know it.’ 1883. Standard, March 2, p. 6, col. 7. Mr. Hannay reminded her that when the summons was applied for, the boy’s father had said that the boy was bashed on the floor, and received a black eye and a bruised head. Amongst synonyms may be mentioned the English verb ‘bang,’ and the French bêcher, which signifies properly to dig or break up ground.—See Tan. Basher, subs. (pugilistic).—A prize-fighter. For synonyms, see Bruiser. 1882. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 16, p. 2, col. 6. According to the statement of the prosecuting solicitor, this was the man who undertook to point out to Leech, the professed basher, the woman whom he was to assault in Portland Street. Bashi-Bazouk, subs. (popular).—A ruffian; and used loosely as a more or less mild term of opprobrium; also applied to anything bizarre in character or composition. The expression came into vogue during the period when the Bulgarian atrocities were electrifying the world by their barbarous cruelty. The Bashi-bazouks are properly irregular Turkish soldiery. They are collected hastily in times of emergency; and are, consequently, somewhat impatient of discipline, assuming that such a commodity in its Western sense is known at all to the Tartar-descended Turk—‘the unspeakable Turk’ as he was fitly called during the period above alluded to. So infamous have these levies become at times, that more than once they have been disbanded in deference to pressure brought to bear upon the Turkish authorities by the Western powers. Bashing, subs. (prison).—A flogging; a taste of the cat-o’-nine-tails. Prisoners condemned to this punishment at the commencement of their term are said by their companions to receive a bashing in; if they also undergo a flogging just previous to their release, it is called a bashing out. 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 157. There were the evidences of former floggings, or bashings, as the prisoners call them. Basils, subs. (old cant).—Fetters on one leg only. Basin, subs. (American).—A schooner (q.v.). Basing.—See That’s basing. Basketed, ppl. adj. (old).—From this cockpit expression used of persons unable or unwilling to pay their losses, and who in consequence were relegated for the rest of the day to a basket hung over the cockpit, is derived the figurative usage in the sense of ‘to be left out in the cold’; not understood; non-plussed; ‘floored.’ b. 1788, d. 1841. Hook, Gerv. Skinner, ch. iii. Skinner was quite enchanted with the brilliancy of his guests, although now and then a little puzzled at their allusions; there jokes were chiefly local or professional, and very frequently my excellent friend Gervase was, to use a modern phrase of general acceptation, basketed. 1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 79. The fight was soon over after this circumstance, and the sweaters and trainers were completely in the basket! 1866. E. Yates, Land at Last.... And find you in his den, lighting it up like—like—like—I’m regularly basketed, by jove! To be brought or to go to the basket, phr. (familiar).—To be imprisoned; to be reduced to poverty. A basket is here the symbol of daily provision, or alms. Formerly prisoners were dependent on charity for daily sustenance, and it was customary for them to let down a basket by a string through the gaol windows, soliciting the alms of passers-by.—See also Angling for farthings. 1632. Massinger and Field, Fatal Dowry, v., 1. Pontalier [to Liladam, who is in custody for debt]. Arrested! this is one of those whose base And abject flattery help’d to dig his grave; He is not worth your pity, nor my anger; Go to the basket, and repent. 1700. Gentleman Instructed [1732], p. 6. God be praised! I am not brought to the basket, though I had rather live on charity than rapine. [d.] To be left in the basket, phr. (common).—To be rejected; abandoned; unchosen. Cf., second quotation. 1840. Barham, I. L. (House Warning). Whatever he wants, he has only to ask it, And all other suitors are left in the basket. 1874. Bell’s Life, 26 Dec. The pick of the basket, a compact young greyhound. Basket-Making, subs. (old).—When enceinte a woman was formerly said ‘to have a kid in the basket.’ [Cf., Bay-window.] Hence basket-making to signify the act of copulation. Bass, subs. (popular).—A familiar abbreviation for Bass’ ale, brewed at Burton-on-Trent. 1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, p. 23. The young gentleman exhibited great capacity for the beer of Bass, and the porter of Guiness. 1863. Oudia, Held in Bondage, I., p. 65. Those idle lads in the Temple, who smoke cavendish and drink Bass. Ibid, p. 126. Discussing Bass and a cold luncheon. 1868. Miss Braddon, Only a Clod, I., p. 138. A lot of fellows drinking no end of Bass. 18(?). Annie Thomas, A Passion in Tatters, I., p. 110. Bass that was not worthy of its name. Baste, verb (colloquial).—To thrash; to beat soundly. This verb is given a place here for the purpose of comparison, as it is somewhat uncertain whether it can with propriety be classed as slang. Of uncertain origin, but dating from the sixteenth century; to baste, properly ‘to sew together loosely,’ or ‘to apply fat or gravy to a joint,’ is, in its figurative usage, of more than passing interest when compared with anoint (q.v.), and other words employed in the same figurative sense. It is curious indeed to note the many synonymous analogues for a good beating or thrashing, all of which pertain more or less to slang. R. W. Hackwood [N. and Q., 7 S., vii., 153] mentions several, amongst others colting (q.v.), used by Marryat in Midshipman Easy. As bearing upon the general idea involved in this class of words, the quotation may be placed side by side with another from the King’s Own by the same writer. 1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. vii. ‘He always carried in his pocket a colt (i.e., a foot and a half of rope, knotted at one end and whipped at the other), for the benefit of the youngsters, to whom he was a most inordinate tyrant.’ 1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xii. ‘Then he colted me for half-an-hour, and that’s all.’ Colting like basting is of uncertain derivation. Comparing it, however, with analogous words, may we not take it, continues the writer referred to, as very closely associated with, if not actually belonging to, the series of synonyms for the operations which derive their origin from the shoemakers, curriers, and allied trades, as we find it in ‘a leathering,’ ‘a strapping,’ ‘a tanning,’ ‘a welting,’ etc. Indeed, it is worth noting in this connection, from the number of epithets applied to the operation, what a deal of chastising has apparently been required in most trades and occupations, for nearly all—except, perhaps, the carpenter’s, where sticks are plentiful—appear to be represented, and even in the domestic circle one can have a choice of ‘a towelling,’ ‘a basting,’ ‘a clouting,’ ‘a rubbing down,’ ‘a dressing,’ ‘a trimming,’ or ‘a wiping’ when occasion requires. 1533. Bellenden, Livy, III. (1822), 223. He departit weil basit and defuleyeit of his clothing. 1599. Greene, George-a-Greene, in wks. (Grosart) XIV., 174. Ile baste you both so well, you were neuer better basted in your liues. 1605. Tryall of Chevalry, III., i., in Bullen’s Old Plays, iii., 305. But, had I knowne as much, I would have basted him till his bones had rattled in his skin. 1611. Beaumont, Knight of Burning Pestle, II., iv. Look on my shoulders, they are black and blue; Whilst to and fro fair Luce and I were winding, He came and basted me with a hedge-binding. 1660. Pepys, Diary, July 22. One man was basted by the keeper, for carrying some people over on his back, through the water. 1754. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. To baste or bast ... to beat, or bang soundly. 1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., xix., p. 328. ‘Hold your row, Davvy,’ he roared out, wrathfully: ‘you’d not like me to come back and give you a basting.’ Among some English Synonyms may also be mentioned:—to give a hiding; to give a walloping; to dust one’s jacket; to quilt; to tan; to set about; to walk into; to manhandle; to give one Jesse; to give one gas; to dowse; to pay. For synonyms generally, see Tan. Baster, subs. (American thieves’).—A New York cant term for a house thief. Bastile, subs. (vagrants’).—A workhouse. For synonyms, see Big house. Probably from the Bastile, a famous prison; lock-ups for a long time being generically named Bastiles. Now corrupted into steel. 1883. Cuthbert Bede, in Graphic, June 2, p. 558, col. 2. Mister Corbyn had always called the workhouse by the opprobrious epithet of the basteel. (Thieves’.)—A prison.—See Cage. Bastile in this sense is mentioned by Captain Grose [1785]. Bat, subs. (old slang).—1. A prostitute who plies her trade by night; an allusion to the nocturnal habits of the flying mammal—indeed, another old term for a woman of the town was literally a fly-by-night. The equivalent French term, hirondelle de nuit, i.e., ‘a night swallow,’ is more poetic. For full lists of synonyms, see Barrack-hack. 2. (American.)—A spree; frolic; and sometimes a drunken bout. A contracted form of ‘batter.’ 1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 1. Mr. Pote: ‘I see in the evening paper that a woman has been bitten by a bat, and afterwards died of lockjaw.’ Mrs. P. (tartily): ‘If she had been bitten by the kind of bat you went on when I was away last Saturday week, she would probably have died of delirium tremens.’ 3. (athletic.)—Pace; speed (in walking, rowing, etc.). Partly also dialectical, especially Scotch, Craven, and Lincolnshire. 1887. Daily News, 18 August, p. 6, col. 3. Here they come, a mixed flock of birds full bat overhead. To bat one’s eyes, phr. (American).—1. A South-western term which is explained by quotation. 1846. Overland Monthly, p. 79. The ox whip has both parts as long as they can be managed. I have seen a poor fellow from Ohio, totally unused to this enormous affair, swing it round his head in many an awkward twist, while the Texans stood by and laughed to see him knock off his hat and bat his eyes at every twitch, to avoid cutting them out. Cf., Italian batter d’occhio, twinkling of an eye. 2. (American gaming.)—To look on but not to play. Cf., Bet. Off or on one’s own bat, phr. (popular).—On one’s own account; by one’s own exertions. A figurative usage of a cricketing term; ‘off one’s own bat,’ is said of a score made by a player individually. 1845. Sydney Smith, Fragm. Irish Ch., wks. II., 340, 1. He had no revenues but what he got off his own bat. [M.] 1855. Lord Lonsdale, in Croker Papers (1884), vol. III., p. 325. Derby ... would not make a Ministry from his own friends or his own bat. 1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xxiii. ‘You have a weakness for the great world? Good. Score off your own bat, and it is the great world comes to you.’ 1884. Sat. Review, March 8, p. 308, col. 2. He has in the most workmanlike manner, and off his own bat, lost for the Government an important seat by a crushing majority. To carry out one’s bat, phr. (popular).—This also is derived from a cricketing expression. In the game it means to be not out, i.e., the last man in. Figuratively, therefore, to carry out one’s bat is to persevere and carry through an undertaking; to outlast all other opponents; and thus to secure the result aimed at. 1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxviii. The General defended his stumps as he would have defended a fortress, and carried his bat out with a score of a hundred and seven. Batchelor’s Son, subs. (old).—A bastard. Bates’ Farm or Garden, subs. (thieves’).—Coldbath Fields prison. [From a warder of that name + a certain appropriateness in the initials, C.B.F., the prison initials, and used as a stamp = Charley Bates’ Farm.] When, formerly, the convicts were put to the treadmill in this prison, they were said to be ‘feeding the chickens on Charley Bates’ Farm.’ Newgate was also called Akerman’s Hotel, from a former governor, and a similar reason has caused the Melbourne gaol to be nicknamed Castilan’s Hotel by Australian thieves. [Circa 1850, but date uncertain.] Bates’ Farm. Good evening pals, how do you do, I thought I’d give a call, And introduce myself to you, For I’m glad to see you all. I’m up to every little fake, But in me there’s no harm, For it was this blooming morning That I left Old Bates’ Farm. CHORUS. Then, here’s success my knowing kids, I’m filled with ev’ry charm, I feel so gay this blessed day, I’ve left Old Bates’ Farm. Now, every morning when you rise, You get a starving meal, And if you don’t eat all they send You have to work the wheel. Then so merrily we go, To chapel to have prayers, And for a little pastime work The everlasting stairs. Chorus. The last time that I went to see Old Bates, he shook my hand, And said, ‘I’m glad to see you, You’re a chap I understand.’ He said, ‘You’re here for nothing now?’ I said ‘Yes,’ like the rest, It was only for knocking a bobby down, And jumping on his chest. Chorus. So now I’ve got my liberty, And once again I’m free, I mean to ‘crack a crib’ to-night. But pals don’t ‘crack on me.’ So if I should touch lucre, For a time I will keep calm, If I don’t see you here some night, I shall at Bates’ Farm. Chorus. Bath. Go to Bath! phr. (familiar).—This popular saying appears to have two distinct readings, both of which, however, are traceable to the same source. 1. Go to Bath! i.e., an injunction to desist; to be gone; get out of my sight, or hearing, for you are mad or cracked—a forcible expression of incredulity, sometimes intensified by ‘and get your head shaved.’ The saying is applied to those who either relate crack-brained stories, or propose undertakings that raise a doubt as to sanity. The allusion is to the fact that, in former days, persons who showed symptoms of insanity were sent to Bath to drink the medicinal waters; the process of shaving the head being previously resorted to. 1840. Barham, I. L. (Grey Dolphin). ‘Go to Bath!’ said the baron. A defiance so contemptuous roused the ire of the adverse commanders. 1885. Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, Oct. 16, p. 362. You tell a disagreeable neighbour to go to Bath in the sense in which a Roman would have said abi in malam rem. 2. Hence, to become a beggar. Bath, especially in the latter part of the last century, and at the beginning of the present one, enjoyed a reputation for its fashion and baths: it was also, naturally enough, for this very reason, the resort of countless numbers of beggars. To go to Bath signified, therefore, amongst vagrants, to proceed to what was in reality one of the first centres of beggardom; presumably to solicit alms. Hence also an additional clue to the process of transition into sense 1. What more natural than to bid an importunate applicant to betake himself to Bath to join his fellows? Fuller in his Worthies has a passage which throws some additional light upon the question. 1662. Fuller, History of the Worthies of England. Beggars of Bath.—Many in that place; some natives there, others repairing thither from all parts of the land; the poor for alms, the pained for ease. Whither should flock fowl in a hard frost, but to the barn-door? Here, all the two seasons, being the general confluence of gentry. Indeed laws are daily made to restrain beggars, and daily broken by the connivance of those who make them; it being impossible when the hungry belly barks, and bowels sound, to keep the tongue silent. And although oil of whip be the proper plaister for the cramp of laziness, yet some pity is due to impotent persons. In a word, seeing there is the Lazar’s bath in this city, I doubt not but many a good Lazarus, the true object of charity, may beg therein. Long previous to 1662, however, stringent vagrant laws were in force. 1588. William Lambard, The Office of the Justices of the Peace, p. 334. Such two Justices may ... License diseased persons (living of almes) to trauell to Bathe, or to Buckstone [Buxton], for remedie of their griefe. Bathing Machines, subs. (nautical).—A name given to the old 10 ton brigs.—Russell’s Sailor’s Language. Bat-Mugger, subs. (Winchester College).—A wooden instrument used for rubbing oil into cricket bats. Bats, subs. (thieves’).—A pair of bad or old boots. Elworthy in West Somerset Words gives this as a heavy laced boot with hobnails. Bats Down? (Winchester and general).—‘How many bats down?’ i.e., how many wickets have fallen? Battels, subs. (University).—The weekly bills of students at Oxford. The derivation of the term has been the subject of much discussion, and is very uncertain. Murray says much depends on the original sense at Oxford: if this was ‘food, provisions,’ it is natural to connect it with ‘battle,’ to feed, or receive nourishment.—See quotation. 1886–7. Dickens, Dictionary of Oxford and Cambridge, p. 16. Battels is properly a designation of the food obtained from the College Buttery. An account of this, and of the account due to the Kitchen, is sent in to every undergraduate weekly, hence these bills also are known as battels, and the name, further, is extended to the total amount of the term’s expenses furnished by the College. In some Colleges it is made essential to the keeping of an undergraduates’ term that he should battel, i.e., obtain food in College on a certain number of days each week. To quote Dr. Murray again, however, it appears that the word has apparently undergone progressive extensions of application, owing partly to changes in the internal economy of the colleges. Some Oxford men of a previous generation state that it was understood by them to apply to the buttery accounts alone, or even to the provisions ordered from the buttery, as distinct from the ‘commons’ supplied from the kitchen: but this latter use is disavowed by others ... but whether the battels were originally the provisions themselves, or the sums due on account of them, must at present be left undecided. 1853. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. vii. The Michaelmas term was drawing to its close. Buttery and kitchen books were adding up their sums total; bursars were preparing for battels. (Eton.)—See quotation. 1798. H. Tooke, Purley, 390. Battel, a term used at Eton for the small portion of food which, in addition to the College allowance, the collegers receive from their dames. Batter, subs. (common).—Wear and tear; e.g., ‘the batter is more than any human being can stand for long.’ [From one of the ordinary meanings of to batter, to wear or impair by beating or long service, as a battered jade.] Ppl. adj.—Given up to debauchery; this sense follows upon To go on the batter, i.e., to walk the streets for purposes of prostitution; but cf., Bat. Battle of the Nile, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A ‘tile’ = a hat. For synonyms, see Cady. Battle Royal, subs. (colloquial).—A vehement quarrel. 1698. Howard, All Mistaken, Act i. 1st Nurse. Your husband is the noted’st cuckold in all our street. 2nd Nurse. You lie, you jade; yours is a greater. Phil. Hist—now for a battle-royal. 18(?). Thackeray, Shabby Genteel Story, ch. vi. A battle-royal speedily took place between the two worthy mothers-in-law. 1865. Sketches from Cambridge, p. 137. Our brethren there [in Oxford] seem to be always indulging in battles-royal. Battlings, subs. (public schools’).—A weekly allowance of money. At Winchester it is 1s., while at Repton it is only 6d. 1864. Household Words, p. 188. The business of the latter was to call us of a morning to distribute amongst us our battlings, or pocket-money. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 184. The expense was defrayed by the boys subscribing the last three battlings (i.e., the weekly shilling allowed each boy). This was rather an illusory coin, for we seldom actually fingered it, as some one of the College servants generally had a kind of prescriptive right to a benefit; and whenever Saturday arrived, Præfect of Hall’s valet was sure to come round to ask the boys if they would give their battling to Rat Williams, or Dungy, or Purver, or Long John, or some other equally deserving individual. 1883. Trollope, Autobiogr. (1883), I., 13. Every boy had a shilling a week pocket-money, which we called battels. [This is probably a misprint—the Winchester term, as that used at other schools, is battling. It was advanced out of the pocket of the second master.] Battner, subs. (old).—An ox; beef being apt to batten or fatten those that eat it. ‘The cove has hushed the battner,’ i.e., has killed the ox.—Grose [1785]. Batty, subs. (general).—Wages; perquisites. Derived from batta, an extra pay given to soldiers while serving in India.—Hotten. Col. Yule says in Indian banking, agio or difference in exchange; discount on coins not current; or of short weight. 1824. T. Hook, Sayings and Doings, 1 S., Merton, ch. viii. Whether he could draw full batta in peace-time. 1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, 5 S., ‘Batta.’ Batta or Batty (Hindustanee). Perquisites; wages. Properly, an allowance to East Indian troops in the field. Baulk, subs. (Winchester College).—A false report (especially that a master is at hand), which is sported (q.v.), not spread. (Popular.)—A false shot; a mistake. Baum, verb (American Univ.).—To fawn; to flatter; to curry favour.—Hall’s College Words and Phrases. Bawbels or Bawbles, subs. (old).—A man’s testicles. Originally, a provincialism. For synonyms, see Cods. Bawcock, subs. (old).—A burlesque term of endearment. [From either French beau, fine, + French coq, cock = a fine or good ‘feller’; or from English boy + cock = a young dandy or strut.] 1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iii., 2, 25. Pist. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould!... Good bawcock ’bate thy rage! 1861. H. Ainsworth, Constable of the Tower, p. 131. One of the gamesome little bawcock’s jests. Bawd, subs. (old).—A female procuress. A carted bawd meant one who had been placed in a cart and led through the town to make her person known to the inhabitants. Cf., Abbess. See also Cart and Barrack-hack for synonyms. Bawde Phisicke.—See quotation. 1560–1. Awdeley, The XXV. orders of Knaues, (ed. 1869), p. 14. Bawde Phisicke, is he that is a Cocke, when his Maysters meate is euyll dressed, and he challenging him therefore, he wyl say he wyll eate the rawest morsel thereof him selfe. This is a sausye knaue, that wyl contrary his Mayster alway. Bawdy Banquet, subs. (old).—Whoremongering. [From bawdy, lewd, + banquet.] 1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 63. ‘Where haue I bene?’ quoth he, and began to smyle. ‘Now, by the mas, thou hast bene at some baudy banquet.’ Bawdy Banquet, subs. (old).—A running after loose women; molrowing. Bawdy Basket, subs. (old cant).—1. The twenty-third rank of canters (see Harman), who carried pins, tape, ballads, and obscene books to sell, but lived mostly by stealing, 1567. Harman, Caveat (ed. 1869), p. 65. These bawdy baskets be also wemen, and go with baskets and Capeases on their armes, where in they haue laces, pynnes, nedles, white ynkell, and round sylke gyrdles of al coulours. These wyl bye conneyskins and steale linen clothes of on hedges. And for their trifles they will procure of mayden seruaunts, when [leaf 20, back] their mystres or dame is oute of the waye, either some good peece of béefe, baken, or chéese, that shalbe worth xij pens, for ii pens of their toyes. And as they walke by the waye, they often gaine some money wyth their instrument, by such as they sodaynely mete withall. The vpright men haue good acquayntance with these, and will helpe and relieue them when they want. Thus they trade their lyues in lewed lothsome lechery. Amongest them all is but one honest woman, and she is of good yeares; her name is Ione Messenger. I haue had good proofe of her, as I haue learned by the true report of diuers. 1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 39 (1874). [In list of orders of thieves], bawdy-baskets. 2. A prostitute; an alternative and earlier form of bawd (q.v.). 1589. Puttenham, Art of Eng. Poesie, bk. III., ch. xix. Many a faire lasse in London towne, Many a bawdie basket borne vp and downe: Many a broker in a thridbare gowne, Many a bankrowte scarce worth a crowne. In London. 1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 86. The victualers to the campe are women, and to those some are Glymerers, some bawdy-baskets, some Autem-Morts. Bawdy House Bottle, subs. phr. (old).—A very small one, short measure, being among the many means used by the keepers of those houses, to gain what they call an honest livelihood; indeed, this is one of the least reprehensible, the less they give a man of their infernal beverages for his money, the kinder they behave to him.—Grose. Bayard of Ten Toes. To ride Bayard of ten toes, phr. (old).—To go on foot. Bayard was a horse famous in old romances.—See Marrow bone stage. 1606. Breton, Good and Badde, p. 14. Breton says of the ‘honest poore man,’—his trauell is the walke of the woful, and his horse Bayard of ten toes. 1662. Fuller, Worthies, Somerset (ii., 291). At last he [Coryat] undertook to travail into the East Indies by land, mounted on an horse with ten toes. Bay Window, subs. (common).—A slang phrase applied to women when pregnant, or men who have ‘corporations.’ The allusion is obvious. B. C., subs. (common).—A name jokingly applied to a person who brings a trumpery action for libel against another. Dr. Brewer in Phrase and Fable thus, in effect, explains the allusion:—A young woman complained to Mr. Ingham [the magistrate at Bow Street Police Court and now (1889) Sir James Ingham] of having been abused by a woman who called her a b. c. On being asked the meaning, the young woman said c meant ‘cat’ but the B——, well, it was too shocking to utter, and the magistrate allowed her to whisper the word in his ear. It was a well-known word of sanguinary sound; but, though b.c. was hardly a pretty epithet, yet his worship could hardly grant a summons for libel against the person of whom complaint was made for using it. Beach-Cadger, subs. (old).—A beggar whose ‘pitch’ is at watering-places, and sea-ports. [From beach, the sea-shore + cadger, a beggar.] Beach-Comber, subs. (nautical).—1. One who hangs about the sea-shore on the look-out for jobs. It was chiefly applied to runaway seamen, deserters from whalers, who lived along the beach in South America, the South Sea Islands, etc. It is a term of contempt.—Clark Russell’s Sailors’ Language. 1847. Blackwood’s Magazine, LXI., 757. A daring Yankee beech-comber. [M.] 1880. Athenæum, 18 Dec., p. 809, col. 2. The white scamps who, as beech-combers, have polluted these Edens and debauched their inhabitants. 1885. A. Lang, in Longm. Mag., VI., 417, note. Beach-comber is the local term for the European adventurers and long-shore loafers who infest the Pacific Archipelagoes. There is a well-known tale of an English castaway on one of the isles, who was worshipped as a deity by the ignorant people. At length he made his escape, by swimming, and was taken aboard a British vessel, whose captain accosted him roughly. The mariner turned aside and dashed away a tear: ‘I’ve been a god for months and you call me a (something alliterative) beach-comber!’ he exclaimed, and refused to be comforted. 2. A river boatman. 3. A thief who prowls about the sea-shore; a plunderer of wrecks; a picker-up of waifs and strays. This is derived from sense 4. 4. (American.)—A long wave rolling in from the ocean. Hence applied to those whose occupation it is to pick up, as pirates or wreckers, whatever these waves wash in to them. Beach-Tramper, subs. (nautical).—A coastguardsman. [From beach, the shore of the sea + tramp, to walk along + er.] Bead. To draw a bead [on one], phr. (American).—To attack an opponent by speech or otherwise. The phrase has passed into colloquial use from backwoods parlance, where it signifies the process of taking aim and firing. The front sight of a gun is in appearance like a bead. 1841. Catlin, North American Indians (1844), I., x., 77. I made several attempts to get near enough to draw a bead upon one of them. 1870. Bret Harte, Society on the Stanislaus (in Poems and Prose). It is not a proper plan, to lay for that same member for to put a bead on him. 188(?) S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 48. I was pretty close to the Shanty, and I thought I heard the old man coming all the time; but I got her hid; and then I out and looked around a bunch of willows, and there was the old man down the path apiece just drawing a bead on a bird with his gun. 1889. Albany Journal, Aug. 6. If Jake’s not careful I’ll draw a bead on him. Very little more will make me go for him tooth and nail. To raise a bead.—To bring to the point; to ensure success. The figure is taken from brandy, rum, or other liquors, which will not ‘raise a bead,’ unless of the proper strength. 1846. N. Y. Tribune, Letter from Ohio. The result was, if the convention had been then held, the party wouldn’t have been able to raise a bead. [b.] Beagle, subs. (old).—A spy; informer; man-hunter; policeman; also a general term of contempt. [From beagle, a small hound, which tracks by scent, formerly used for hunting.] 1599. Myrr. Mag., Jack Cade, xix., 2. That restless begle sought and found me out. [M.] 1607. Dekker, Westward Hoe, Act iii., Sc. 4. Mon. I beseech you, Mistress Tenterhook,—before God, I’ll be sick, if you will not be merry. Mist. Ten. You are a sweet beagle. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Beagle (s.) ... also a contemptuous name given to a boy or man, as to say, you are a special beagle, is the same as, you are good for nothing. 1837. Carlyle, French Revolution, III., vii., v., 377. Attorneys and Law-beagles, which hunt ravenous on this Earth. Beak, subs. (old cant).—1. A policeman or guardian of the peace. As far as is known, this (as ‘beck’) is the oldest cant term for a member of a class of men, who, perhaps, above all others, have been the recipients of nicknames and epithets, and these, be it noted, not always of a complimentary character. In Harman’s Caveat (1573), harman beck is explained as ‘the counstable,’ harmans being ‘the stockes.’ The derivation of beck or beak is doubtful. Especially vague seems that which finds its source in the Saxon beag, a gold collar worn by civic magistrates, and an emblem of authority. This genesis appears to be based on the later and secondary sense of beak, a magistrate, a meaning which it still retains. But, against this must be placed the fact that, as the name for a watchman or guardian of the peace, beak boasts a much older usage. Sir John Fielding, half brother of the author of Tom Jones, and an active Middlesex Justice in the last century, was popularly known as the ‘Blind Beak’ [c. 1750]; but beyond this date no instance of this sense has been found. If, therefore, beak originally signified a policeman, it is difficult to discover any connection with the Saxon beag, inasmuch as watchmen are not known to have been decorated with gold collars. The following quotations will give other illustrations, and also show that, meaning a policeman, the term has not long been obsolete. 1609. Dekker, a Gypsy song, in Lanthorne and Candlelight, etc. The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck, If we mawnd Pannam, lap or Ruff-peck, Or poplars of yarum; he cuts, bing to the Ruffmans. Or else he sweares by the lightmans, To put our stamps in the Harmans. The Ruffian cly the ghost of the Harman beck. If we heaue a booth we cly the Jerke. If we niggle or mill a bousing ken. Or nip a bung that has but a win, Or dup the giger of a gentry cofes ken: To the quier cuffing we bing, And then to the quier-Ken to scowre the Cramp-ring, And then to the Trin’de on the chates, in the lightmans, The Bube and Ruffian cly the Harman beck and Harmans. [This is thus ‘Englished’ by Dekker]. The Diuell take the Constable’s head, If we beg Bacon, Butter-milke or bread. Or Pottage, to the hedge he bids us hie, Or sweares (by this light) i’th’ stocks we shall lie. The Deuill haunt the Constable’s ghoast, If we rob but a booth, we are whip’d at a poast. If an ale-house we rob or be tane with a whore, Or cut a purse that has iust a penny, and no more, Or come but stealing in at a gentleman’s dore: To the Justice straight we goe, And then to the Jayle to be shakled: And so To be hang’d on the gallows i’th’ day time: the pox And the Deuill take the Constable and his stocks. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Land. Gentlemen vagabonds; the traps are abroad, and half a thousand beadles and beaksmen are now about the door. Billy. De beak! oh curse a de beak! Jemmy. Gemmen!—gemmen! (Knocking on table to command attention.) Jack. Silence for the chair! Jemmy. Put out the lights, put out the lights, every one shift for himself. Here, Bob, carry me up the ladder, good luck to you do, Bob. 1840. Thackeray, Catherine, ch. x. But Mrs. Polly, with a wonderful presence of mind, restored peace by exclaiming, ‘Hush, hush! the beaks, the beaks!’ Upon which, with one common instinct, the whole party made a rush for the garden gates, and disappeared into the fields. Mrs. Briggs knew her company: there was something in the very name of a constable which sent them all a-flying. English Synonyms. ‘Blue’ (traceable to Queen Elizabeth’s days when the colour of the uniform was the same as now); ‘men in blue’; ‘Royal Regiment of Footguards Blue’; ‘bluebottle’ (used by Shakspeare); ‘blew coate’ (also a Shakspearian term, and still in use); ‘Dogberry’ (an allusion to Much Ado about Nothing); ‘charley’ (one of the old watchmen); ‘bobby’; ‘peeler’; ‘copper’ (a thieves’ term, from ‘to cop’ to lay hold of); ‘crusher’ (thieves’); ‘slop’ (a back slang corruption of ‘police’ = esclop, with c not sounded and shortened to ‘slop’); ‘scufter’ (a northern term, as also is the example next following); ‘bulky’ (used by Bulwer Lytton); ‘philip’ (from a thieves’ signal); ‘cossack’; ‘philistine’; ‘frog’ (from pouncing upon criminals); ‘Johnnie Darby’ (a corruption of gendarme); ‘Johnnie’; ‘pig’ (a plain clothes man); ‘worm’; ‘nose’; ‘nark’; ‘dee’ (a detective); ‘tec’; the C.T.A. (a circus man’s term); ‘demon’ (Australian thieves’); ‘reeler’; ‘raw lobster’ (this like ‘blue,’ etc., would appear to be a reference to the colour of the uniform). French Synonyms. Un rousse (popular and thieves’: roux signifies ‘red,’ and red hair has always been held in contempt as indicative of treachery and craft; hence its application by the criminal classes to their natural enemies); un roussin (thieves’: of same derivation as foregoing); un bâton de réglisse (popular: ‘a stick of liquorice’); un baladin (properly ‘a mountebank, juggler, or buffoon’); une cagne (popular: ‘a dog,’ i.e., ‘a worthless fellow,’ ‘a slut’; cagne or caigne in Old French signified ‘dog,’ and was derived from the Latin canis, whence caignot, ‘a little dog.’ It may also be noted that, prior to the establishment of the modern gendarmerie, the archers of the watch were known as chiens-courants); un cogne (thieves’: another form of cagne); un balai (hawkers’: properly ‘a broom, brush, or besom’); un serin (popular: properly ‘a canary’; serin is also slang for ‘a foolish fellow,’ ‘a greenhorn’); un pousse (thieves’: the guardians of public order formerly known in Paris as serjents or archers de l’écuelle were called pousse-culs); une vache (literally ‘a cow’); un arnif (thieves’); une peste (thieves’: literally ‘a plague’ or ‘torment’); une tronche â la manque; un flaquadard; un cabestan (thieves’: properly ‘a hand-winch’; Michel thinks this is derived either from cabe, ‘a dog’; or from capitan, ‘a captain.’ The latter, be it noted, has also the signification of ‘hector’ or ‘braggadocio’); un raille or railleux (thieves’: a detective. Michel derives it from raillon, a weapon with which the police were formerly armed. Victor Hugo thought it came from the English word ‘rascal,’ but there seems little, if any, authority for this); un sacre (Nicot gives this as ‘a bird of prey,’ but Henri Estienne adds that it was used to denote ‘one who lays hands on everything that comes in his way’; also ‘a gourmand’); un grive (thieves’: ‘a warder’ or ‘military patrol’); un laune (thieves’); un flique (popular: also a petty police magistrate. Thought to be a corruption of friquet, another opprobrious term for a police man); un bec du gaz; un estaffier (familiar: also, among thieves, ‘a cat’); une bourrique (thieves’: also ‘an informer’); un pousse trottoir (pousse from pousser, ‘to push’; trottoir, a footpath); un lampion rouge (thieves’); un escargot de trottoir (popular: literally ‘a snail of the footpath’); un cierge (thieves’: properly ‘a wax taper’); un sergo (popular); un grippe-Jesus (a term used by thieves in the north of France, and by seafaring men which, says Michel, might lead one to suppose that gendarmes only arrested innocent persons); un pince sans rire (thieves’: a sly, malicious person); un pot â tabac (popular: ‘a tobacco jar’); un singe de la rousse (singe = monkey, de la rousse, ‘of the police force’). For German Synonyms, see Copper. Italian Synonyms. Un’ zaffo (literally ‘a bung’ or ‘tipstaff’); un’ foco or un’ fuoco (literally ‘fire’). Spanish Synonyms. Uno mastin (literally ‘a mastiff’ or ‘bulldog’; ‘a clumsy fellow’; ‘a clown’); una harpia (un harpeo = ‘grapnel’ or ‘grappling-iron’); una fiera (properly ‘a wild beast’). 2. (popular.)—A magistrate. Cf. foregoing, much of which has reference to this secondary meaning of beak. Sometimes Called a beak of the law. 1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. ‘My eyes, how green!’ exclaimed the young gentleman. ‘Why a beak’s a madgst’rate.’ 18(?) Hood, Tale of a Trumpet. The pies and jays that utter words, And other Dicky gossips of birds, Who talk with as much good sense and decorum, As many beaks who belong to the quorum. 1881. Punch, Dec. 3, 258. A pair of anti-vivisectionists. Sir Slangsby Jaunter. ‘See that old fellow, Miss Diana? That’s Doctor Katchett, who swears he’s going to find a cure for lunatics! Just got into trouble. Been trying the effects of extreme terror and bodily fatigue on a rabbit, and without chloroform, too, the old ruffian! And then he killed it, and dissected its brain. Going to be had up before the beak for it! Bow St., you know!’ Miss Diana. ‘Serve him right, horrid man! Don’t want to know about such people. But talking of rabbits, what a splendid run that second Hare gave us to-day! Thirty minutes gallop without a check!—Wasn’t it lovely!—And I was in at the death!’ 1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5, col. 2. Taken before some French beak whom he did not know, and an interpreter brought, the ‘cotched’ culprit was made to pay 20 f., his friend escaping because he was not caught red-handed. An English Synonym is ‘queer cuffin’ (old cant). French Synonyms. Un sapeur (thieves’: properly ‘a sapper,’ i.e., ‘one who undermines’ [one’s chances of wrong doing]); un pante en robe (pante in French slang is equivalent to ‘a man’ or ‘cove’; en robe = ‘in a robe’); un endormi (popular: properly ‘a sleepy-head’); un grignon (thieves’: probably from grigner les dents, ‘to show one’s teeth threateningly’; or from grognon, ‘grumbler,’ ‘growler’); un gerbier; un curieux (thieves’: i.e., ‘the curious one’; from the adj. curieux. Michel, however, adds that curieux formerly signified ‘a courtier’); un singe à rabat (thieves’: possibly rabat is an abbreviated form of rabat-joie, ‘a wet blanket.’ The phrase would then mean ‘a baboon with a wet blanket,’ ‘a damper’; or it may be derived from singe, a monkey + rabat, slang for ‘a cloak.’ Cf., singe de la rousse); un lustre (thieves’: properly ‘renown’; ‘distinction’); un pant’ de la magistrat’ muche (thieves’). Italian Synonym. Un antigo (literally ‘an old one’; also ‘a master,’ ‘a boss’). Spanish Synonym. Sombrador (thieves’ and popular: from sombra, ‘shade’; i.e., one who puts in the shade. Poner â la sombra is ‘to imprison’). 3. (popular.)—The nose. For synonyms, see Conk. 1598. Florio. Naso adunco, a beake-nose. [M.] 1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I., 296. The well-known hooked beak of the old countess. [M.] 1865. E. C. Clayton, Cruel Fort, I., 143. A large, fat, greasy woman, with a prominent beak. 1876. E. C. Grenville Murray, The Member for Paris, I., p. 80. It was not the most agreeable thing in the world to be suddenly interrupted in a mantel-shelf conversation by a gentleman with a firm beak-nose and a red rosette in his button-hole. 4. (Eton and Marlborough Schools.)—A master. Beaker, subs. (thieves’).—A fowl. Sometimes shortened into beak. The derivation is obviously an illusion to the beak or horny mandibles of poultry. Formerly called cackling-cheat (q.v.), and by French thieves une estable, or une estaphle. Beaker-Hunter, subs. (thieves’).—A poultry yard thief. Also beak-hunter. 1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445. A poultry stealer. A beaker-hunter. Beak-Gander, subs. (common).—A judge of the Superior Courts. [From beak (q.v.), a magistrate + gander, a humorous term for an old man.] Beaksman, subs. (old).—See Beak (sense 1), of which it is an alternative form. Beam Ends. To be thrown on one’s beam ends, phr. (nautical).—1. To be in bad circumstances; to be at one’s last shift; hard-up; a metaphor drawn from sea-faring life. A ship is said to be on her beam ends when she is so prostrated on her side by stress of weather, or shifting of cargo, as to submerge her lee rail. 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xl. In short, he laughed the idea down completely; and Tom, abandoning it, was thrown upon his beam ends again for some other solution. [h.] 1851. Henry Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., 121. When a fellow is on his beam ends, as I was then, he must keep his eyes about him, and have impudence enough for anything, or else he may stop and starve. [h.] 2. Also, less figuratively, to be thrown to the ground; to be reduced to a sitting or lying posture. 1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxvi. Our first lieutenant was ... on his beam ends, with the rheumatiz. 1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green. You get on stunningly, gig-lamps, and haven’t been on your beam ends more than once a minute. Bean or Bien, subs. (popular).—A sovereign. Formerly a guinea. In America five-dollar gold pieces are now called beans. See also Half-bean and Haddock of beans. In the old French cant, biens meant money or property. For synonyms, see Canary. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Bean, a guinea. Half-bean. 1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. ix. Zoroaster took long odds that the match was off; offering a bean to half a quid (in other words, a guinea to a half guinea). 1885. D. C. Murray, Rainbow Gold, bk. V., ch. vi. ‘Here’s some of the beans,’ he continued figuratively, as he drew five sovereigns from the same pocket, and surveyed them in his great brown palm. Full of beans, phr. (society).—In good form or condition; as full of health, spirits, or capacity as a horse after a good feed of beans. Among the ancients the word signified venery; possibly, therefore, a more esoteric meaning may be attached to it than commonly supposed.—See Beany. 1889. Sporting Times, June 29. The tennis-ground [was] a pretty place, overlooking the harbour, and surrounded by trees and female beauty. The game began. ‘Ich dien,’ shouted Jack, as full of beans as the Prince of Wales’ plume, and immediately sent a ball which went bang through the window of an adjoining house. To give beans, phr. (common).—To chastise; to give a good drubbing. For synonyms, see Tan. Like beans, adv. phr. (common).—In good form, style, time, etc.; with force; a general expression of approval and praise. Cf., Like blazes, bricks, or one o’clock. Not to care, or be worth a bean.—To hold in little esteem; to think lightly of; to be of little value. The allusion is to the small worth, or value of a bean, or ‘the black of a bean.’ A variant is not worth a straw (q.v.). Both phrases are old, not worth a bean being traced back to 1297. To be beany, phr. (common).—To be in good humour—a metaphor also drawn from the stable. To know beans, phr. (American).—To be well informed. The phrase is incorporated into many expressions in a very strange way; and is an allusion to the fondness of New Englanders in general, and Bostonians in particular, for baked beans and pork, combined with a sly hit at the assumption of superior culture on which they are supposed to insist. To know beans, therefore, is to be sharp and shrewd; to be within the charmed circle of the ‘cultured elect’—in short to be fully equipped in the ‘upper storey.’ 1888. Portland Transcript, March 7. The pudding was pronounced a success by each member of the assembled family, including a dainty Boston girl who, of course, knows beans. 1888. Chicago Herald. One has to know beans to be successful in the latest Washington novelty for entertainment at luncheons. An alternative derivation may, however, be found in the English form. To know how many blue beans make five white ones, phr. (common).—This is generally put in the form of a question, the answer to which is ‘Five, if peeled,’ and those who fail to get tripped by the ‘catch’ are said ‘to know how many,’ etc.; in other words to be cute; knowing; wide awake. 1830. Galt, Laurie, T. (1849), II., i. 42. Few men who better knew how many blue beans it takes to make five. [M.] 1886. Zoological Comparisons, in Broadside Ballad. Nature and art improves us, the girls with smiles are moving us, Which very often ruin us there’s no gammon about that; Then just as we begin to know ‘how many beans make five,’ The ladies call us puppies when we at that age arrive; You may perchance become a deer, if in favour with some lass, If not you’re called a donkey, and oftentimes an ass. 1889. Daily News, 4 Nov., p. 6, col. 5. Mr. Gladstone and The Saturday Review. Sir,—My master, who is a good Conservative, lends me The Saturday Review to improve my mind.... It says that there were eighty-six Parnellites, and that if Mr. Gladstone, by his wickedness, could make them leave off voting for the Tories, and vote for him, instead of being in a minority of four, he would have had a majority of 80. Why, Sir, the dunce of the school knows that if you take 80 from one side and add it on to the other, the difference is not 80, but 160. It is as simple as how many blue beans make five. I think some people are losing their wits faster than Mr. Gladstone.—I am, Sir, yours respectfully, A Schoolboy. Three blue beans in a blue bladder.—Nares confesses his inability to discover the origin of this whimsical combination of words, but points out that it is at least of long standing. The subjoined quotations would seem to indicate the meaning as noisy, frothy talk; clap-trap. 1600. Dekker, Old Fortunatus, iii., p. 128. F. Hark, does’t rattle? S. Yes, like three blue beans in a blue bladder, rattle, bladder, rattle. 1717. Mathew Prior, Alma (cant), I., v., 25. They say—— That putting all his words together, ’Tis three blue beans in one blue bladder. Bean Belly, subs. (old).—A nickname for a Leicestershire man; from a real or supposed fondness of the inhabitants of this county for beans. Bean-Feast, subs. (common).—An annual feast given by employers to their work-people. The derivation is uncertain, and, at present, their is little evidence to go upon. Some have suggested its origin in the prominence of the bean goose, or even beans at these spreads; others refer it to the French bien, good, i.e., a good feast (by-the-bye, tailors call all good feeds bean-feasts); whilst others favour its derivation from the modern English bene, a request or solicitation, from the custom of collecting subscriptions to defray the cost. All three suggestions are, at the best, unsatisfactory, and numerous objections crop up at every turn to each of them. An annual outing of this kind is also called a wayzgoose (q.v.). 1882. Printing Times, 15 Feb., 26, 2. A bean-feast dinner served up at a country inn. [M.] 1884. Bath. Jour., 26 July, 6, 1. The annual grant of £20 for their bean-feast. [M.] Bean-Feaster, subs. (common).—One who takes part in a bean-feast (q.v.). 1884. Cornh. Mag., Jan., 621. For the delectation of the bold bean-feasters. [M.] Beano, subs. (printers’).—The same as bean-feast (q.v.). Bean Traps, subs. (American thieves’).—A swell mobsman, or stylish sharper. Beans (q.v.) are five-dollar gold pieces, and the insinuation is obvious. In old English cant a bean meant a guinea, probably from the French biens, property. Beany, adj. (common).—Full of vigour; fresh, like a bean-fed horse. Or, it may be an allusion to the meaning of venery, which Aristotle says was attached to the word beans. 1852. Kingsley, in Life (1876), I., 278. The very incongruity keeps one beany and jolly. 1870. Daily News, 27 July, 5. The horses ... looked fresh and beany. [M.] Bear, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. Applied, in the first instance, to stock sold by jobbers for delivery by a certain date on the chance of prices falling in the meantime, thus allowing the seller to re-purchase at a profit. The phrase was probably at first ‘to sell the bear-skin,’ the buyers of such bargains being called bear-skin jobbers (see quot.), in allusion to the proverb, ‘To sell the bear’s skin before one has caught the bear.’ So far, the origin of the phrase seems pretty clear; of the date of its introduction, however, nothing is known. It was a common term in Stock Exchange circles, at the time of the bursting of the South Sea Bubble in 1720, but it does not seem to have become colloquial until much later. In these transactions no stock was passed, the ‘difference’ being settled according to the quotation of the day, as is the practice now in securities dealt with for ‘the account.’ At present the term for such an arrangement is time-bargain. 1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 38, p. 3. Being at that General Mart of stock-jobbers called Jonathans ... he bought the bear of another officer. [M.] 1719. Anatomy of Change Alley (N. and Q., 5 S., vi., 118). Those who buy Exchange Alley bargains are styled ‘buyers of bear-skins.’ [M.] 1778. Bailey, Dictionary (24 ed.). To sell a bear, to sell what one hath not. 2. Hence a dealer who speculates for a fall. The earliest instance noted of this transferred usage is in 1744. London Magazine, 86. These noisy devotees were false ones, and in fact were only bulls and bears. [M.] 1768. Foote, Devil upon Two Sticks, Act i. A mere bull and bear booby; the patron of lame ducks, brokers, and fraudulent bankrupts. 1774. Colman, Man of Business, iv., i., in wks. (1777) II., 179. My young master is the bull, and Sir Charles is the bear. He agreed for stock expecting it to be up at three hundred by this time; but, lack-a-day, sir, it has been falling ever since. 1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iv. The hum and bustle which his approach was wont to produce among the bulls, bears, and brokers of Stock-alley. 1860. Peacock, Gryll Grange, ch. xviii. In Stock Exchange slang, bulls are speculators for a rise, bears for a fall. 1889. Ally Sloper’s H. H., Aug. 3, p. 242, col. 3. Mrs. Spingles says she doesn’t wonder that the Stock Exchange at times resembles a menagerie let loose, seeing what a lot of bulls, bears and stags they have at Capel Court. The French Bourse equivalent is un baissier. See the analogous terms bull; stag; and lame duck. 3. (old.)—The pupil of a private tutor, the latter being called a bear-leader (q.v.). From the general roughness and uncouthness of boys; a reference to the heavy build and ungainliness of the plantigrade in question. Even now the youth of the rising generation are sometimes called ‘unlicked cubs.’ Also called formerly bridled-bear. 1832. Legends of London, II., 247. When I was the youthful bear—as the disciple of a private tutor is called at Oxford. [M.] Verb.—To act as a bear (q.v.). 1861. New York Tribune, Nov. 29. There is no truth in the startling developments, implicating British officials, in the Herald’s despatch.... His Lordship is wholly guiltless of the charge which the Herald, in its anxiety to bear the market, has brought against him. Are you there with your bears? phr. (colloquial).—A greeting of surprise at the reappearance of anybody or anything; are you there again; or, in the words of its most recent slang equivalent, ‘What, again! so soon?’ The phrase is explained by Joe Miller, as the exclamation of a man who, not liking a sermon he had heard on Elisha and the bears, went next Sunday to another church, only to find the same preacher and the same discourse. 1642. James Howell, Instructions for Forreine Travell, sec. 3. Another when at the racket court he had a ball struck into his hazard, he would ever and anon cry out, estes vous là avec vos ours? Are you there with your bears? which is ridiculous in any other language but English. 1740. Richardson, Pamela, III., 335. O no, nephew! Are you thereabouts with your bears? 1820. Scott, Abbot, xv. Marry, come up. ‘Are you there with your bears?’ muttered the dragon. To play the bear, phr. (common).—To behave in a rough and rude manner. 1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., p. 473, col. 1. When we haue so turned all order vpsidowne ... there is nothing but ... playing the beare amongst vs. Bear a bob, verbal phr. (nautical).—1. To lend a hand; look sharp! look alive! 2. (popular.)—To aid, to assist, to take part in anything. Bearded Cad, subs. (Winchester College).—A porter, employed by the College to convey luggage from the railway station to the school. The term originated in an extremely hirsute individual, who, at one time, acted in the capacity. Beard-Splitter, subs. (old).—A man much given to the company of prostitutes; nowadays called a hot member, or molrower, which see for synonyms. [From beard, a tuft of hair + splitter, one who divides. The allusion is obvious.] Bearer-Up.—See Bear up and Bonnet. Bear-Garden Jaw, subs. (old).—Rough, unmannerly speech; talk akin to that used in bear gardens and other places of low resort. Quoted by Grose, 1785. [From bear-garden, a place set apart for bear baiting and other rough sports + jaw, talk or speech.] 1848. John Forster, Life of Oliver Goldsmith, bk. IV., chap. xi. He called Burke a bear-garden railer. 1871. Archibald Forbes, My Experience of the War between France and Germany, p. 301. The bear-garden-like Babel was rather more noisy than usual. Be-Argered, adj. (familiar).—Drunk. Bearing, ppl. adj. (Stock Exchange).—Acting as a bear (q.v.); or using artifices to lower the price of stock to suit a ‘bear’ account. Bearings. To bring one to one’s bearings, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To bring one to reason; to act as a check. A nautical term. Bear-Leader, subs. (old).—A travelling tutor. In the days when it was customary to send ‘young hopefuls’ on the Grand Tour, the expression was much more common and significant than is nowadays the case. The simile is taken from a person who leads about a tame bear for exhibition. 1749. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 4 June (1883), vol. II., p. 392. I shall not wonder if she takes me for his bear-leader, his travelling governor! 1756. Foote, Englishman Returned from Paris, Act i. Serv. My young master’s travelling tutor, sir, just arrived. Crab. ... Shew him in. This bear-leader, I reckon now, is either the clumsy curate of the knight’s own parish church, or some needy highlander. 1812. Combe, Dr. Syntax, Tour I ch. xxiii. And as I almost wanted bread, I undertook a bear to lead, To see the brute perform his dance Through Holland, Italy, and France; But it was such a very Bruin, . . . . . . . . . I took my leave, and left the cub Some humbler Swiss to pay and drub. 1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. vii. They pounced upon the stray nobility, and seized young lords travelling with their bear-leaders. Bearskin-Jobber, subs. (Stock Exchange).—See Bear, subs., sense 1. Bear Up, verb (common).—To cheat; to swindle in any way; more particularly applied to the action of ‘decoys’ and confederates.—See Bonnet. The derivation is obviously from that sense of to bear up, signifying support or backing up. 1828. G. Smeeton, Doings in London, p. 40. The billiard-marker refused to make any division of the spoil, or even to return the £10 which had been lost to him in bearing up the cull. 1883. Referee, Dec. 2, p. 2, col. 4. This looks as if the bearing up and ‘bonneting’ which has been done by friendly writers in response to my remarks is all thrown away. Beast, subs. (common).—1. Applied to anything unpleasant; or, to that which displeases; e.g., ‘It’s a perfect beast of a day,’ for ‘it’s an unpleasant day.’—See Beastly. 2. (American cadet.)—A name given to new cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.—See Snooker. 3. (Cambridge University.)—Anyone who has left school and come up to Cambridge for study, before entering the University, is called a beast, because ‘he is neither man nor boy.’ Beastly, adv. (popular).—In modern colloquial usage applied to whatever may offend the taste. Akin also to ‘awful,’ ‘everlasting,’ etc.—when used as mere intensitives, i.e., ‘very,’ ‘exceedingly.’ [Originally from beastly, of, or pertaining to the nature of a beast; hence, figuratively, brutish, irrational, unmanly; whence, through a series of transitions, its slang significations.] 1611. Dekker, Roaring Girle, wks., 1873, III., 159. I thought ’twould bee a beastly iourney. 1778. Johnson, in D’Arblay Diary, etc. (1876), vol. I., p. 37. ‘It moves my indignation to see a gentleman take pains to appear a tradesman. Mr. Braughton would have written his name with just such beastly flourishes!’ 1865. Daily Telegraph, 24 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. He was in good health ... looked almost ‘beastly well,’ as I once heard it described. [M.] 1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. i. He had a troublesome dryness in his throat, and a general sensation of dull heaviness, which he himself would have described—expressively enough, if not with academical elegance—as ‘feeling beastly.’ Beast with Two Backs, subs. phr. (old).—Explained in second quotation. 1602. Shakspeare, Othello, Act i., Sc. 1. Brabantio: What profane wretch art thou? Iago: I am one, Sir, that comes to tell you, your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with the two backs. 1785. Grose, Classical Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue. Beast with two backs, a man and woman in the act of copulation. Beat, subs. (American).—1. This word is used in many ways, its precise meaning often depending on its qualifying adjective. It is said of both men and things; for example, a live beat is anybody or anything that surpasses another, and the sense is not derogatory in the least. A dead beat, on the other hand, is the name given to a man who sponges on his fellows. [Probably from that sense of beat signifying to overcome; to show oneself superior to, either in a good or bad sense]. 1888. New York Tribune, May 16. As we pay big money for our special news, we can’t afford to throw it away on account of a little mistake in the name. So we shove her in with the single remark that it is better to have a Carrot for a President than a dead beat for a son-in-law. In this way, we again score a live beat on the galoot ‘The Rip-snorter.’ Whoopee! Now is the time to subscribe. 1888. New York Mercury, Aug. 7. But not only steamboats and locomotives were used by reporters for beats, but one newspaper man named Monroe F. Gale made a trip across the Atlantic in a pilot-boat, to get some peculiar news in his own fashion. All things taken into consideration, there never was a bolder voyage over the Atlantic than this made by the ‘Romer,’ all for the sake of a few ‘points’ in news. 2. (popular.)—The round of a policeman or watchman when on duty; one’s daily round of duty, work, etc.; and, figuratively, one’s sphere of influence. 1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, i., 211. The first evening I took my stand in Fleet Street, to look out for a fare, I was drove from street to street by women of my own profession, who swore I should not come in their beats until I had paid my ‘footing.’ 1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 31. The costermongers repaired to their ordinary beats in the suburbs. 1862. Saturday Review, 15 March, 295. Ask him why anything is so-and-so, and you have got out of his beat. [M.] Faire sa nouveauté is said of a French prostitute when seeking fresh fields and pastures new. Ppl. adj. (popular).—1. Overcome; exhausted; ‘done up.’ Generally dead-beat (q.v.). [A shortened form of beaten.]—See Beaten out. 1832. Moore, Jerome, etc., wks. II. (1862), 558. Till fairly beat, the saint gave o’er, [M.] 1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffery Hamlyn, ch. xxxvii. ‘The lad was getting beat, and couldn’t a’gone much further.’ 2. Hence also, figuratively, to be baffled; defeated. Verb (American).—To swindle; to deceive; to cheat. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 12. Later he heard of her marriage to some lawyer or artist named Diss Debar. Previous to this she had been in Montreal and telegraphed that she was dying. She beat the hotel out of a hundred dollars. Daisy beat (American thieves’).—A swindle of the first water; a robbery of magnitude. To beat hollow—to sticks—to ribands—to fits—all creation—to shivers, etc. (popular).—To excel; to surpass. 1759. Townley, High Life Below Stairs, I., ii. Crab was beat hollow, Careless threw his rider, and Miss Slammerkin had the distemper. 1847. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1877), p. 55. Many ladies ... were beat all to sticks by the lovely Odille. [M.] 1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. i. Talk of climate! a real fine day in England, like a really handsome Englishwoman, beats creation. 1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. i. I rode a race against Bob Dashwood the other morning, ... and beat him all to ribands. 1879. Lowell, Poetical Works, 418. And there’s where I shall beat them hollow. 1889. Modern Society, 19 Oct., p. 1302. (How the Nobility live in Germany.) Germans beat the English hollow at drinking beer; the ladies drink it, and the children also, like milk; and it seems to agree with them, for they are very robust. They are not ceremonious at any meal, and eat as if in a hurry for a train, cutting up all on their plate first, then forking it in with the aid of bread or their fingers. The French say arriver bon premier, ‘to arrive’ or ‘be a good first.’ Cf., synonyms in A1. To get a beat on is to get the advantage of. The same idea is expressed in the phrase to beat one’s way through the world; in other words, to push one’s interests with vigour and pertinacity. As used by thieves and their associates, to get a beat on one, besides conveying the idea of obtaining an advantage, also implies that the point has been scored by underhand, secret, or unlawful means. To beat the booby or goose, phr. (nautical).—To strike the hands across the chest and under the armpits to warm them. Formerly to beat Jonas. 1883. Times, 15 March, p. 9, col. 6. The common labourers at outdoor work were beating goose to drive the blood from their fingers. [M.] To beat the road, phr. (American).—To travel by rail without paying.—See Dead-heads and To beat, sense 1. That beat’s the Dutch!—See Dutch. Beat Daddy Mammy (old military).—To tattoo; to practice the elements of drum beating. Beaten Down to Bed-Rock, adv. phr. (American).—See Bedrock. Beaten Out, ppl. adj. with adv. (common).—Impoverished; in one’s last straits; hard up. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 351. The beaten out mechanics and artisans, who, from want of employment in their own trade, take to making small things. Ibid, p. 400. The last class of street sellers is the beaten out mechanic or workman. Beater-Cases, subs. (old).—Boots or shoes. Nearly obsolete. Trotter-cases (q.v.) is the usual term nowadays.—See Beaters. Beaters, subs. (American).—The feet. [A transferred sense of beater, originally signifying one who ‘beat’ or walked the streets. Barclay, in Shyp of Folys (1509), speaks of ‘night watchers and beters of the stretes.’] For synonyms, see Creepers. Beat the Hoof, verbal phr. (popular).—To walk; to plod; to prowl. [From beat, in the sense of to strike the ground in walking, etc., + hoof, a humorous term for the foot.] To beat the hoof is an older form of the modern pad the hoof (q.v.). 1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i., Sc. 3. Falstaff: Hold, sirrah, [to Robin] bear you these letters tightly; Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores.— Rogues, hence, avaunt! vanish like hailstones, go; Trudge, plod away, o’ the hoof; seek shelter, pack! 1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II., 412. They all beated it on the hoof to London, [M.] Beat the Rib.—See Rib. Beau Trap, subs. (old).—1. A loose stone in a pavement, under which water lodges, and which, on being trodden upon, squirts it up, to the great damage of clean clothes. 2. (old.)—Also a well-dressed sharper, on the look out for raw country visitors and such like. 3. (old.)—A fop, well-dressed outwardly indeed, but whose linen, person, and habits generally, are unclean. Beauty, subs. (American cadet).—A term applied, on the rule of contrary, to the plainest or ugliest cadet in the class at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Cf., Snooker and Babe. Beauty-Sleep, subs. (familiar).—Sleep before midnight, the idea being that early hours conduce to health and beauty. 1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, II., p. 120. The fair pupils have talked themselves to sleep, which, if report does not belie them, is not until they have forfeited all chance of adding to their attractions by getting a little beauty-sleep before twelve o’clock. 1857. Kingsley, Two Years Ago, ch. xv. ‘Are you going? it is not late; not ten o’clock yet.’ ‘A medical man, who may be called up at any moment, must make sure of his beauty-sleep.’ 1869. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, ch. lxiv. Would I please to remember that I had roused him up at night, and the quality always made a point of paying four times over for a man’s loss of his beauty-sleep. I replied that his loss of beauty-sleep was rather improving to a man of so high a complexion. 1880. Jas. Payn, Confid. Agent, ch. iii. ‘You must get your beauty-sleep,’ cried he to his wife when Barlow had departed, ‘or you will have no colour in your cheeks to-morrow.’ Beaver, subs. (common).—1. An old term for a hat; goss or cady, however, is more frequently heard nowadays. At one time hats were made of beaver’s fur—hence the name; the term is still occasionally applied to tall ‘chimney-pot hats,’ in spite of the fact that for many years silk has replaced the skin of the rodent in their manufacture. 1528. Roy, Sat. To exalte the thre folde crowne Of anti-christ hys bever. [M.] 1661. Pepys, Diary, 27 June. Mr. Holden sent me a bever, which cost me £4 5s. 1712. Gay, Trivia, bk. II., l., 277. The broker here his spacious beaver wears, Upon his brow sit jealousies and cares. 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. ix. ‘Had you not better take off your hat?’ asks the Duchess, pointing ... to ‘the foring cove’s’ beaver, which he had neglected to remove. 1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. x. We know this of our hats, and are always reminded of it when we happen to put them on wrong side foremost. We soon find that the beaver is a hollow cast of the skull, with all its irregular bumps and depressions. In beaver, phr. (University).—In a tall hat and non-academical garb, as distinguished from cap and gown. 1840. New Monthly Magazine, lix., 271. He ... went out of College in what the members of the United Service called mufti, but members of the University beaver, which means not in his academics—his cap and gown. [M.] See also Bever. Beck, subs. (old cant).—1. A constable.—See Beak and Copper. 2. A parish beadle. Apparently the term was applied to all kinds of watchmen.—See Harman-beck. Verb (thieves’).—To imprison. Amongst Dutch thieves bekaan has the same signification, imprisoned. 1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth ch. lv. The circle with the two dots was writ by another of our brotherhood, and it signifies as how the writer ... was becked, was asking here, and lay two months in Starabin. Bed. To put to bed with a pickaxe and shovel (common).—To bury. For analogous expressions, see Ladder. c. 1881. Broadside Ballad, ‘Hands off’— Kitty Crea, some fine day, when I’m laid in the clay, Put to bed with a spade in the usual way, And yourself on the shelf a neglected old maid, Troth, your conscience will sting you, I’m greatly afraid. Bedder, subs. (Cambridge University).—A charwoman; one who makes the beds and performs other necessary domestic duties for residents in college. Bed-Fagot, subs. (familiar).—1. Applied contemptuously to a woman; Cf., ‘hussy,’ ‘witch,’ etc. 2. Synonymous with prostitute. For full list of analogous terms, see Barrack-hack. Bedfordshire, subs. (familiar).—A humorous term for bed. There are several other phrases of a kindred character; as, for example, Sheet Alley (q.v.); Blanket Fair (q.v.); The Land of Nod (q.v.), etc. 1665. Cotton, Poet. Wks. (1765), 76. Each one departs to Bedfordshire. And pillows all securely snort on. [M.] 1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Lady Ans. I’m sure ’tis time for all honest folks to go to bed. Miss. Indeed my eyes draw straws (she’s almost asleep).... Col. I’m going to the Land of Nod. Ner. Faith, I’m for Bedfordshire. 1845. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg. The time for sleep had come at last, And there was the bed, so soft, so vast, Quite a field of Bedfordshire clover. Bed-House, subs. (common).—A place of assignation where beds can be hired for a longer or shorter period as required—hence the name. For synonyms generally, see Nanny shop. Bedoozle, verb (American).—To confuse; to bewilder. Probably a corrupt form of the old English verb ‘bedazzle,’ used by Shakspeare in Taming of the Shrew, iv., 5, 46. [1593.] Bedpost. In the twinkling of a bedpost, phr. (familiar).—Instantaneously; with great rapidity. Originally in the twinkling of a bedstaff. This phrase has given rise to not a little speculation; first, as to what use the bedstaff was put; and, secondly, as to its possible connection with rapidity of motion. The generally received explanation is that the staff referred to was, as Johnson puts it, ‘a wooden pin stuck anciently on sides of the bedstead to hold the cloaths from slipping on either side.’ Dr. Murray, however, points out that the great lexicographer gave no authority, and also that ‘no corroborative evidence has been found.’ Still it seems certain that bedstaffs were used and kept near beds for some purpose by our ancestors. Bobadil, in Every Man in his Humour [1596], uses one to display his skill with the rapier, and the following explanation has been suggested by Mr. Thomas Boys [Notes and Queries, 2 S., vi., 437]. The bedstaff was an upright peg, fixed into the side of the bedstead after the manner of a pin, and projecting upwards to keep the bed clothes in their place. Consequently, as offering the means of exhibiting the use of the rapier, the wooden bedstaff may have afforded a very available as well as harmless implement. Suppose then the bedstaff to have been an upright peg or pin fitting into a hole or socket in the side of the bedstead, and, in length, about equal to the rapier. The socket is a few inches deep; and the bedstaff has (to steady it) a projecting rim which overlays the socket like a lid. The part of the bedstaff which enters the socket will then be the hilt of the rapier; the projecting rim will be the guard; and the rest of the staff will do duty as the blade. In the bedstaff we have then the form of a rapier; and, with this implement of wood, Captain Bobadil would have no difficulty in exhibiting his passado and stoccado. The rapier of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, moreover, was by no means the light and foil-like weapon now known as the small sword. It was of great length and heavy, and a bedstaff such as that suggested above, with a species of guard, and most likely about the weight of a heavy single-stick, would have been no bad instrument wherewith to indoctrinate a tyro in the noble art of self defence. Hence, probably, if this be so, the derivation of the expression, in the twinkling of a bedstaff; more especially if, as would occasionally be the case, it were used as a weapon of defence against intruders, when possibly even life itself might hang upon a dexterous use of the implement. 1660. Charac. Italy, 78. In the twinkling of a Bedstaff he disrobed himself ... and was just skipping into bed. [M.] 1676. T. Shadwell, Virtuoso, I., i. ’Gad, I’ll do it instantly, in the twinkling of a bedstaff. 1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. XI., 259. Shake ’em off and leap into bed, in the twinkling of a bedstaff. 1854. F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale, ch. i. ‘I’ll adown and be with you in ... the twinkling of a bedpost.’ Among English Synonyms may be included:—In a jiffy; in two two’s; in a brace of shakes; before you can say Jack Robinson; in a crack; in the squeezing of a lemon. Between you and me and the bedpost, phr. (familiar).—A humorous tag to an assertion; i.e., ‘between ourselves’;—‘I know what you say, but, between you and me, etc. ... the thing is absurd.’ Sometimes the last word is varied by ‘post,’ ‘door post,’ or ‘gate post’—any prop seems to serve. 1831. Bulwer Lytton, Eugene Aram, p. 234. Ah, sir, all very well to say so; but, between you and me and the bedpost, young master’s quarrelled with old master. 1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, p. 127. And between you and me and the post, sir, it will be a very nice portrait too. 1879. Punch, March 8, p. 108. Discussing an absent friend. ‘Yes, Robinson’s a clever feller, and he’s a modest feller, and he’s a honest feller; but betwixt you and i and the post, Mr. Jones,’ said Brown, confidentially, picking his wisdom tooth with his little finger nail, ‘Robinson ain’t got neither the Looks, nor yet the Language, nor yet the Manners of a Gentleman.’ ‘Right you are, sir!’ said Jones, shovelling the melted remains of his Ice Pudding into his Mouth with a Steel Knife (which he afterwards wiped on the Table Cloth). ‘You’ve ’it ’im orf t’ a T!’ Bedrock. To get down to bedrock [in anything; whether in an enquiry, or in one’s circumstances, etc.].—To the bottom; to the lowest level. A miner’s term, alluding to the solid rock underlying superficial and other formations. Therefore, metaphorically, ‘to reach bedrock’ is to attain a solid basis or foundation; bedrock facts are the ‘chiels that winna ding’—the incontestible and uncontrovertible truth. 1870. Bret Harte, Poems and Prose, p. 113. ‘No! no!’ continued T. hastily. ‘I play this yer hand alone. To come down to the bedrock it’s just this,’ etc. 1875. Scribner’s Magazine, p. 277. Getting to the real character of a man is coming to the bedrock. 1888. Louisiana Press, March 31. Thomas J. Whiteman, of Carrol county, is a Republican candidate for Governor of Missouri. You can bet your bedrock dollar that the next governor of Missouri will be a white man, although his first name isn’t apt to be Thomas. Bee. To have a bee in the head or bonnet, phr. (familiar).—To be possessed of queer ideas; ‘half-cracked’; flighty. This phrase is of considerable antiquity, being traced back to a Scotch writer, Gawin Douglas by name [1474–1521], Bishop of Dunkeld, who used it in a translation of Virgil’s Æneid. 1512–3 (translated: published in 1553). Gawin Douglas, Æneis, VIII., Prol. 120. Quhat bern be thou in bed with heid full of beis. 1657. Samuel Colvil, Whigg’s Supplication, or Scotch Hudibras [1710]. Which comes from brains which have a bee. 1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s, ch. xvii. ‘Maybe ye think the puir lassie has a bee in her bonnet; but ye ken yoursell if naebody but wise folk were to marry, the warld wad be ill peopled.’ 1853. Bulwer Lytton, My Novel, III., 307. It is not an uncommon crochet amongst benevolent men to maintain that wickedness in necessarily a sort of insanity, and that nobody would make a violent start out of a straight path unless stung to such disorder by a bee in his bonnet. For synonyms, see Apartments to let. 1868. Dr. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 77, col. 2. You have a bee in your bonnet or your head is full of bees; [i.e.] full of devices, crotchets, fancies, inventions, and dreamy theories. The connection between bees and the soul was once generally maintained ... the moon was called a bee by the priestesses of Cerës, and the word lunatic or moon-struck still means one with ‘bees in his head.’ Beef, subs. (common).—1. Human flesh (a transferred sense); i.e., obese; stolid; or fleshy like an ox. 1862. Cork Examiner, March 28. Chelmsford stood higher in the leg, and showed less beef about him. [M.] 2. (nautical.)—By a further transition beef has also come to signify men; strength; or ‘hands’; ‘More beef!’ a bo’sun’s exhortation to extra exertion. 1863. Cornhill Magazine. Feb., ‘Life on Board a Man of War.’ Useful at the heavy hauling of braces, etc., where plenty of beef is required. [M.] 3. (common.)—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick. To be in beef, phr. (old)—Said only of women. It means to have carnal knowledge. To be in a man’s beef, phr. (old).—To wound with a sword.—Grose. To cry or give beef, or hot beef, phr. (thieves’).—To give an alarm; to pursue; to set up a hue and cry. It has been suggested that beef in this case is a rhyming synonym to ‘thief.’ For synonyms, see To guy. To be dressed like Christmas beef, phr. (common).—To be decked out in one’s best raiment; in allusion to the ‘dressing’ of Christmas beef by butchers. To make beef, phr. (thieves’).—To run away; to decamp. For synonyms, see Amputate. Beef! intj. (Australian).—‘Stop thief.’ Cf., To cry or give beef. Beef up! phr. (common).—‘Put on your strength!’ ‘Give a long pull and a strong pull!’ Beef-Brained, adj. (common).—Doltish; obtuse; thickheaded; a reference to the heavy, dullness of appearance of oxen. Beef-Head, subs. (common).—A dolt; a stupid, thickheaded person. Cf., Beef-brained. Beef It, verb (common).—Considered originally a provincialism, but now common. The lower classes in the East End of London frequently speak of beefing it, either in reality or anticipation (mostly latter), when referring to a meat meal, more particularly when it happens to be beef. Beefment. On the beefment, adv. phr. (thieves’).—On the alert; on the look out. Beef-Stick, subs. (military).—The bone in a joint of beef. At mess it is ‘first come, best served’; and those who come last sometimes get little more than the beef-stick. Beef Straight.—See Straight. Beef to the Heels, like a Mullingar Heifer, phr. (Irish).—A stalwart man, or a fine woman; i.e., one whose superiority is manifest from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot; literally, all beef down to the heels. c. 1880. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, p. 193. Dolly was not a fine woman as they say, at all; not beef to the heels, by any means; in a grazier’s eye she would have had no charm whatsoever. Beef-Witted, adj. (common).—See Beef-brained. 1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in wks. (Grosart) III., 257. Liues there anie such slowe yce-braind beefe-witted gull. 1863. Reader, 22 Aug. This British bull-neckedness, this British beef-wittedness. [M.] Beefy, adj. (common).—Fleshy; unduly thick, or obese. [From beef + y: a transferred sense.] Also beefiness, subs., fleshy development. The ankles of women are sometimes ungallantly spoken of as beefy, with which compare beef to the heels. A run of luck and good fortune, generally, is likewise referred to as beefy. 1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xi. To see him in his huge shirt-sleeves, with his awkward beefy hands hanging inanely by his side, and his great foolish mouth open. Bee-Line. To take or make a bee-line [for a place or object], phr. (originally American; now common).—To go direct; ‘as the crow flies’; without circumlocution. Bees, when fully laden with pollen, make for the hive in a straight, or bee-line. One of the American railways is called the Bee-Line Road from the direct route it takes between its termini. Cf., Straight shoot. 1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers. The field of Lexin’ton where England tried The fastest colors thet she ever dyed. An’ Concord Bridge, thet Davis, when he came, Found was the bee-line track to heaven an’ fame, Ez all roads be by natur’, ef your soul Don’t sneak thur shun-pikes so’s to save the toll. 1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. v. How they could follow an enemy’s trail, or strike a bee-line through unpathed woods to the point they sought! 1875. Miss Bird, Six Mos. in Sandwich Islands, Lett. xxix., p. 275 (1886). Horses cross the sand and hummocks as nearly as possible on a bee-line. 1884. Aldridge, Ranch Notes, p. 78. The cattle are in great dread of this pest [the heel-fly], and the instant an animal feels one, it hoists its tail in the air, and takes a bee-line for the nearest water. Beelzebub’s Paradise, subs. (popular).—Hell; the infernal regions. Beelzebub is a frequent mis-reading for Beelzebul, the name given by the Jews to the prince of demons. The usage occurs in the New Testament at Matthew x., 25, and xii., 24–27, where Beelzebub should read Beelzebul. The former is properly the god of the Philistines, worshipped as the destroyer of flies [from Hebrew baal, lord + zebub, a fly]; whilst the latter is an opprobrious change on the former [from Hebrew baal, lord + zebul, dung]. Been in the Sun, adv. phr. (common).—A synonym for ‘drunk,’ in connection with which see Screwed. An allusion to a flushed, heated appearance. Been Measured for a New Umbrella, phr. (American).—Said sportively of anyone appearing in new, ill-fitting clothes, or who has struck out a new line of action, the wisdom of which is doubtful. The joke is an old one and refers to a man of whom it was said that nothing fitted him but his umbrella. Been There. Oh, yes, I’ve been there, phr. (American), i.e., ‘I know what I am about.’ A popular exclamation. When it is said of a man that he has been there, shrewdness, pertinacity, and experience are implied. A variant may be found in the equally slang expression, ‘he got there all the same.’—See Got there. 1888. Atlanta Constitution, May 4. The Japanese say: ‘A man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink, and next the drink takes the man.’ Evidently the Japanese ‘have been there.’ 2. Another and more invidious meaning, however, is attached to the phrase. Women suspected of clandestine meetings with men are said to have been there. Beer, subs. (familiar).—To do a beer, i.e., to take a drink of beer. 1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 3. Quarter-day, too, no more chance of tick, Fancy I shall ’ave to cut my stick. Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear, Two d. left!—must go and do a beer! 1889. Sporting Times, July 6. It was the old tale of stony, pebble-beached, block granite Wednesday, and money on the staff there was none. ‘Pitcher,’ said Shifter, brushing the dust off his tongue, ‘got enough for a beer?’ ‘Enough for a beer?’ repeated Pitcher. ‘Good heavens, I wish I had. If Bass’s ale was a ha’penny a barrel I couldn’t buy enough to soak a fly-paper!’ Verb.—To drink beer; also, to get drunk. 1780–6. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’) Odes R. Acad., wks., 1794, I., 105. He surely had been brandying it or beering, that is, in plainer English, he was drunk. [d.] To think no small beer [of oneself], phr. (common).—Small beer is weak beer; hence, figuratively equivalent to a trifle. The expression, to think no small beer of oneself, indicates, therefore, a good measure of self-esteem. 1840. De Quincey, Style, wks. XI., 174. [I] should express her self-esteem by the popular phrase, that she did not think small beer of herself. Beer and Bible, phr. (political).—An epithet applied sarcastically to a political party which first came into prominence during the last Beaconsfield Administration. It was called into being by a measure introduced by the moderate Liberals in 1873, with a view to placing certain restrictions upon the sale of intoxicating drinks. The Licensed Victuallers, an extremely powerful association, whose influence extended all over the kingdom, took alarm, and turned to the Conservatives for help in opposing the bill. In the ranks of the latter were numbered the chief brewers; the leaders of the association, moreover, had mostly strong high church tendencies, while one of them was president of the Exeter Hall organization. The Liberals, noting these facts, sarcastically nicknamed this alliance the Beer and Bible Association; the Morning Advertiser, the organ of the Licensed Victuallers, was dubbed the Beer and Bible Gazette; and lastly, electioneering tactics ascribed to them the war cry of beer and bible! This so-called beer and bible interest made rapid strides: in 1870 the Conservatives were at their low water mark among the London constituencies; but, in 1880, they had carried seats in the City, Westminster, Marylebone, Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, and Southwark. A notable exception to this strange fellowship was Mr. Bass [afterwards Lord Bass], of pale-ale fame, who held aloof from opposition to the measure in question. Anent the nickname Beer and Bible Gazette given to the Morning Advertiser, it may be mentioned that it had already earned for itself a somewhat similar sobriquet. For a long time this paper devoted one-half of its front page to notices of publicans and tavern-keepers; while the other half was filled up with announcements of religious books, and lists of preachers at the London churches and chapels. This gained for the paper the equally singular sobriquet of the ‘Gin and Gospel Gazette.’ Beer and Skittles. Generally, Not all beer and skittles, phr. (familiar), i.e., not altogether pleasant, or couleur de rose. A tap room simile, the allusion being to drinking beer and playing at skittles at one and the same time. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 138. But football wasn’t all beer and skittles to the Fags. There was an institution called ‘Kicking in,’ which, while it lasted, was much worse than ‘watching out’ at cricket, although it had the very great merit of not continuing so long; for, even on a whole holiday, we seldom had more than two hours of it. 1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Aug. 13, p. 6. Prince George of Wales is ‘learning his profession,’ and finds it is not all beer and skittles. That run across the Channel into Queenstown harbour showed our young naval officer the difference between an ironclad and a torpedo boat. The latter is an uncommonly lively craft, and in a choppy sea under a fresh breeze was surprisingly nimble. The commander of No. 79 arrived in the harbour, having shown that at least in one respect he has already something in common with the late admiral, Lord Nelson. The officers of the Revenge had the honour to request the pleasure of the company of the Prince and his brother officers to breakfast. The brother officers went, His Royal Highness spent the day in his hammock, and towards evening wrote to his Royal Father a description of the perils of the deep. Beer-Barrel, subs. (common).—The human body. Cf., Bacon. Beeriness, subs., Beery, adj. (common).—Pertaining to a state of, or approaching to drunkenness; intoxicated; fuddled with beer. For synonyms, see Screwed. 1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. viii., p. 56. The stranger was left to the ... beery atmosphere, sawdust, pipe-lights, spittoons, and repose. 1877. D. C. Murray, in Belgravia, July, p. 73. There was a beery and bloated captain, resident in the inn, who had left the army, as the rumour ran, under disreputable auspices. 1889. Modern Society, July 13, p. 838. It is a fact that does not seem to have struck anyone, that Shakspeare’s first appearance as a sporting tipster was in the words, ‘Lay on Macduff.’ We believe, however, that they could at that time have got five to one against him. So sure was the bard of his tip, that he added, in his own classical language, ‘Damn’d be he that first cries, Hold, enough,’ which is vulgarly translated by the beery oracle of the kerbstone, ‘Put yer shirt on ’im, cuffs an’ all.’ Beer-Jerker, subs. (American).—A tippler.—See Jerker and Slinger. Beerocracy, subs. (common).—The brewing and beer-selling interest. [A humorous appellation in imitation of aristocracy. From beer + [o] cracy, from Greek κρατέω, to rule, to hold.] 1881. World, 19 Jan., p. 10, col. 2. The startling mixture of peerage and beerocracy ... was absent this time. [M.] Beer-Slinger.—See Slinger; also Jerker. Beeswax, subs. (old).—1. Poor, soft cheese. Sometimes called sweaty-toe cheese (q.v.). 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob: Now, landlord, ’arter that ’ere drap of max, suppose we haves a drain o’ heavy wet, just by way of cooling our chaffers—mine’s as dry as a chip—and, I say, do you hear, let’s have a twopenny burster, half a quartern of beesvax, a ha’p’orth o’ ingens, and a dollop o’ salt along vith it, vill you? Mace: Bellay! a burster and beesvax—ingens and salt here. (Calling as he fetches the porter from the side wing, l.). Now, then, here you are, Master Grimmuzzle. 1849. Bell’s Life. [From Baumann.] A burster with a slice of beeswax. 2. A bore; one who ‘buttonholes’ another. Generally, Old beeswax. Beeswaxers, subs. (Winchester College).—Thick boots used for football. Probably from being smeared with beeswax or other substitute for rendering footgear supple. Pronounced Bĕswaxers. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 137. Our costume consisted of a jersey, flannel trousers, beeswaxers (lace-up boots), or ‘High-lows’ (low shoes), with two or three pairs of ‘Worsteders’ (thick worsted stockings), the feet of all but one pair being cut off. Beeswing, subs. (common).—A gauzy film or ‘crust,’ in port wines, the result of age. [From bees + wing; so called from its appearance when broken up in the process of decanting.] Hence also beeswinged. 1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, III., p. 26. Scott from under bushy eyebrows winked at the apparition of a beeswing. 1850. D. Jerrold, The Catspaw, Act i. Whereupon, the animal spirits are held in suspense, like—like the beeswing in port. 1873. Fitzedward Hall, Modern English, p. 32. This port is not presentable unless beeswinged. Old beeswing, subs. (common).—A nickname for anyone, but especially for one who ‘takes to his liquor kindly’ as the saying goes. 18(?). Mark Lemon, Golden Fetters, II., p. 74. Mr. Clendon did not call Mr. Barnard ‘old cock,’ ‘old fellow,’ or old beeswing. Beetle-Crusher or Beetle Squasher, subs. (popular).—1. A large foot. The term was popularised by Leech in the pages of Punch. For synonyms, see Hoof. 2. In a transferred and now more common sense to that originally obtaining, a large boot or shoe. Also Beetle-cases. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases. 1869. W. Bradwood, The O.V.H., ch. xxi. Writhing yet striving to look pleasant on the infliction which the beetle-crusher of a recent arrival had just inflicted on his pet corn. c. 1880. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, II., p. 200. Yes, but what horrible boots! Whoever could have had the atwocity to fwame such beetle-crushers. 3. (military.)—An infantry soldier; the term is applied to them by the cavalry. A variant is Mud-crusher, which see for synonyms. Beetle-Crushing, adj. (popular).—With solid tread, such as comes from large heavy feet encased in boots or shoes to match; e.g., the marching of infantry. Cf., Beetle-crusher, sense 3. 1876. Anteros, I., p. 188. The possibility floated before him, now, of sending all his live and dead stock into the market,—of exchange into a sedate beetle-crushing corps. Beetles, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Colorado mine shares. 1887. Atkins, House Scraps. Oh supposing our creamjugs were broken, Or beetles were sowing the babies. Beetle-Sticker, subs. (common).—An entomologist. Before the Wind, phr. (colloquial).—In prosperous circumstances; out of debt or difficulty. From the nautical expression. Begad! intj. (common).—A corruption of ‘By God!’ and, as such a euphemistic oath.—See Oaths. 1742. Fielding, J. Andrews. Begad! madam ... ’tis the very same I met. 1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, II., iv., 39. Only one, begad! in the world. Beggared. I’ll be beggared if, etc., phr. (common).—An emphatic form of asseveration; i.e., ‘I’ll give up everything, even to being reduced to beggary, if,’ etc. Beggar-Maker, subs. (old).—A publican. Beggars, subs. (cards’).—The small cards from the deuce to the ten are so called. Beggar’s Bolts.—See Beggar’s bullets. Beggar’s Bullets or Bolts (old).—Stones. 1584. Hudson, Judith, in Sylvester’s Du Bartas (1608), 698. A pack of country clowns ... that them to battail bownes, with begger’s bolts and levers. [M.] 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. ‘The beggar’s bullets began to fly’; i.e., they began to throw stones. Beggar’s Bush. To go home by beggar’s bush, phr. (old).—To go to ruin; otherwise explained as follows. 1686. Twelve Ingenious Characters. He throws away his wealth as heartily as young heirs, or old philosophers, and is so eager of a goal, or a mumper’s wallet, that he will not wait fortune’s leisure to undo him, but rides post to beggar’s bush, and then takes more pains to spend money than day-labourers to get it. [N.] 1868. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 78. Beggar’s Bush. To go by beggar’s bush (or) go home by beggar’s bush, i.e., to go to ruin. Beggar’s bush is the name of a tree which once stood on the left hand of the London road from Huntingdon to Caxton, so called because it was a noted rendezvous for beggars. These punning phrases and proverbs are very common. Russell Hill, near Croydon, where the Warehousemen’s and Clerks’ Schools are, is locally known as Beggar’s Bush. Beggar’s Plush, subs. (old)?—Corduroy.—See quotation. 1688. London Gazette, No. 2379, page 4. A person ... in a dark grey Cloth Coat.... Breeches of Beggar’s Plush. [M.] Beggar’s Velvet, subs. (common).—Downy particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of housemaids. Otherwise called sluts’-wool (q.v.). Beggar the Thing! intj. (common).—Equivalent to ‘confound’ or ‘hang the thing’—used to give additional emphasis to a word or action. Begin Upon [a Person], verb (common).—To attack; to assault. Begosh! B’gosh! intj. (American).—An expletive, probably of negro origin; a half veiled oath; a corruption of ‘By God!’—See Oaths. 1888. The Epoch, May 5. Art dealer (descanting on the virtues of the picture). ‘You will observe, sir, that the drawing is free, that—’ Agriculturist. ‘Well, if the drawin’s free an’ you don’t tax me too much for the frame b’gosh I’ll take it.’ Behind, subs. (common).—1. The posterior; the rump. c. 1830. George IV., in Saturday Review (1862), 8 Feb. Go and do my bidding—tell him he lies, and kick his behind in my name. [M.] 2. (Eton and Winchester Colleges.)—A back at football. At Eton called short behind and long behind, usually abbreviated to ‘short’ and ‘long.’ At Winchester, second behind and last behind. These answer to the half-back and back of Association football. At Winchester, in the Fifteens, there is also a third behind. Behind One’s Side, adv. phr. (Winchester College).—Said of a man when nearer the opponent’s goal than the player of his team who last touched the ball. Beilby’s Ball, subs. (old).—An Old Bailey execution. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Beilby’s Ball,—‘he will dance at Beilby’s Ball, where the sheriff pays [for] the musick: he will be hanged. Who Mr. Beilby was, or why that ceremony was so called remains with the quadrature of the circle, the discovery of the philosopher’s stone, and diverse other desiderata yet undiscovered.’ Bejan, Baijan, etc., subs. (Scotch University).—A freshman; a student of the first year at the Universities of St Andrew’s and Aberdeen: it is now obsolete at Edinburgh. [From the French bec jaune, yellow beak, in allusion to the color of the mandibles of young birds.] The term was adopted from the University of Paris; but, signifying ‘a novice’ it has been in more or less general use for nearly three hundred years. At Aberdeen, the second-class students are ‘semi-bejans’; in the third ‘tertians’; while those in the highest rank are ‘magistrands.’ In the University of Vienna the freshman is called beanus, and in France ‘footing money’ is bejaunia. For synonymous terms for freshmen and raw recruits, see Snooker. 1611. Cotgrave. Bejaune, a novice ... or young beginner, in a trade or art. 1865. G. Macdonald, Alec Forbes, ch. xxxiv. The benches were occupied by about two hundred students, most of the freshmen or bejans in their red gowns. 1887. Standard, Feb. 10, p. 5, col. 2. The term baijan, used in one of the Scottish universities to designate a freshman, is from the French bec jaune, yellow beak—young birds having usually bills of this hue. Belch, subs. (common).—Beer, especially poor beer. So called because of its liability to cause eructation. The term is probably much older than indicated by quotations. One of Shakspeare’s characters in Twelfth Night is Sir Toby Belch, a reckless, roystering, jolly knight of the Elizabethan period. For synonyms, see Swipes. 1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. XV., p. 347. Those Poor Sots who are gussling belch at his own Ale-house. 1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. VII., p. 18. I sneak’d into a little house, Where porters do their belch carouse. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Belch (s.), common beer or ale sold in publick houses is so called. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Belch, all sorts of beer, that liquor being apt to cause eructation. 1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 265. ‘Let’s have a pot of that fourpenny English Burgundy of yours, and, whilst my mates are drinking the belch, I want to talk business with you.’ Belcher, subs. (pugilistic).—A neckerchief named after Jim Belcher, a noted pugilist. The ground is blue, with white spots. Also, attributatively, to any handkerchief of a similar pattern. For synonyms, see Fogle. 1812. Examiner, 21 Sept., 607, 1. The traverser ... tied a belcher handkerchief round his neck. 18(?). Dickens, The Ghost of Art, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 215. I saw that the lower part of his face was tied up, in what is commonly called a belcher handkerchief. 1874. Macmillan’s Magazine, April, p. 506. The spotted blue and white neckerchief, still called a belcher, bears the name of a famous prize fighter. 2. (thieves’.)—A ring. Described in quotation. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 399. The best sort of rings for fawney dropping is the belchers. They are a good thick looking ring, and have the crown and V.R. stamped upon them. 3. (circus and showmen.)—A drinker of beer; generally a hard drinker. Cf., Belch. 1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 99. Now it is well known that travelling mummers are all rare belchers ... I kept them in conversation ... until the drink took the desired effect, and one by one the princes and kings dropped on the grass floor, and were sound drunk and asleep. Belial, subs. (Oxford University).—A nickname of Balliol College. Believe. I believe you, phr. (common).—This phrase is frequently employed to signify general assent; ‘yes.’ Sometimes colloquially ‘I believe you my boy’; once a favourite catch-phrase of a well-known actor. 1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 286. ‘Now confess: were you not a little surprised?’—‘I believe you,’ replied that illustrious person. 1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 140. ‘Miss Rouney, I gather, was the confidante of the other.’ ‘Confidant? I believe you.’ 1860. George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, p. 199. ‘Is she a cross woman?’—‘I believe you.’ 1879. Dudley Costello, The Millionaire of Mincing Lane, p. 204. ‘And she hates that fellow?’—‘Hates him? I believe you.’ Bell, subs. (vagrants’).—A song. Tramps’ term. Simply diminutive of bellow.—Hotten. Verb (schoolboy).—To bell a marble is to run away with it, but the action scarcely amounts to actual theft. To ring one’s own bell, phr. (American).—A variation of ‘to blow one’s trumpet’; to sound one’s praises personally. Bell-Bastard, subs. (provincial slang).—In the West of England the illegitimate child of a woman who is herself illegitimate; why and wherefore is obscure, though possibly a corruption of ‘double bastard.’ Bellmare, subs. (American).—A political leader, mostly used contemptuously. The term is a slang appropriation from the terminology of Western life, where it seems to be used in regard to mules much in the same way as bell-wether is employed in England in reference to sheep. Why the grey mare, says the author of A Ride with Kit Carson, should be the better horse in the estimation of mules I cannot say, but such is certainly the fact. Though very cautious animals when relying solely on their own judgment, they would appear to have a consciousness of their own inferiority, which induces them to entertain a great regard for the sagacity of the horse, and especially for that of a white mare. The wily Californians, taking advantage of this amiable weakness, employ a steady, old, white mare of known gentleness and good character, to act as a kind of mother and guide to each drove of unruly mules. Bellows, subs. (popular).—The lungs. This, etymologically, is the same as ‘belly,’ both words having passed through a most complicated history. Properly speaking a bellows is an instrument constructed to produce a strong current of air, and the word itself can be traced back to about A.D. 800. Its figurative and slang signification is recorded as follows:— 1615. Latham, Falconry (1633), 115. The lungs doe draw a breath.... When these bellowes doe decay, then health from both doth fade away, [M.] 1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act v., Sc. 2., p. 75 (2 ed.). Heark you, madam, don’t abuse my wife—slut quotha! i’gad let me tell you, she has done a cleaner thing than you’ll ever do while your bellows blow, old lady. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. A plague on those malty cove fellows, Who’d have us in spirits relax; Drink, they say, and you’ll ne’er burn the bellows, Half water instead of all max; A glass of good max, had they twigg’d it, Would have made them, like us, lads of wax; For Sal swigg’d, and Dick swigg’d, And Bob swigg’d, and Nick swigg’d, And I’ve swigged, and we’ve all of us swigg’d it, And, by Jingo, there’s nothing like max. All Max! By Jingo, there’s nothing like max! 1843. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Sam Slick in England, ch. xxii. He [the servant] is so fat and lazy ... walkin’ put him out o’ breath.... How I would like to lick him ... round the park ... to improve his wind, and teach him how to mend his pace. I’d repair his old bellowses for him, I know. Though regarded as slang in England, the word is colloquially used in many parts of America, in the duplicated plural form—bellowses. 1848. J. R. Lowell, in Biglow Papers, I., p. 23. His bellowses is sound enough. Bellowsed, ppl. adj. (old).—Transported; lagged. Cf., Bellowser, sense 2. Bellowser, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A blow in the pit of the stomach, or wind—one that takes the breath away. 2. (old.)—A sentence of transportation for life. 1856. Novels and Tales (from Household Words), Tauch. ed. vi., p. 187. A sigh of the kind which is called by the lower classes a bellowser. Bellows to Mend, phr. (common).—It is said of a broken-winded horse that it has bellows to mend; likewise of a man whose lungs are affected, or one who from any cause is ‘out of health.’ 1856. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. iv. To one gentleman he would pleasantly observe, as he tapped him on the chest, ‘Bellows to mend for you, my buck!’ Bell-Rope, subs. (common).—The same as aggerawators (q.v.). 1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v., ‘Love lock.’ When men indulge in a curl in front of their ears, the love-lock is called a bell-rope—i.e., a rope to pull the belles after them. Bells Down! intj. (Winchester College).—See quotation and Bells go single! 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 62. The junior in chamber had a hard time of it; ... while endeavouring to get through his multifarious duties, he had to keep a sharp ear on the performance of the chapel bell, and to call out accordingly, ‘first peal!’ ‘second peal!’ and bells down! Bells go Single! intj. (Winchester College).—A single bell is rung for five minutes before the hour at which chapel commences. For College evening chapel three three’s are rung, and then follows a ‘bell,’ one for every man in College—70. 1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 256. At a quarter to six the peal again rang out, and the cry of bells go was sounded in shrill tones through every chamber of College and Commoners.... After ten minutes the peal changed, and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the cry bells go single, and five minutes afterwards, by that of ‘bells down.’... Presently the head-master ... would descend from his library: or the second master ... would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber, and the warning voice would be heard ‘Gabell’ or ‘Williams through,’ ‘Williams,’ or ‘Ridding in.’ Straightway there would be a general rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous stream from their more distant quarters. Bellswagger.—See Belswagger. Bell-Topped, Bell-Knobbed, ppl. adj. (harlotry).—Said of a man whose penis is considerably thicker at the top end than at the root or middle. Bell-Topper, subs. (popular).—A silk hat. [From bell, alluding to the shape, + top, from its position when worn, in relation to the rest of the body + er.] For synonyms, see Golgotha. 1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Aug. 5, p. 5, col. 4. His very bell-topper hat had been garlanded with flowers. Belly-Ache, subs. (vulgar).—A pain in the bowels; a colic. 1881. New York Times, Dec. 18, quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65. Bellyache. To grumble without good cause. Employés bellyache at being overworked, or when they fancy themselves underfed, etc. Belly-Bender, subs. (American).—A boy’s term for weak and unsafe ice. Belly-Bound, adj. (vulgar).—Constipated; costive. Belly-Bumper or Belly-Buster. To take a belly-buster, phr. (American).—To ride down a hill in a sled lying on one’s stomach, an amusement confined, it hardly needs saying, to young America. The idea of toboganning was derived from this boyish pastime, and the oaken board has been succeeded by the fleet-winged toboggan, made of seasoned maple with handsomely upholstered seats. With the advent of improved ice vehicles the interest in these sports has increased, and instead of being confined to the vulgar boys who used to ride down hill belly-buster fashion, men and even the most fashionable women now partake of this pleasant and invigorating pastime. Also belly-bumbo, belly-guts, or gutter, belly-flounders, belly-flumps, and belly-plumper. 1888. Chicago Inter-Ocean. Barney has a sled, on which he hauls the fish in snowy weather. Barney had his sled out yesterday, belly-bumping on a little patch of ice and snow. Belly-Button, subs. (American).—The navel. Belly-Can (political).—Explained by quotation. 1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Mar. 28. Whatever ultimately comes of the Sunday Closing movement, it will at any rate leave behind it a curious addition to the English language. This is the word ‘belly-can,’ which is (according to the opponents of Sunday Closing) the plebeian counterpart of the more genteel ‘small cask’—both things being, of course, contrivances for getting round the legal prohibition of Sunday drinking. Lexicographers may perhaps be glad to have the definitions of the two phrases as given yesterday afternoon by Mr. Cavendish Bentinck:—The ‘belly-can’ was a tin vessel not unlike a saddle in shape, which men and women, generally the latter—let hon. members note that—got filled with beer and secreted about their clothes, an averaged-sized can holding about four quarts. A more aristocratic method of private Sunday drinking was by means of the ‘small cask.’ The small cask industry was said to be an exceedingly prosperous one in certain districts. Grocers advertised for casks as a speciality, and one grocer advertised on a Saturday fifty and sixty and sometimes even 100 empty casks. Belly-Cheat or Belly-Chete, subs. (old).—An apron; also food. [From belly + slang cheat, a thing; from Anglo-Saxon ceat, a thing.] 1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, wks. (1885) III., 196. A belly-chete, an apron. 1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II., i. Each man shall eat his own stol’n eggs and shall possess what he can purchase—back or belly-cheats. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Belly-cheat, an apron. Belly-Cheer or Belly-Chere, subs. (old).—Food. This term is of considerable antiquity, as also is belly-cheering for eating and drinking. For synonyms, see Grub. 1559. Eliotes Dictionarie. Abdomini indulgere, to geve hym selfe to bealy-chere. 1612. Rowlands, Knaves of Spades, etc. Gluttonie mounted on a greedie beare, To belly-cheere and banquets lends his care. 1699. Coles, English Dictionary. Belly-cheer, Cibaria. Belly-chere.—See Belly-cheer. Belly-Chete.—See Belly-cheat. Belly-Full, subs. (old).—1. A sound drubbing; a thrashing. 1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 265. The churlish frampild waues gaue him his belly-full of fish broath. 1605. Chapman, All Fooles, Act ii., p. 58 (Plays, 1874). Walk not too boldly; if the serjeants meet you, you may have swaggering work your belly-full. 1666. Pepys, Diary, Oct. 28. He says that in the July fight, both the Prince and Holmes had their belly-fulls, and were fain to go aside. 1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xvi. Bunker’s Hill, where, Mr. Slick observed, ‘the British first got a taste of what they afterwards got, a belly-full.’ 2. A woman with child was also formerly said to have her belly-full.—See Belly-up. Belly-Furniture, subs. (old).—Food; something wherewith to furnish the belly. Cf., Belly-timber, Back-timber, etc. 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. v. (Bohn’s), i., 110. Then did they fall upon the victuals, and some belly-furniture to be snatched at in the very same place. Belly-go-Firster, subs. (pugilistic).—An initial blow, generally given, say some authorities, in the stomach—whence its classic name! Belly-Gut, subs. (old).—A lazy, greedy fellow. 1540. Morysine, transl., Vives’ Introd. Wisd., viij. Such as be skoffers, swell feastes ... bely guts. [M.] 1733. Bailey, Erasmus, p. 346. Since then thou would’st not have a belly-gut for thy servant, but rather one brisk and agile, why then dost thou provide for thyself a minister fat and unwieldy? Belly-Guts, subs. (American schoolboys’).—1. In Pennsylvania, molasses candy. 2. (American.)—Equivalent to belly-bumper (q.v.). Belly-Hedges, subs. (Shrewsbury School).—In school steeple-chases, obstructions of such a height that they can easily be cleared—i.e., about ‘belly-high.’ Belly-Piece, subs. (old).—1. An apron. Cf., Belly-cheat. 1689. Shadwell, Bury Fair. If thou shoulds cry, it would make streaks down thy face; as the tears of the tankard do upon my fat host’s belly-pieces. 2. A mistress; a concubine; a whore. 1630. Randolph, Jealous Lovers. Asot: Come, blush not, bashfull belly-piece—I will meet thee: I ever keep my word with a fair lady. I will requite that jewell with a richer. Belly Plea, subs. (old).—A plea of pregnancy, generally adduced by female felons capitally convicted. This they took care to provide for, previous to trial; every gaol had, as the Beggars’ Opera informs us, one or more child-getters, who qualified the ladies for that expedient. The plea still holds good, execution of female convicts in ‘an interesting condition’ being deferred until after accouchement. In practice, it really means a commutation of the death penalty for life imprisonment. All chances, however, of becoming enceinte after arrest are sedulously guarded against by the rules of modern prison life. Belly-Plumper, subs. (American).—See Belly-bumper. Belly-Timber, subs. (old).—Food; provisions of all kinds. [From belly + timber.] This, like many other words of its class (e.g., back-timber, q.v.), was once in serious use, but for a long period it has been going down hill, and it is now a thorough-going vulgarism, only surviving dialectically, and as slang. Massinger and the older dramatists employed it seriously; toward the end of the seventeenth century it began to be used in a ludicrous and vulgar sense. Butler employs it thus, and in Charles Cotton’s Scarronides (1678), the hero we are told— Lay thinking now his guts grew limber, How they might get more belly-timber. For synonyms generally, see Grub. 1614. Terence in English, Annona cara est. Corne is at a high price; victuals are deare; belly-timber is hard to come by. 1637. Massinger, Guardian, III., iii. Ador. Haste you unto my villa, and take all provisions along with you.... Car. Trust me for belly-timber. 1663–78. S. Butler, Hudibras. Through deserts vast, And regions desolate they pass’d, Where belly-timber, above ground Or under, was not to be found. 1719. Poor Robin’s Almanack, Feb. On the 10th day of this month, being Shrove-Tuesday, is like to be a great innundation of belly-timber. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Belly-timber (s.), all sorts of food. 1820. Scott, Monastery, ch. xv. ‘Yonder comes the monkish retinue ... I hope a’gad, they have not forgotten my trunk-mails of apparel amid the ample provision they have made for their own belly-timber.’ Belly-Up, adv. phr. (old).—Applied to women when enceinte. From the protrusion of the abdomen which takes place under such circumstances.—See Belly-full. Belly-Vengeance, subs. (common).—Sour beer, apt to cause gastralgia. The French call this pissin de cheval, i.e., ‘horse urine.’ For synonyms, see Swipes. Belongings, subs. (colloquial).—1. Qualities; endowments; faculties. 2. Relations; one’s kindred. 3. One’s effects; or possessions. In sense 1 belongings has long been an accepted word; senses 2 and 3 are given by Annandale as ‘colloquial and vulgar.’ 1852. Dickens, Bleak House. I have been trouble enough to my belongings in my day. 1866. Saturday Review, 24 Feb., p. 244, col. 2. The rich uncle whose mission is to bring prosperity to his belongings. [M.] 4. (American.)—Used by the prudishly inclined for trousers.—See Bags. Below the Belt, adv. phr. (popular).—To strike a man below the belt is to hit him unfairly, a term derived from the pugilistic arena. Hence, underhand dealing, and the taking of mean advantage generally. It is akin with ‘To stab a man in the back.’ Belswagger, subs. (old).—1. A lewd man; a whoremaster; a pimp. [Thought to be a contracted form of belly + swagger, i.e., a man given up to bodily pleasure. Ash has both forms.] 1775. Ash, Dictionary. Belswagger, a whoremaster. 2. A bully; a hectoring fellow. This is the older, but least important usage. 1592. Greene, Defence of Coney-Catching. ... the belswaggers of the country. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bellswagger, a noisy, bullying fellow. Beltinker, subs. and verb (common).—A beating; a drubbing. To thrash; to beat soundly.—For synonyms, see Tan. Bemused, ppl. adj. (common).—Fuddled; as in the stupid stage of drunkenness. [From be + muse + ed, originally to be sunk in reverie, or contemplation.] The expression as generally used now is bemused with beer. This phrase, originally used by Pope, was given a new impetus by G. A. Sala (in Gaslight and Daylight). In America, especially, it caught the popular fancy and ran a brief but riotous course throughout the Union to signify one who addicted himself to ‘soaking’ with beer. The transatlantic usage naturally reacted upon the Mother Country, and from being occasionally employed it became much more popular, and was heard on all sides—a striking instance of ‘fashion in words.’ 1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 15. A parson much be-mus’d in beer. 1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. viii. A fat little man, primed with port, but who, when not thus bemused, is an influential member of his committee. 1883. R. L. Stevenson, The Treasure of Franchard, ch. iv., in Longman’s Mag., April, p. 694. So while the Doctor made himself drunk with words, the adopted stable-boy bemused himself with silence. For synonyms generally, see Screwed. Ben, subs. (theatrical).—1. A benefit; a performance of which the receipts, after paying expenses, are devoted to one person’s special use or benefit. 1872. Miss Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, I., 190. ‘I have played clown for my ben,’ murmured the great Dr. Mortemas. 1880. G. R. Sims, Ballads of Babylon (Forgotten). You saw me as Hamlet, Charley, the night that I had my ben. 2. (old cant.)—A fool.—Grose.—See Benish. 3. (common.)—A shortened form of Benjamin (q.v.), a coat; also of benjy (q.v.), a waistcoat. 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 252. Being at Hailsham, a small market town in Sussex, about the year 1846, I attended the club feast, which was held on the common. At that time we used to buy men’s waistcoats of Michael Riley, of Manchester, at £5 per gross, and sell them at 1s. 6d., 1s. 3d., and the lowest price at a shilling each. I had a bale containing twelve dozen arrive that morning, they were red ones; and in offering these bens, the plan was to put them on to show how well they fitted. To stand ben (popular).—To stand treat. Benar.—See Bene. Benbouse, subs. (old cant).—Good beer. [From the Latin bene = good + bouse or booze.] 1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 85. The vpright cofe canteth to the Roge: ‘I saye by the Salomon I will lage it of with a gage of benebouse; then cut to my nose watch.’ [‘I sweare by the masse, I wull washe it of with a quart of good drynke; then saye to me what thou wylt.’] 1622. John Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush. I crown thy nab with a gag of benbouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes, To maund on the pad and strike all the cheats, To mill from the Ruffmans, and commission and slates. Twang dell’s, i’ the stiromel, and let the quire cuffin And Herman Beck strine and trine to the Ruffin! i.e., I poure on thy pate a pot of good ale, And by the Rogue’s oath, a Rogue the install, To beg on the way and rob all thou meets, To steal from the hedge both the shirt and the sheets, And lie with thy wench in the straw till she twang, Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang! Bencher, subs. (old).—A frequenter of taverns; one who hulks about public houses; perhaps with an allusion to the Benchers of the Inns of Court. Ben Cull or Cove, subs. (thieves’).—A friend; a ‘pall’; a companion. [From old cant bene or ben, good + cull, a man.] For synonyms, see Cove. Bend, verb (Scotch).—To tipple; to drink hard. Jamieson, the first lexicographer to draw attention to the word in its slang sense, illustrates his example by quotations from Alan Ramsay. Murray suggests that it is derived from that sense of to bend, signifying ‘to pull,’ ‘to strain,’ ‘to apply oneself.’ 1758. A. Ramsay, Poems (1800), I., 215. Brawtippony ... which we with greed bended, as fast as she could brew. Ibid, ii., 73. To bend wi’ ye, and spend wi’ ye, an evening, and gaffaw. [1860. Ramsay, Remin., Ser. 1 (ed. 7), 47. Bend weel to the Madeira at dinner, for here ye’ll get little o’t after.] Above one’s bend, phr. (common).—Above one’s ability, power or capacity; or out of one’s reach. Probably a corruption of ‘above one’s bent.’ Shakspeare puts the expression in the mouth of Hamlet, ‘to the top of my bent’ (iii., 2). In the Southern States [U.S.A.], its place is generally taken by above my huckleberry (q.v.). An English equivalent is ‘above one’s hook.’ 1848. J. F. Cooper, The Oak Openings. It would be above my bend to attempt telling you all we saw among the red skins. Grecian bend (popular).—A craze amongst women which had a vogue from about 1872 to 1880. It consisted in walking with the body bent forward. 1876. Chambers’ Journal, No. 629. Your own advocacy for the Grecian bend and the Alexandra limp—both positive and practical imitations of physical affliction. On the bend, phr. (common).—In an underhand, oblique, or crooked way—not ‘on the square.’ 1863. J. C. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, II., 152. I never have paid anything yet on the square, and I never will. When I die, I’ll order my executor to buy my coffin off the square. He shall get it on the bend somehow or other. Bender, subs. (popular).—1. A sixpence. Thought to be an allusion to the ease with which these coins were liable to be bent in use. At one time the currency was not of such good quality as now. 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 178. Sixpence. A bender. 1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlii., p. 367. ‘Will you take three bob?’ ‘And a bender,’ suggested the clerical gentleman.... ‘What do you say, now? We’ll pay you out for three-and-sixpence a week. Come!’ 1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 66. A ragged boy established, at the crossing, who had indeed rendered himself conspicuous by his endeavours to ferry Puckers over dry-shod, was accosted by a shabby-genteel and remarkably good-looking man, in the following vernacular—‘On this minnit, off at six, Buster; two bob an’ a bender, and a three of eye-water, in?’ ‘Done for another joey,’ replied Buster, with the premature acuteness of youth foraging for itself in the streets of London. Among synonymous terms for this coin may be mentioned cripple; bandy; crookback; downer; fyebuck; lord of the manor; tanner; sprat; kick; half a borde; tizzy. 2. (Scotch.)—A hard and persistent drinker; a tippler. This should be compared with bend. 1728. Ramsay, Poems (1848), III., 162. Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, wha ken the benefit of wine. 1810. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 53. Or benders, blest your wizzens weetin’. 3. (public schools’.)—In public school phraseology a bender is a stroke of the cane administered by the master while the culprit bends down his back. 4. (common.)—The arm. In connection with this see the following, and for synonyms, see Chalk Farm. 5. (American.)—A drinking bout or spree, in the course of which, to use another slang expression, ‘the town is painted red,’ and the participants decidedly unbent. This is possibly derived from any one of the three following sources:—(1) from the Scotch usage; (2) from the facetious name given to the arm, which becomes a bender from being so frequently bent or ‘crooked’ to lift the glass to the mouth; (3) from the Dutch bende, an assembly, party, or band. 1854. Putnam’s Monthly, Aug. I met her at the Chinese room; She wore a wreath of roses, She walked in beauty like the night, Her breath was like sweet posies. I led her through the festal hall, Her glance was soft and tender; She whispered gently in my ear, ‘Say, Mose, ain’t this a bender?’ 1864. Richmond Dispatch, 3 Jan. ‘Most of the owners of these names had been tempted by the festivities of the day to go on a regular bender, and had to pay the penalty for their New Year’s frolic by appearing this morning in the police-court.’ 1888. Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. He was a character noted for going on frequent benders until he came very near having the jimjams and then sobering up. 6. (American.)—A euphemism employed by the squeamishly inclined for the leg. A similar piece of prudishness is displayed in an analogous use of ‘limb.’ With a notorious mock-modesty American women decline to call a leg a leg; they call it a limb instead. This tendency is the more remarkable when the great freedom extended to American girls and women is borne in mind; unless, indeed, it arises from guilty knowledge. White, who, perhaps, was rather given to excessive incisiveness of speech, remarked that perhaps such persons think that it is indelicate for women to have legs, and that therefore they are concealed by garments, and should be concealed in speech. Professor Geikie, during one of his Canadian tours, also found out that both sexes had limbs of some sort; the difficulty was to discover whether they were used to stand on or to hold by. Sensible people everywhere, however, have little part in such prudery. 1849. Longfellow, Kavanagh. Young ladies are not allowed to cross their benders in school. 7. (schoolboys’.)—The bow-shaped segment of a paper kite. 1873. Dr. Blackley, Hay Fever, p. 145. The first kite was six feet in length by three feet in width, and was made of the usual form, namely, with a central shaft or ‘standard,’ and a semi-circular top or bender. Over the bender, phr. (common).—A variant of ‘over the left shoulder’; the connection between bender, a slang term for the arm, and the shoulder is sufficiently apparent. There are many analogous expressions, which see under Over the left. Intj.—An exclamation of incredulity; also used as a kind of saving clause to a promise which the speaker does not intend to carry into effect. Probably an abbreviated form of over the bender. Bendigo, subs. (common).—A rough fur cap named after a notorious pugilist. Bend Over, intj. (Winchester College).—A direction to put oneself into position to receive a ‘spanking.’ This is done by bending over so that the tips of the fingers extend towards the toes, thus presenting a surface as tight as a drum on the part to be castigated. Bene, Ben, adj. (old cant).—Good. This belongs to the most ancient English cant, and is probably a corruption from the Latin. Benar and benat appear to have been used as comparatives of bene.—(See quots.) 1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p, 86. What, stowe your bene, cofe, and sut benat whydds, and byng we to rome vyle to nyp a bong. [i.e. What, hold your peace good fellow and speak better words, and let us go to London to cut, or steal a purse.] 1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Ben, good. 1611. Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker, The Roaring Girl or Moll Cut Purse. A gage of ben Rom-bouse, In a bousing ken of Rom-vile Is benar than a Caster, Peck, pennam, lay Or popler. i.e., A quart pot of good wine In a drinking house of London Is better than a cloak, meat, bread, butter milk (?) or porridge. 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11, list of cant words in. Bien, good. 1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 265. ‘I’ve brought a couple of bene coves, with lots of the Queen’s pictures in their sacks’ [pockets]. Subs. (old cant).—‘Stowe your bene,’ i.e., ‘hold your tongue.’ See quotation above from Harman’s Caveat. Bene-Bouze.—See Benbouse. Bene-Cove.—See Ben-cull. Bene Darkmans! intj. (old cant).—Good night! French thieves say sorgabon, an inversion of bonne sorgue. Benedick, subs. (familiar).—1. A sportive name for a newly-married man; especially one who has long been a bachelor. Apparently, however, there is some confusion in the usage (see sense 2). The name was derived from Shakspeare’s character in Much Ado About Nothing. 1599. Shakspeare, Much Ado About Nothing, v., 4, 100. Don Pedro. How dost thou, benedick, the married man? 1805. Rev. J. Marriott, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), I., 239. From what I have seen of his lordship, both as a bachelor and as a benedick. 2. A bachelor. Cf., foregoing. 1843. Life in the West. He is no longer a benedic, but a quiet married man. 1856. C. Bronté, Professor, ch. xxiv. ‘Are you married, Mr. Hunsden?’ asked Frances, suddenly. ‘No. I should have thought you might have guessed I was a benedick by my look.’ Bene Feakers, subs. (cant).—Counterfeiters of bills.—Grose. Bene Feakers of Gybes, subs. phr. (cant).—Counterfeiters of passes.—Grose. Bene or Bien Mort, subs. (old cant).—A fine woman; a pretty girl; a hostess. [From bene, old cant for ‘good,’ + mort, a canting term for a woman.] 1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 85 (ed. 1869). A bene mort hereby at the sign of the prauncer. [i.e., The Horse.] 1671. Richard Head, The English Rogue. Bing out, bien morts, and ture and ture, Bing out, bien morts, and toure; For all your duds are bing’d awast, The bien cove hath the loure. i.e., Go forth, brave girls: look out, look out, Look out, I say, good maids, For all your clothes are stole, I doubt, And shar’d among the blades. 1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. ‘Tour out,’ said the one ruffian to the other; ‘tour the bien mort twiring at the gentry cove.’ 1823. Scott, Peveril of the Peak, ch. xxxvi. Why the bien morts will think you a chimney-sweeper on May-day. 1881. New York Slang Dictionary. [See first stanza of canting song on page 80 ante.] Beneship.—See Benship. 1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 86. The vpright man canteth to the Roge. Man! ‘That is beneshyp to our watche.’ [That is very good for vs.] Beneshiply, adv. (old cant).—Worshipfully.—Grose. Ben-Flake, subs. (thieves’).—A steak. Bengal Tigers, subs. (military).—The Seventeenth Foot; so nicknamed from its badge of a royal tiger granted for services in India from 1804–1823. Also called ‘The Lily-Whites’ from its facings. 1874. Chambers’ Journal, p. 801. The 17th ... the Bengal Tigers, from their badge—a tiger. Bengi, subs. (military).—An onion. Bengy.—See Benjy. Benish, adj. (old cant.)—Foolish.—See Ben, sense 2. Benjamin, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A small ruler. 2. (thieves’.)—A coat. It is said to have been derived from a well-known London advertising tailor of the same name. Formerly this garment was called a Joseph, but for synonyms, see Capella. An upper Benjamin = a great coat. 1815. T. Peacock, Nightmare Abbey, p. 159. His heart is seen to beat through his upper Benjamin. [M.] 1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. Benjamins, and great-coats, and cloaks of all sorts and sizes. 1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lix., p. 181 (1888). The coachman ... with narrow-rimmed hat and fashionable Benjamin. 1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Quoting East-end slang.] Ben Joltram, subs. (provincial).—Brown bread and skimmed milk; a Norfolk term for a ploughboy’s breakfast.—Hotten. Benjy, subs. (nautical).—1. A low crowned straw hat having a very broad brim. 1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 14. Benjie, the name of a straw hat worn by sailors. 2. (common.)—A waistcoat. Also ben (q.v.). For synonyms, see Fan. 1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Benjy, a vest. Bens, subs. (American).—A workman’s slang term for his tools. In England called alls. Benship or Beenship, subs. (old cant).—Worship; goodness. This word, evidently from beneship (q.v.), is given by Bailey in his Dictionary [1728], and by Coles in 1724. Adv. (old cant).—Very good. 1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Benship, very good. 1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr.). Benship, very good. 1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Benshiply, very well. Beong, subs. (thieves’ and costermongers’).—A shilling. [From Italian bianco, white; also the name of a silver coin.] For full list of synonyms, see Deaner. Beray, verb (old cant).—To defile; to befoul; to abuse. Berkeleys, subs. (common).—A woman’s breasts. [It may be noted that in the gypsy, berk, or burk = breast; plural, berkia.] For synonyms, see Dairies. Bermudas, subs. (old).—A district in London, similar to Alsatia in Whitefriars (q.v.), and the Mint in Southwark, privileged against arrests. The Bermudas are thought to have been certain narrow and obscure alleys and passages north of the Strand, near Covent Garden, and contiguous to Drury Lane; see, however, the second quotation where the Mint would seem to be indicated. 1616. Jonson, Devil’s an Ass, II., 1. Meercraft. Engine, when did you see my cousin Everhill? keeps he still your quarter in the Bermudas? Eng. Yes, sir, he was writing this morning very hard. 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 12. In short, every contrivance that ingenuity could devise was resorted to by this horde of reprobates to secure themselves from danger or molestation. Whitefriars had lost its privileges; Salisbury Court and the Savoy no longer offered places of refuge to the debtor; and it was, therefore, doubly requisite that the Island of the Bermuda (as the Mint was termed by its occupants) should uphold its rights, as long as it was able to do so. As regards the derivation of the name, Nares suggests it in the actual practice, which obtained of debtors fleeing to the Bermuda Islands, when first discovered, to elude their creditors. This fact is alluded to in the following. Cf., second quotation already given. 1616. Jonson, Devil’s an Ass, III., 3. There’s an old debt of forty, I ga’ my word. For one is run away to the Bermudas. Berthas, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The nickname in the ‘House’ and among brokers for the ordinary stock of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company. 1889. The Rialto, Mar. 23. The week opened very badly on the Stock Exchange, and two or three days of utter stagnation followed, but yesterday afternoon a revival took place, which was quite dramatic in its suddenness and vigour. Between two o’clock and the closing of the doors at four o’clock, advances were made ranging from 2½ in Berthas to an average of 1 in Americans. Tintos climbed to 12¼, and even Kaffirs raised their sickly heads. All the little bulls went home happier than they have been for three weeks. Berwicks, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The ordinary stock of the North Eastern Railway. Bespeak-Night, subs. (theatrical).—A benefit.—See Ben. Bess.—See Betty. Bess-o’-Bedlam, subs. (old).—A lunatic vagrant. 1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xxvi. ‘Why, what Bess of Bedlam is this, would ask to see my lord on such a day as the present?’ Best. To best one, verb (common).—1. To obtain an advantage; to secure a superior position in a contest or bargain. The meaning of to best, therefore, is really ‘to worst.’ In this sense, not necessarily to cheat.—See sense 2. 1863. Trafford, World in Ch., II., 77. As I am a staunch Churchman I cannot stand quiet and see the Dissenters best the Establishment. [M.] 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 69. Bob was a good salesman, but of bad temper, who if he could not get rid of any unruly fellow by his chaffing him, would invariably turn to Perdue and say, ‘Look at this man; I shan’t bother with him, why don’t you get him away? He’s interrupting me and the business. I can’t jolly him down, so you must settle and do away with him, or I must “dry up,” for the fellow’s bested me.’ c. 1879. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 92. His intimates were wont to say there was no trusting Cuddie Elliston, while, as for Sam Pearson, it was a current saying that ‘No one had ever bested him.’ Still, Yorkshire has a certain respect for this faculty; and though Pearson was regarded as a man who carried it rather far, and would have skinned his own brother upon occasion, yet public opinion did not get much further regarding him than that ‘Lawyer Pearson knew his away about; and you’d to get up main early in the morning to get a point the best of him.’ 1883. Graphic, Feb. 24, p. 191, col. 1. So there are people who will not scruple to best a railway company, who would be loth to wrong a private person. 2. Sometimes, however, passing the ill-defined border line between sharp practice and down-right roguery, to best is an equivalent of to cheat; to swindle. 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 234. His game was besting everybody, whether it was for pounds, shillings, or pence. At one time he cheated a poor farming man out of his milch cow in exchange for another. The man was in liquor at the time, and when he came to his senses he went right away to another part of the country, and his poor wife took it so to heart that she died shortly afterwards. 1879. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Magazine, Oct. When I went to the fence he bested (cheated) me because I was drunk, and only gave me £8 10s. for the lot. So the next day I went to him and asked him if he was not going to grease my duke (put money into my hand). So he said, ‘No.’ Then he said, ‘I will give you another half-a-quid’; and said, ‘Do anybody, but mind they don’t do you.’ So I thought to myself, ‘All right, my lad; you will find me as good as my master,’ and left him. 1885. May, in Fortnightly Review, Oct., p. 578. The quack broker who piles up money by besting his clients. [M.] To give one best (thieves’).—To leave one; to sever companionship. 1879. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., Oct. While using one of those places [concerts], I first met a sparring bloke (pugilist), who taught me how to spar, and showed me the way to put my dukes up. But after a time I gave him best (left him) because he used to want to bite my ear (borrow) too often. Bester, subs. (common).—A cheat; a swindler.—See Best, sense 2. Generally applied to a turf or gaming blackleg. 1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 24. Those who cheat the Public ... ‘Bouncers and Besters’ defrauding, by laying wagers, swaggering, or using threats. 1885. Evening News, 21 September, 4, 1. The complainant called her father a liar, ‘a bester and a crawler.’ Besting the Pistol, phr. (pedestrian).—To get away before the signal for starting is actually given. [From besting, gaining an advantage, + pistol, the firing of which is the signal to ‘Go!’] 1889. Polytechnic Magazine, July 7, p. 330. The third man from scratch was evidently in too great a hurry; twice he tried to best the pistol, and as often the whole start had to be made afresh. Bet. You bet! intj. (American).—You may depend on it; you may be sure; certainly! be assured! Originally a Californian phrase tacked on to an assertion to give it additional emphasis. So popular is the expression that it has been given as a name in the form of Ubet to a town in the Canadian Northwest. Oftentimes it is amplified into ‘you bet your boots,’ ‘life,’ ‘bottom dollar,’ and so on. The two former were used in New York and Boston as far back as 1840. c. 1882. Stavely Hill, From Home to Home. We reached the settlement of Ubet. The name had been selected from the slang phrase so laconically expressive of ‘You may be sure I will’.... A night marauder took advantage of a good moon to place a ladder against a window, hoping to secure the property of a gentleman asleep within the chamber. As he lifted the window, and put his head in, the gentleman woke up, and with great promptness presented his six-shooter, shouting out ‘You get!’ With equal promptness the detected thief exclaimed you bet! and slid down the ladder,—et procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram. 1870. Bret Harte, Poems, etc., The Tale of a Pony: Ah, here comes Rosey’s new turn-out! Smart! You bet your life ’twas that! 1872. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. ii. ‘The mosquitoes are pretty bad about here, madam!’ ‘You bet!’ ‘What did I understand you to say, madam?’ ‘You bet!’ 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Mar. 7. Congressional Report. Mr. Boutelle—That is the bravery to which you refer? (Applause on the Republican side.) Mr. O’Ferrall—Well, sir, it is the right kind of bravery: you may bet your bottom dollar on that. (American.)—To bet one’s eyes is a gambler’s term for an onlooker who neither takes part in, nor bets upon the game. Bethel, verb.—See quotation. 1740. North, Examen, p. 93. In the year 1680 Bethel and Cornish were chosen sheriffs. The former used to walk about more like a corn-cutter than Sheriff of London. He kept no house, but lived upon chops, whence it is proverbial for not feasting to bethel the city. Be There, verbal phr. (common).—To be there is to be on the qui vive; alive; knowing; in one’s element. Better, adv. (vulgar).—More; without any idea of superiority. A depraved word; once in good usage, but now regarded as a vulgarism. 1587. Fleming, Cont. Holinshed, III., p. 1382, col. 2. Woorth one hundred and twentie pounds and better. [M.] 1679. Plot, Staffordshire (1686), p. 239. The bodies ... being better than an inch long. [M.] 1769. Gray, in N. Nichols’ Corr. (1843), p. 87. It is better than three weeks since I wrote to you. [M.] 1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lxx., p. 217 (1888). Following its windings for somewhat better than a furlong. 1854. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, pt. I., ch. v. ‘Pastor of Little Dunmow Church for fifty years and better.’ 1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. x., 75. ‘Yes. Rather better than twelve years ago.’ 1860. Dickens, Xmas Stories (Mess. from Sea), p. 89 (H. ed.). ‘He shipped for his last voyage better than three years ago.’ Better Half, subs. (colloquial).—humorous term for a wife. The history of the phrase is thus given by Murray, ‘originally my better half, i.e., the more than half of my being; said of a very close and intimate friend’; (Cf., ‘the better part of me’ Shaks.; ‘meæ partem animæ,’ ‘animæ dimidium meæ,’ Horace; ‘animæ partem ... nostra majorem’ Statius); especially (after Sidney) used for ‘my husband’ or ‘wife’; now, jocularly appropriated to the latter. Formerly also applied to the soul, as the better part of man. 1580. Sidney, Arcadia, III., 280. [Argalus to Parthenia, his wife.] My deare, my better halfe (sayd hee), I find I must now leaue thee. [M.] Circa 1600. Shakspeare, Sonnets, xxxix., 2. O how thy worth with manners may I sing, When thou art all the better part of me? What can mine own praise to mine own self bring? And what is’t but mine own when I praise thee. 1720. Sheffield (Duke of Buckingham), wks. (1753) I., 274. My dear and better half is out of danger. [M.] 1842. Theodore Martin, in Fraser’s Magazine, Dec., p. 241, col. 2. I ... shall look out for a better half. [M.] Betting Round, ppl. adj. (racing).—Laying fairly and equally against nearly all the horses in a race, so that no great risk can be run. Commonly called getting round.—Hotten. Bettor Round, subs. (racing).—One who is addicted to betting round (q.v.). 1882. ‘Thormanby,’ Famous Racing Men, p. 75. He [John Gully] worked on gradually as a layer of odds—a ‘bettor round,’ or ‘leg,’ as he was called in those days. [c. 1820.] Betty or Bess, subs. (old).—A small instrument used formerly by burglars to force open doors and pick locks. Now called a jenny; also jemmy; tivvil; twist; or screw. For synonyms, see Thieves, etc. 1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 47 (1874). Betty, an instrument to break a door. 1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus. vol. II., pt. IX., p. 7. So Ruffains, who, with Crows and Betties, Break Houses, when it dark and late is. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bring bess and glym; i.e., bring the instrument to force the door, and the dark lanthorn. 1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 339. Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a jemmy, a cutter, a dozen of betties, better known as picklocks. Verb (colloquial).—To potter about; to fuss about. Usually said of a man assuming the domestic functions of a woman. All betty! intj. (thieves’).—cry of warning; ‘it’s all up; the game is lost!’ Betty Martin.—See All my eye. Betwattled, ppl. adj. (old).—Surprised; confounded; out of one’s senses; also bewrayed.—Grose. Between You and Me and the Bedpost.—See Bedpost. Bever, Bevir, Bœver, subs. (Eton, Winchester, and Westminster Colleges).—An afternoon meal served in hall. An old time term for a repast or snack between meals, especially in the afternoon; it is still dialectical in some parts of England. Murray gives examples of its use dating back to 1500. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 83. In summer time we were let out of afternoon school for a short time about four p.m., when there was a slight refection of bread and cheese laid out in Hall. It was called beever-time, and the pieces of bread beevers. 1884. M. Morris, in English Illustrated Magazine, Nov., p. 73. [At Eton, we] came up from cricket in the summer afternoons for beaver. Beverage or Bevy, subs. (old).—A tip; a vail; equivalent to the French pourboire; money for drink, demanded, says Grose [1785], of any one having a new suit of clothes. For synonyms, see Tip. Beware, subs. (theatrical).—Explained by quotation. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, vol. III., p. 149. ‘We [strolling actors] call breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, all of them “numyare”; and all beer, brandy, water, or soup, are beware.’ B Flats, subs. (common).—Bugs. Cf., F sharps, and for synonyms, see Norfolk Howards. 1866. Dickens, Household Words, xx., 326. Mrs. B. beheld one night a stout negro of the flat-back tribe—known among comic writers as b flats—stealing up towards the head of the bed. 1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. B flats.—Bugs. The pun is ‘B’ (the initial letter), and ‘flat,’ from the flatness of the obnoxious insect. Bib. To nap a bib, or one’s bib, phr. (popular).—To weep; to ‘blubber’; to ‘snivel.’ French Synonyms. Lâcher les écluses (popular: ‘to let loose the floodgates’; the phrase also means ‘to void urine’); pisser des yeux (common: ‘to urinate with the eyes’); pleuvoir des châsses (thieves’: pleuvoir = ‘to rain’; in military slang to void urine; châsse = eye); verver (thieves’: a corrupted form of verser, ‘to pour out,’ to shed); viauper (popular: this argotic verb also means ‘to go molrowing’ or ‘to lead a dissolute life’); chasser des reluits (popular: chasser = ‘to expel,’ ‘to drive out’; reluits = ‘the eyes,’ or ‘ogles’); chier des châsses (popular: a coarse term); chigner (popular); baver des clignots (popular: literally ‘to drivel, slaver’ or ‘slobber the eyes’—cligner signifying ‘to wink’ or ‘blink’; hence clignots, ‘the blinkers’ or ‘winkers’); beugler (popular: properly ‘to bellow’ [like a bull]). German Synonyms. Echen eichen (from the Hebrew echa, the first word in the Lamentations of Jeremiah); flonen, phlonen, flannen, flaussen, or flennen (to pull one’s mouth awry, either for laughing or crying, but among German thieves mainly in the former sense); jalen jaulen, or jolen machen (from the Hebrew jolal, whining; ‘to howl,’ to whine). Italian Synonyms. Trignare (this also signifies to ‘rain’: Cf., the French, pleuvoir des châsses); slenzare or slenzire (also ‘to urinate’: Cf., French, lâcher les écluses); ventare (the primary slang sense of ventare is ‘to moisten,’ hence ‘to shed tears’: properly ‘to blow,’ ‘to be windy’); lenzare or lenzire (primarily, in a slang sense, ‘to soak,’ ‘to wet’; from this the meaning is transferred to signify ‘to make water,’ i.e., ‘to urinate,’ and also ‘to shed tears’: the word is properly written l’ance; the derivation will be found under the French synonyms for Adam’s ale, q.v.). In Spanish there is one expression for ‘to cry’ which is full of poetry—fabricar las perlas, i.e., ‘to make pearls.’ Arabs likewise speak of tears as ‘pearls on the face.’ Bibables or Bibibles, subs. (American).—Drink, as distinguished from food. [A coinage on the model of ‘edibles,’ ‘eatables,’ ‘drinkables,’ etc.; from Latin bib-ĕre, to drink, + able, i.e., able to be drunk.] 1860. William Howard Russell (Special Correspondent of the Times), My Diary in India in the years 1858–9, I., p. 8. Could all the pale-ale, soda-water, sherry, porter, and vin ordinaire, and the feebler bibables be turned into nectar, etc. 1860. Pittsburg Despatch, Aug. The table was loaded and spread with edibles and bibibles of every possible kind. [de v.] Bib-All-Night, subs. (old).—A toper; a confirmed drunkard. [From bib-ĕre, to drink, + all-night.] 1612. Sylvester, Lacrymæ Lacrymaram, p. 101. Bats, Harpies, Syrens, Centaurs, Bib-all-nights. Bible, subs. (nautical).—See quotations. 1867. Admiral Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Bible, a hand-axe; a small holy-stone [a kind of sand-stone used in cleaning decks], so called from seamen using them kneeling. 1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 14. Bibles. Small holy-stones, no doubt originally so called because they oblige those who use them to kneel. They are also termed ‘prayer books’ for the same reason. That’s bible, phr. (common).—That’s the truth; that’s A 1. Bible-Carrier, subs. (vagrants’).—A person who sell songs without singing them. Often heard in the neighbourhood of Seven Dials. Bible-Clerk, subs. (Winchester College).—A College prefect in full power, appointed for one week. He keeps order in school, reads the lessons in chapel, takes round rolls (q.v.), and assists at floggings. He is absolved from going up to books (q.v.) during his term of office. The prefect of Hall need not act as Bible-clerk unless he likes, and the prefect of School may choose any week he pleases; the rest take weeks in rotation, in the order of their Chambers in College.—See Bibler and Bibling. 1864. Blackwood’s Magazine, vol. XCV., p. 73. [At dinner] portions of beef were served out to the boys ... the Bible-clerk meanwhile reading a chapter from the Old Testament. Ibid, p. 87. An hour ... is expected to be employed in working under the superintendence of the Bible-Clerk, as the præfect in daily ‘course’ is termed, who is responsible for a decent amount of order and silence at these hours. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 103. Order was kept during school hours by the Bible-clerk and Ostiarus, two of the Præfects, who held these offices in rotation—the former lasting for a week, the latter for one day only. They paraded School armed with sticks, and brought up to the Head and Second Masters (who alone had the power of flogging) the names of the delinquents which had been ‘ordered’ for punishment; the names of the more heinous offenders being confided to the Bible-clerk, the others to the Ostiarus. 1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 59. There appears to have been no regular Bible-clerk.... From this it has been inferred that the institution of these offices must have been subsequent, and (some think) long subsequent to the Founder’s time. Bible-Pounder, subs. (common).—A clergyman. [From bible + pounder, from the practice indulged in by some excitable exponents, of pounding or beating their hands upon the book or desk while preaching.] For synonyms, see Devil-dodger. Bibler, subs. (Winchester College).—Now called bibling (q.v.). 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. The first time a boy’s name was ordered, the punishment was remitted on his pleading ‘Primum tempus.’ For a more serious breach of duty, a flogging of six cuts (a bibler) was administered, in which case the culprit had to ‘order his name to the Bible-clerk,’ and that individual, with the help of Ostiarius, performed the office of Jack Ketch. Bibler Under Nail, subs. phr. (Winchester College).—See Bibling under nail. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. If a boy was detected in a lie, or any very disgraceful proceeding—a rare occurrence, I am happy to say—he had to stand up in the centre of Junior row during the whole of the School time, immediately preceding the infliction of the flogging; this pillory process was called a bibler under the nail. Bibling, subs. (Winchester College).—Formerly called a bibler (q.v.). A flogging of six cuts on the small of the back, administered by the head or second master. So called because the person to be operated upon ordered (q.v.) his name to the Bible-clerk (q.v.). 1864. Blackwood’s Magazine, vol. XCV., p. 79. Underneath is the place of execution, where delinquents are bibled. Ibid, p. 72. It need hardly be said that it [the rod] is applied in the ordinary fashion: six cuts forming what is technically called a bibling—on which occasions the Bible-Clerk introduces the victim; four being the sum of a less terrible operation called a ‘scrubbing.’ Bibling-Rod, subs. (Winchester College).—The instrument with which a bibling (q.v.) was administered. It consisted of a handle with four apple twigs in the end, twisted together. It is represented on ‘Aut Disce.’ It was invented and first used by Warden Baker in 1454. It is not used now. Bibling Under Nail, subs. phr. (Winchester College).—A bibling (q.v.) administered for very heinous offences after an offender had stood under nail (q.v.).—See quot. in Bibler under nail. Biddy, subs. (old).—1. A chicken; sometimes chick-a-biddy. Hence, figuratively. 2. (familiar.)—A young woman, not necessarily Irish. In both these senses the word appears in Grose [1785]. Since that time it would seem to have changed somewhat in meaning as follows. 3. (familiar.)—A woman, whether young or old. 1868. O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel, ch. xxviii., p. 233 (Rose Lib.). ‘Don’t trouble yourself about Kitty Fagan, for pity’s sake, Mr. Bradshaw. The biddies are all alike, and they’re all as stupid as owls, except when you tell ’em just what to do, and how to do it. A pack of priest-ridden fools!’ 1887. Cornhill Mag., May, p. 510. How he gave to one old biddy ‘five guineas to buy a jack,’ and to another substantial help towards her boy’s schooling. 4. (Winchester College.)—See Bidet. 5. (American.)—A servant girl—generally Irish. Bidet, or Biddy, subs. (Winchester College).—A bath. Juniors fill these for Præfect. The Winchester term is the French word bidet, the name given to the low narrow bedroom bathing stools, used principally by women, but more frequently on the Continent than in England. They are of such a shape that they can be bestridden. In this connection it may be mentioned, that in French bidet also signifies ‘a small horse’ or ‘pony.’ 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bidet, commonly pronounced biddy, a kind of tub, contrived for ladies to wash themselves, for which purpose they bestride it like a little French pony or post horse, called in France bidets. Bien.—See Bene. Biff, subs. (American).—A blow. ‘To give [one] a biff in the jaw’; Anglicé, ‘to wipe one in the chops.’ Cf., Bang, and for synonyms, see Dig. Biffin, subs. (familiar).—‘My biffin!’ i.e., ‘my pal!’ A biffin is properly a dried apple: Norfolk biffins especially are considered great delicacies. Big. To talk or look big, phr. (familiar).—To assume a pompous style or manner with a view to impressing others with a sense of one’s importance; to talk boastingly. A French equivalent is se hancher. 1579. Spenser, Shep. Cal., Sept., 50. The shepheards swayne you cannot wel ken, But it be by his pryde, from other men: They looken bigge as Bulls. 1604. Shakspeare, Winter’s Tale, Act iv., Sc. 3. Not a more cowardly rogue, in all Bohemia: if you had but looked big, and spit at him, he’d have run. 1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, l. 26. The squire, in all probability, cursed his punctuality in his heart, but he affected to talk big. 1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xv. ‘You will gain nought by speaking big with me.’ 1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. viii. ‘He looked big, and talked big, and altogether was a considerable big man in his own consait.’ 1855. Anthony Trollope, The Warden, p. 207. The Archdeacon waxed wrath, talked big, and looked bigger. Big as All Outdoors, phr. (American).—An expression intended to convey an idea of indefinite size; hugeness; enormous capacity. 1838. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ii. The infarnal villain! Tell me who he is, and if he was big as all outdoors, I’d walk into him. Ibid, ch. iv. He is looking as big as all outdoors gist now, and is waitin’ for us to come to him. Big-Bellied, adj. (colloquial).—Advanced in pregnancy. 1711. Addison [Referred to by]. 1848. John Forster, Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, bk. II., ch. iv. My desires are as capricious as the big-bellied woman’s. Big Ben, subs. (popular).—A nickname for the clock in the tower of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. Named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of Works, under whose supervision it was constructed. It was commenced in 1856, and finished in 1857. 1869. The Register or Mag. of Biography, p. 213. With Sir Charles Barry’s sanction he designed the ornament cast on the Westminster Bell, familiarly known as big Ben. 1880. Punch, No. 2039, p. 51. Big Ben struck two, and the house adjourned. Big Bird. To get or give the big bird, phr. (theatrical).—To be hissed on the stage; or, conversely, to hiss. When an actor or actress gets the big bird, it may be from two causes: either it is a compliment for successful pourtrayal of villainy, in which case the gods (q.v.) simply express their abhorence of the character and not of the actor; or, the hissing may be directed against the actor, personally, for some reason or other. The big bird is the goose. For synonyms, see Goosed. 1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. To be goosed, or, as it is sometimes phrased, to get the big bird, is occasionally a compliment to the actor’s power of representing villainy, but more often is disagreeably suggestive of a failure to please. Big Bug, subs. (popular).—A person of standing or consequence, either self-estimated or in reality. A disrespectful but common mode of allusion to persons of wealth or with other claims to distinction. Variants are Big-dog, Big-toad, Big-wig, and Great gun (which see for general synonyms). 1854. Widow Bedott Papers, p. 301. Miss Samson Savage is one of the big bugs,—that is, she’s got more money than a’most anybody else in town. 1857. N. Y. Times, February. The free-and-easy manner in which the hair-brained Sir Robert Peel described some of the big bugs at Moscow has got him into difficulty. 1872. Schele de Vere, Americanisms, p. 392. Persons of great wealth and distinction are irreverently called big bugs, and I-street, in Washington, is thus said to be inhabited by the foreign ambassadors and other big bugs. J. C. Neal makes a nice distinction when he says of a rich man without social importance: ‘He is one of your big bugs, with more money than sense.’ 1888. Texas Siftings, Sep. 15. Don’t appear unduly surprised or flustrated if, on answering the front door bell, you find Mr. Gladstone wiping his feet on the door mat. Invite him to walk in in a cool, collected tone of voice.... Show him you have entertained big bugs before. Big Country, subs. (hunting).—The open country. Big Dog of the Tanyard, phr. (American).—A consequential, pompous individual; one who will neither allow others a voice in any matter, or permit dissent from his own views. The obvious derivation is from the customary guarding of tanyards by ferocious watch-dogs. For synonyms, see Great gun. Big Dog with the Brass Collar, phr. (American).—The chief in any undertaking or enterprise; a leader. A simile evidently derived from the stable or kennel. The phrase is sometimes shortened to big dog. For synonyms, see Great gun. 1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 42. In some parts of the country, the principal man of a place or in an undertaking is called the big dog with a brass collar, as opposed to the little curs not thought worthy of a collar. 1882. Alan Pinkerton, The Molly Maguires, p. 24. ‘Yes,’ said Dormer, ‘Lawler is the big dog in these parts now; besides he kapes a good tavern, and will see no old-timer, or young one either, for that matther, sufferin’ from want while he can relieve him!’ Big Drink, subs. (familiar).—1. The ocean; more particularly applied to the Atlantic. Also called the big pond, herring pond, the puddle (q.v.). 1882. Miss Braddon, Mount Royal, ch. xiii. ‘I was coming across the big drink as fast as a Cunard could bring me.’ 2. (Western American.)—When a Western plainsman talks of the big drink, he is always understood to mean the Mississippi river. To take a big or long drink is to partake of liquor from a large glass. It is very customary when calling for refreshment to state whether a long or short drink is required. Big Figure. To go the big figure, phr. (common).—A variant of ‘to go the whole hog,’ or ‘to go the whole animal.’ It signifies embarking upon an enterprise of magnitude. The phrase is mainly current in the Southern States, and is derived from a term used in poker. 1868. Pickings from the Picayune, p. 226. When I saw that, I thought I might as well go the big figure, you see, and so I grabbed the bag; but mischief would have it, that just then the policeman grabbed me and took me to the caboose. Biggest, adj. (American).—A superlative often used in the sense of ‘the best’ or ‘the finest.’ 1848. Ruxton, Life in Far West, p. 129. The thermal springs are regarded by the trappers as the breathing-places of his Satanic majesty; and considered, moreover, to be the biggest kind of medicine to be found in the mountains. 1888. Washington (Pa.) Review. The Pittsburg Times is as breezy a journal as comes to this office. It is the biggest little paper we are acquainted with. Biggest Toad in the Puddle, phr. (American).—One of the many bold, if equivocal metaphors to which the West has given rise. The biggest toad in the puddle is the recognised leader or chief whether in politics, or in connection with the rougher avocations of pioneer life. Equivalent to the big dog with the brass collar (q.v.).—See also Big bug, and for synonyms generally, Great gun. 1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 42. Biggest toad in the puddle. A Western expression for a head-man; a leader of a political party, or of a crowd. Not an elegant expression, though sometimes well applied. Thus a Western newspaper, in speaking of the most prominent man engaged in the political contest for one of the Presidential candidates before Congress, says: ‘Mr. D. D. F.—is the biggest toad in the puddle.’ Biggin, subs. (Winchester College).—A coffee machine in two parts—a strainer, and a coffee-pot for the infusion. It took its name from the inventor, a Mr. Biggin, who received letters patent ‘some years’ previous to 1803. (Gent. Mag., lxxiii., p. 1094.) Biggity, adv. (American).—Consequential; giving oneself airs. A negro term. c. 1884. S. L. Clemens, Life on the Mississippi, p. 511. These railroads have made havoc with the steamboat commerce. The clerk of our boat was a steamboat clerk before these roads were built. In that day the influx of population was so great, and the freight business so heavy, that the boats were not able to keep up with the demands made upon their carrying capacity; consequently the Captain was very independent and airy—pretty biggity as Uncle Remus would say. Big Gun, subs. (familiar).—A person of consequence. Possibly of sporting origin. For synonyms, see Great gun. 1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. ‘Who’s a big gun? You don’t consider that insignificant ink-slinger across the way a big gun, do you?’ ‘My wife can hardly wait to get it out of the mail,’ shouted Jones, desperately. Big-Head. To have a big-head, phr. (American).—1. To be conceited; bumptious. Also applied to men or youths who are ‘cocksure’ of everything, or affected in manner.—See also Swell-head. 1848. J. R. Bartlett, Americanisms, p. 43. Boys who smoke cigars, chew tobacco, drink strong liquors, gamble, and treat their parents and superiors as their inferiors—of such a boy it is said, ‘He has got the big-head.’ 1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 20. If we were to base our calculation upon the corpulency of his iron hat and helmet, we should say it was a case of big-head, while his legs were long as a pair of duplex pinchers, his arms like the fans of a windmill, his feet like the foot of Mont Blanc, while his digital annex is like an inverted ham. 2. The phrase also signifies the after effect of a debauch. To get the big-head. To get drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed. Big House, subs. (common).—The workhouse,—a phrase used by the very poor; sometimes called the large house. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 52. ‘As long as they kept out of the big house (the workhouse), she would not complain.’ Ibid, II., p. 251. The men hate the thought of going to the big house. Big Mouth, subs. (American).—Excessive talkativeness; loquacity. Cf., All mouth. For synonyms, see Gas. Big Nuts to Crack, subs. phr. (American).—An undertaking of magnitude; one not easy to perform. [From a presumed difficulty in cracking large nuts.] Big One or Big ’Un, subs. (old).—A man of note or importance. The current colloquialism is big-wig, but at one time big-one was the more frequently-used expression. For synonyms, see Great gun. 1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 42. Then up rose Ward, the veteran Joe, And, ’twixt his whiffs, suggested briefly That but a few at first should go, And those, the light-weight Gemmen chiefly; As if too many big ones went, They might alarm the Continent! Big People, subs. (familiar).—Persons of standing or consequence. Cf., Great gun. 1858. Anthony Trollope, Dr. Thorne, I., p. 43. He would in no way assume a familiarity with bigger men than himself; allowing to the bigger men the privilege of making the first advances. Ibid, p. 81. When one is absolutely in the dirt at their feet, perhaps these big people won’t wish one to stoop any further. Big Pond, subs. (popular).—The Atlantic. Also called the big drink (q.v.). 1838. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. He [old Clay] is all sorts of a hoss, and the best live one that ever cut dirt this side of the big pond, or t’other side either. 1883. Sala, Living London, p. 204. Next time Miss Ward crosses the big pond, I earnestly hope that she will cross the ‘Rockies,’ and triumphantly descend the Pacific slope. Big Pot, subs. (familiar).—A person of consequence. For synonyms, see Great gun. 1880. Punch’s Almanac, The Cad’s Calendar. Lor! if I’d the ochre, make no doubt, I could cut no end of big pots out. Call me cad? When money’s in the game, Cad and swell are pooty much the same. Big-Side, subs. (Rugby School).—The combination of all the bigger fellows in the school in one and the same game or run; also the ground specially used for the game so denominated. Used also at other public schools. Big-Side Run, subs. (Rugby School).—A paper chase, in which picked representatives of all houses take part, as opposed to a house run. Big Take, subs. (American).—That which takes the public fancy; a great success, etc.,—in short, anything that ‘catches on.’—See Take. Big Talk, subs. (popular).—Pompous speech; a pedantic use of long words. 1874. Saturday Review, Feb., p. 280. [With regard to words like ‘psithurism,’ ‘cheirognomy,’ ‘scintillating eyes,’ ‘the phaesimbrotous sun’] perhaps they have been grown so accustomed to big talk that, etc. Big-Wig, subs. (popular).—A person of consequence; one high in authority or rank. [From big + wig, an allusion to the large and ornate headgear of men of importance in former times.] The term is used both contemptuously and humorously. For synonyms, see Great gun. 1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—the town-raff and the bargees—well-blunted or stiver-cramped—against dun or don—nob or big wig—so may you never want a bumper of bishop. 1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xx. We live among bankers and city big-wigs, and be hanged to them, and every man, as he talks to you, is jingling his guineas in his pocket. 1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xlv. So you are going to sit among the big-wigs in the House of Lords. 1876 circa. Broadside Ballad, ‘Justice and Law.’ The Penge Case you know took a curious twist, But how it occurred, we can’t guess, Unless, unexpected, some turn of the wrist, Has got some ‘big-wig’ in a mess. To some folks it seems rather queer, now, you see, When ‘Sentence of Death’ had been passed, That one of the four is allowed to go free, And her prison doors wide open cast. Chorus. 1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xxvi. ‘The Right Honorable gentleman no doubt means,’ said Phineas, ‘that we must carry ourselves with some increased external dignity. The world is bigwigging itself, and we must buy a bigger wig than any we have got, in order to confront the world with proper self-respect.’ Big-Wigged, ppl. adj. (popular).—Pompous; consequential. [From big-wig (q.v.) + [g] ed.] 1851. Carlyle, John Sterling, pt. I., ch. vii. And along with obsolete spiritualisms, he sees all manner of obsolete thrones and big-wigged temporalities. Big-Wiggery, subs. (popular).—A display of consequence, or pomposity. [From big-wig (q.v.) + [g] ery, a condition.] 1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. ii. Whilst Louis XIV., his old squaretoes of a contemporary—the great worshipper of bigwiggery—has always struck me as a most undoubted and Royal Snob. 1855. Household Words, xii., 250. All this solemn bigwiggery—these triumphs, ovations, sacrifices, orations. Big-Wiggism, subs. (popular).—Pomposity. [From big-wig (q.v.) + [g] ism, a state or condition.] 1871–72. G. Eliot, Middlemarch, ch. xvii. I determined not to try anything in London for a good many years at least. I didn’t like what I saw when I was studying there—so much empty big-wiggism and obstructive trickery. Big Words, subs. (familiar).—Pompous speech; ‘crack-jaw’ words. Cf., To talk big, and Big talk. 1879. Grenville Murray, Member for Paris, I., p. 103. ‘I don’t like such cynicism!’ ‘Oh, cynicism is a big word.’ Bilbo or Bilboa, subs. (old).—A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once renowned for well-tempered blades. Grose [1785] quotes the term as slang; this, however, is somewhat doubtful. 1592. Greene, Disputation, etc., in wks. X., 236. Let them doe what they dare with their bilbowe blades, I feare them not. 1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Act iii., Sc. 7. Tell them, I say, he must refund—or bilbo’s the word, and slaughter will ensue. 1713. Guardian, No. 145. ‘He that shall rashly attempt to regulate our hilts, or reduce our blades, had need to have a heart of oak ... Bilbo is the word, remember that and tremble.’ 1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. iv. ‘It was all fair play; your comrade sought a fall, and he has got it.’ ‘That is true enough,’ said Bothwell, as he slowly rose; ‘put up your bilbo, Tom.’ 2. A kind of stock—a long iron bar with sliding shackles for the ankles of prisoners, and a lock by which to fasten the bar at one end to the ground. The derivation is very uncertain. 1557. Hakluyt, Voy., I., 295. I was also conveyed to their lodgings ... where I saw a pair of bilbowes. 1594. Nashe, Terrors of the Night, in wks. (Grosart) III., 255. He that is spyced with the gowte or the dropsie, frequently dreameth of fetters and manacles, and being put on the bilbowes. 1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act v., Sc. 2. Ham. ... Methought I lay worse than the mutines in the bilboes. 1695. Congreve, Love for Love, Act iii., Sc. 6. Now a Man that is marry’d, has as it were, d’ye see, his Feet in the bilboes, and may-hap mayn’t get ’em out again when he wou’d. 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 19. And are those shear’d, or put into bilboes, and handcufft. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bilboes, the punishing a person at sea, by laying or putting the offender in irons, or a sort of stocks, but more severe than the common stocks. 1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiv. ‘And now let us talk about our business.’ ‘Your business, if you please,’ said Hatterick; ‘bagel and donner!—mine was done when I got out of the bilboes.’ Bile, subs. (old).—1. The female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable. 2. (common.)—A vulgarism for ‘boil.’ Bilgewater, subs. (common).—Bad beer. Properly the name given to the drainings to the lowest part of a ship; being difficult to get at, these become, at times, exceedingly foul and offensive. For synonyms, see Swipes. Bilk, subs. (common).—A word, formerly in general use, to which a certain stigma of vulgarity is now attached. Uncertain in derivation—possibly a corrupted form of ‘balk’—it was first employed technically at cribbage to signify the spoiling of an adversary’s score in the crib. Among obsolete or depraved usages may be mentioned. Subs. 1. (obsolete.)—A statement or string of words without sense, truth, or meaning, jointly or severally. 1663. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, I., i. Tub. He will have the last word, though he talk bilk for’t. Hugh. Bilk! what’s that. Tub. Why nothing; a word signifying Nothing. [Note refers to Cole’s English Dict. (n.d. given) and to Halliwell, Arch. and Prov. Words, s.v.] 1740. North, Examen, p. 213. Bedloe was sworn, and being asked what he knew against the prisoner, answered, Nothing.... Bedloe was questioned over and over, who still swore the same bilk. 2. (common.)—A hoax; an imposition; a humbug. For synonyms, see Sell. Cf., Bite. 1664. Butler, Hudibras, II., iii., 376. Spells, Which over ev’ry month’s blank-page In th’ Almanack strange bilk’s presage. [M.] 1694. Congreve, Double Deal, III., x. There he’s secure from danger of a bilk. [M.] 1733 circa. North, Lives, i., 260. After this bilk of a discovery was known. [M.] 3. (common.)—A swindler; a cheat. This is the most familiar current use of the word in its substantive form, and is applied mainly to persons who cheat cabmen of their fares, or to men who swindle prostitutes out of their wretched earnings. Also bilker. For synonyms, see Sell. Cf., Bite. 1790. Sheridan, in Sheridaniana, 109. Johnny W[i]lks, Johnny W[i]lks, Thou greatest of bilks. 1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. ix. After a little delay, the wagoner drove off, cursing him for a bilk, and vowing that he’d never have any more to do with a ‘larned man.’ 4. (American.)—A strongly offensive term used in the West to signify a person who habitually sponges upon another, and who never by any chance makes a return or even offers to do so. In English slang it means a downright cheat or swindler (see sense 3). It will therefore be seen that the Western American usage has considerably softened its meaning. 1840. McClure, Rocky Mountain, p. 211. The term was entirely novel to me, and I first asked its meaning of a landlord, who explained to me by saying that a bilk is a man who never misses a meal and never pays a cent. Adj. (obsolete).—Fallacious; without truth or meaning. 1740. North, Examen, p. 129. To that [Oates’s plot] and the author’s bilk account of it I am approaching. Verb (common).—To cheat; defraud; evade one’s obligations; escape from, etc. (see subs., sense 2, and compare with quotations). For synonyms, see Stick. Cf., Bite. 1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act v., Sc. 3. 1. Knight: Ay, a great lawyer that shall be nameless bilked me too. 1729. Gay, Polly, Act ii., Sc. 9. Honour plays a bubbles part, ever bilk’d and cheated. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bilk (v.), to cheat, balk, disappoint, deceive, gull, or bubble; also to go out of a publick-house or tavern, without paying the reckoning. 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XIV., ch. iv. ‘I promise you,’ answered Nightingale, ‘I don’t intend to bilk my lodgings; but I have a private reason for not taking a formal leave.’ 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bilke. ‘Let us bilk the rattling cove’; let us cheat the hackney coachman of his fare: bilking a coachman, a box keeper, or a poor whore, was formerly among men of the town thought a gallant action. 1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. xix. ‘Are you playing me false? Have you set another man on the track with a view to bilk me of my promised fee?’ To bilk the blues, phr. (thieves’).—To evade the police.—See Blues. To bilk the schoolmaster, phr. (common).—To obtain knowledge or experience without paying for it. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Log. Well, don’t grumble—every one must pay for his learning—and you wouldn’t bilk the schoolmaster, would you? But, come, I’m getting merry; so if you wish for a bit of good truth, come with me, and let’s have a dive among the cadgers in the back slums, in the Holy Land. Bilker, subs. (common).—A cheat; a swindler. Sometimes abbreviated to bilk (sense 3). Bilking, subs. (common).—The action of cheating or swindling. Bill, subs. (Eton College).—1. A list of the boys who have to go to the head master at 12 o’clock; also of those who get off absence (q.v.), or names-calling, e.g., an eleven playing in a match are thus exempt. 1876. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton. Some of the small boys whom this delightful youth tempted to ape his habits, had often occasion to rue it when they staggered back to college giddy and sick, carrying with them a perfume which told its tale to their tutors, and caused them to be put in the bill. 2. (Harrow School.)—Names-calling. To hang up a bill, phr. (American political).—Explained by quotation. 1887. Cornhill Magazine, June, p. 628. To hang up a bill is to pass it through one or more of its stages, and then to lay it aside and defer its further consideration for a more or less indefinite period. To rush a bill, phr. (American political).—To expedite the passing of a bill through the Senate and Congress. Cf., Rush. 1887. Cornhill Magazine, June, p. 628. To rush a bill is an expression well known in the American Senate, and occasionally also used here. Long or short bill, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A long or short term of imprisonment. To pay a bill at sight, phr. (old).—Said of a man or woman who is always ready for sexual commerce. Billbrighter, subs. (Winchester College).—A small fagot used for lighting coal fires in Kitchen. So called from a servant, Bill Bright, who was living in 1830. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 89. The Kitchen is a spacious apartment with a vaulted roof, occupying the entire height of the building on the west side of the quadrangle, and at least half its length; here we might see a few Fags endeavouring to coax Jem Sims, John Coward, or Mother Mariner (the cooks), for an extra supply of mashed potatoes, till Kitchen is cleared by the exasperated Manciple, who has just detected a delinquent in the act of secreting under his gown an armful of the small faggots used for lighting the Kitchen fires (called Bill Brighters), an opportunity for purloining which was never allowed to slip by a Junior of a properly regulated mind. Billed Up, ppl. adj. (military).—In the Guards’ regiments to be billed up signifies to be confined to barracks. Billet, subs. (popular).—A situation; a ‘berth.’ [From billet, an official military order requiring food and shelter to be provided for the soldier bearing it.] To get a billet, phr. (thieves’)—When in prison to obtain promotion to duties which carry with them certain privileges. Billiard Block, subs. (society).—An epithet applied to one who puts up with disagreeables for the sake of pecuniary or other advantages; also, occasionally, to one who acts as ‘jackal’ for another and to tame cats (q.v.). 1831. Mrs. Gore, Mothers and Daughters, p. 75. The Duke of L. was fortunate in somewhat more than the usual apportionments of souffre-douleurs, doubles, billiard-blocks, living hunters, younger brothers, to talk to the young lady nieces, etc. Billiard-Slum, subs. (Australian thieves’).—False pretences. To give on the billiard-slum.—See Mace. Billingsgate, subs. (popular).—Foul, coarse language; scurrilous vituperation. From the evil reputation which the market of the same name has enjoyed for centuries. In the seventeenth century references to the violent and abusive speech of those frequenting the place were very numerous. In French an analogous reference is made to the Place Maubert, long noted for its noisy market. 1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act iii. Quaint. ... Whose reputation, though never so clear and evident in the eye of the world, yet with sharp invectives—Wid. Alias, Billingsgate. Quaint. With poignant and sour invectives, I say, I will deface. 1711. Defoe, The Review, vol. VII., preface. As long as faction feeds the flame, we shall never want Billingsgate to revile one another with. 1712. Spectator, No. 451. Our satire is nothing but ribaldry, and Billingsgate. 1852. Thackeray, Esmond, ch. ix. If she had come with bowl and dagger, would have been routed off the ground by the enemy with a volley of Billingsgate, which the fair person always kept by her. 1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Messrs. Cannon and Co. defied the surgeon or anybody else to say the fish was bad, and kept jabbering away both at the same time and in elegant Billingsgate, until the constable returned; but he came without the doctor, who had gone to attend an urgent case out of the town, and the people at his house could not say when he would return. To Billingsgate or talk Billingsgate.—To scold; to talk coarsely, or violently; to ‘slang.’ 1678. A. Littleton, Lat. Dict. To Billingsgate it. Arripere maledictum ex trivio. So also, You’re no better than a Billingsgate fish-fag, i.e., rude and ill-mannered; Billingsgatry, scurrilous language. Billingsgate Pheasant, subs. (common).—A red herring or bloater. This is also called a two-eyed steak, but for synonyms, see Atlantic-ranger. Bill of Sale, subs. (old).—Widow’s weeds. Such are also said to have apartments or a house to let (q.v.). Billy, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pocket or neck-handkerchief, chiefly of silk. The various ‘fancies’ have been thus described:—Belcher, darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot in the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his ‘colours,’ and soon became popular amongst ‘the fancy.’ Bird’s-eye wipe, a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird’s-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the centre. Sometimes a bird’s-eye wipe has a white ground and blue spots. Blood-red fancy, red. Blue Billy, blue ground, generally with white figures. Cream fancy, any pattern on a white ground. King’s man, yellow pattern on a green ground. Randal’s man, green, with white spots; named after the favourite colours of Jack Randal, pugilist. Water’s man, sky coloured. Yellow fancy, yellow with white spots. Yellow man, all yellow. For synonyms generally, see Wipe. 1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. A silk handkerchief. A billy. 2. (thieves’.)—Stolen metal.—See Billy-hunting. 3. (American thieves’.)—A weapon used by desperadoes, and also by the police when apprehending violence or dangerous resistance on the part of the former when pursued. The construction of a billy varies, but usually it is composed of a piece of untanned cowhide, as hard as horn itself, some six inches in length, twisted or braided into a sort of handle, and covered from end to end with woollen cloth. One extremity is loaded with three quarters of a pound of lead; to the other is firmly attached a loop, large enough to admit a man’s hand, formed of strong linen cord, and intended to allow the billy to hang loose from the wrist, and at the same time prevent it being lost or wrenched from the grasp of its owner. At close quarters, it proves a very savage and formidable arm of defence, resembling, but being much more dangerous than the ordinary slung-shot in use by policemen and others. Twelve ounces of solid lead and raw-hide, dashed against the thickest skull by a strong armed ruffian, would as effectually silence a man as an ounce of the same metal discharged from the bore of a Springfield rifle. It may be remarked that billy in English slang is a policeman’s staff, a very different weapon. 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, Ap. 4. The condition of the man reported as having been shot twice in the head on Thursday afternoon, is not at all alarming. It transpires that his wounds are not of the gun-shot sort, but were inflicted with a billy in the hands of a Pinkerton man. 4. (popular.)—A policeman’s staff; a truncheon. 1884. Daily News, Ap. 7, p. 5, col. 1. Anderson was first brought down by a pistol shot, and was then corrected with a billy, till he declared himself vanquished. 5. (Australian and New Zealand.)—A bushman’s tea-pot or saucepan. 1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. 3, 5, 5. They got enough flour from Sydney to make their ‘dampers,’ and enough tea to boil in their billies. 1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 104. A billy, or small tin can, for boiling tea or coffee. 1889. Illustrations, Oct., p. 22. Refusing a pressing invitation to stay and spend Christmas with the good people with whom I had been boarding, and heeding lightly their remarks as to ‘new chum,’ ‘dangers of the bush,’ ‘all alone,’ ‘strange country,’ etc., etc., I took a look at the map, and packed my ‘swag.’ Now a ‘swag’ proper, usually contains blankets, towels, ‘billy,’ pannikin, and many other articles ... Ibid, p. 28. The ‘billy’ is off, but the roadman (Irish, of course) gives me a grateful cup of beer, and accompanies me to the hotel another mile down the road. Billy Barlow, subs. (common).—A street clown; a mountebank—so called from the hero of a slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 148. Billy Barlow is another supposed comic character, that usually accompanies either the street-dancers or acrobats in their peregrinations. The dress consists of a cocked-hat and red feather, a soldier’s coat (generally a sergeant’s with sash), white trousers with the legs tucked into Wellington boots, a large tin eye-glass, and an old broken and ragged umbrella. These merry Andrews are otherwise called Jim crows and saltimbancos; among the French, un pitre. Billy-Boy, subs. (nautical).—A vessel like a galliot, with two masts, the fore-mast square-rigged. They hail mainly from Goole. Also called humber-keels. Billy-Button, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Mutton. 2. (tailors’.)—A contemptuous term for a journeyman tailor. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 117. And there I did Jeremiah Stitchem to his Billy Button. Ibid, p. 142. A laughable sketch entitled Billy Button’s ride to Brentford, and I used to be Jeremiah Stitchem, a servant of Billy Button’s, that comes for a ‘situation.’ Billy-Buzman, subs. (thieves’).—A thief whose speciality is silk pocket and neckerchiefs. [From billy, slang for a pocket-handkerchief, + buzman, slang for a thief.] Billy-Cock, subs. (popular).—A round, low-crowned hat—generally of soft felt, and with a broad brim. Speculation has been rife as to the derivation of the term. Murray says ‘apparently the same as “bully-cocked,” used 1721, probably meaning after the fashion of the “bullies” or hectoring “blades” of the period’ (see quot.). A writer, C. K. C. in Notes and Queries, however [6 S., ii., p. 355], points out that ‘these hats were first made for “Billy Coke”—or to speak more respectfully, Mr. William Coke—a gentleman well known at Melton Mowbray a quarter of a century ago [circa 1853], and used by him at the great shooting parties at Holkham. The old-established hatters in the West-end still call them “Coke hats.”’ Of the reality of the personality of William Coke of Melton fame there is, and can be no doubt, and although the name of the hat may be derived from ‘bully-cock,’ yet the weight of evidence seems to be against it, unless a slight transference of meaning, very common in slang, has taken place. 1721. Amherst, Terræ Filius, No. 46, p. 246. [A description of an Oxford ‘smart’ or dandy.] When he walks the street, he is easily distinguish’d by a stiff silk gown, which rustles in the wind, as he struts along; a flaxen tie-wig, or sometimes a long natural one, which reaches down below his waist; a broad bully-cock’d hat, or a square cap of above twice the usual size; white stockings, thin Spanish leather shoes; his cloaths lined with tawdry silk, and his shirt ruffled down the bosom as well as at the wrists. Besides all which marks, he has a delicate jaunt in his gait, and smells very philosophically of essence. 1862. Life Among Colliers, 35. I was told to take off my bonnet, and tie a billy-cock [wide-awake] tight down. 1872. Farjeon, Griff, p. 14. With the men, mole-skin trousers, pea-jackets, billy-cock hats, and dirty pipes predominated. 1884. Pall Mall G., March 28, p. 11, col. 1. He wore a plaited blouse drawn in at the waist and a dilapidated billy-cock hat. 2. (Australian.)—The billy-cock of the Antipodean colonies differs from the English head-gear known by the name in being made of hard instead of soft felt, and in having a turned up brim. For synonymous terms of head-gear, see Deerstalker. Billy-Fencer, subs. (thieves’).—A marine store dealer.—See Fence. Billy-Goat, subs. (common).—A tufted beard; similar to that of a goat. 1882. Standard, 11 Feb., p. 3, col. 2. Hair turning grey, hazel eyes, billy-goat beard. [M.] Billy-Hunting, subs. (thieves’).—1. Collecting and buying old metal.—See Billy-fence. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 465. ‘He goes tatling and billy-hunting in the country (gathering rags and buying old metal).’ 2. Going out to steal pocket-handkerchiefs.—See Billy, sense 1. Billy Noodle, subs. (American).—This combination stands in American slang for a fellow whose self-conceit leads him to suppose himself specially attractive to the other sex. [From Billy, a male name, + noodle, a fool.] Billy-Roller, subs. (common).—See quotations. 1840. Mrs. Trollope, Michael Armstrong, ch. xiv. ‘What is the billy-roller?’... ‘It’s a long stout stick, ma’am, that’s used often and often to beat the little ones employed in the mills when their strength fails.’ 1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III., 1166. This is the billy-roller, so much talked of in the controversies between the operatives and masters in the cotton-factories, as an instrument of cruel punishment to children, though no such machine has been used in cotton-mills for half a century at least. [M.] Bim, Bimshire, subs. (West Indian).—Nicknames for a Barbadian and the island of Barbadoes. This place is also sometimes jeeringly called Little England, and Barbadian is contracted into ’Badian. 1887. Paton, Down the Islands. Barbadoes is known all the world over as the little island that pays her way; it has never been conquered; its people are enterprising and energetic, go-ahead and driving; in short, the business men of these islands (the Caribbees). Barbadian may therefore be said to mean a man with ‘go and grit, energy and vim.’ Bing.—See Bynge a waste. Binge, subs. (Oxford Univ.)—A drinking bout. Bingham’s Dandies, subs. (military).—The 17th Lancers. From its Colonel (Lord Bingham) causing the men’s uniforms to fit so well. It is one of the smartest regiments of the service. They were also at one time christened the Horse Marines (q.v.). Two troops of this showy corps were employed as marines on board the ‘Hermione’ frigate during some severe fighting in the West Indies. Hence the sobriquet now almost quite forgotten. But the 17th are still well-known as the Death or Glory Boys, from their badge, which consists of a death’s head, with the words, ‘or glory.’ Bingo, subs. (old cant).—Brandy, or other spirituous liquor. Thought by Dr. Murray to be a humorous formation from B. for ‘brandy’ (Cf., ‘B. and S.’) and stingo. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue. Bingo, brandy. 1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 41. FIGHTING ATTIE’S SONG. Air.—‘He was famed for deeds of arms ’Rise at six—dine at two— Rob your man without ado- Such my maxims—if you doubt Their wisdom, to the rightabout!’ (Signing to a sallow gentleman on the same side of the table to send up the brandy bowl.) ‘Pass round the bingo,—of a gun, You musty, dusty, husky son!’ (The sallow gentleman in a hoarse voice,) ‘Attie—the bingo’s now with me, I can’t resign it yet, d’ye see!’ (Attie, seizing the bowl,) ‘Resign, resign it—cease your dust!’ (Wresting it away, and fiercely regarding the sallow gentleman.) ‘You have resigned it—and you must.’ CHORUS. ‘You have resigned it—and you must.’ 1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxxiii. Some soda water with a dash of bingo clears one’s head in the morning. For all synonyms, see Drinks. Hence bingo boy, a tippler; a drunkard. Bingo mort, a drunken woman.—See Mort. Bingy, adj. (trading).—A term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter; nearly equivalent to vinnied. It may be noted that in the English Dialect Society’s Chestere Glossary, bingy is given as a peculiar clouty or frowsty taste in milk—the first stage of turning sour. 1857. Mrs. Gaskell, Life of C. Bronté, ch. iv. The milk, too, was often bingy, to use a country expression for a kind of taint that is far worse than sourness, and suggests the idea that it is caused by want of cleanliness about the milk pans, rather than by the heat of the weather. 1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, ch. xv. I’ve heerd my aunt say as she found out as summat was wrong wi’ Nancy as soon as the milk turned bingy, for there ne’er had been such a clean lass about her milk-cans afore that. Binnacle Word, subs. (old nautical).—A fine or affected word, which sailors jeeringly offer to chalk up upon the binnacle.—Grose. Birch-Broom, subs. (rhyming slang).—A room. Like a birch-broom in a fit, phr. (common).—Said of a rough, towzly head. 1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 90. I should like to know what looks worse than to see a young man or woman with their hair in an uproar, like a birch-broom in a fit, and some of you chaps down there look as if you hadn’t had your hair combed since last reaping time, when you did it with a field-rake, which is very harrowing to one’s feelings. Birchin Lane.—To send one to Birchin Lane, phr. (old).—To castigate; to flog. A punning allusion to birch, a rod. Cf., Strap oil, etc. Bird, subs. (theatrical).—Mr. H. J. Byron says that when a piece is hissed the actors say ‘The bird’s there!’;—the bird alluded to being the goose notorious for its hissing capacities.—See however, Big bird and Goose. Verb (old).—To thieve; to steal; to look for plunder. So used by Ben Jonson. Bird-Cage, subs. (common).—1. A bustle, an article of feminine attire, used for extending the skirts of the dress. So called because at one time constructed of such a size and in such a manner as to be not altogether unlike an elongated bird-cage. 1860 circa. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Agricultural Irish Girl,’ verse 3. She has no great education, for She’s not much past her letters; But for acting like a lady, I Would like to see her betters: She does not read Ouida’s works, Nor Bow Bells’ fashions pages; And she does not wear those things behind, The ladies call bird-cages. Among English Synonyms may be mentioned canary cage; backstaircase; false hereafter; bishop. French Synonyms. Un volapuk; un strapontin; un lieutenant (a pun on tenant lieu de ce qui manque); un nuage (parcequ’il cache la lune; lune = the posteriors). 2. (common.)—A four-wheeled cab. For synonyms, see Growler. 3. (racing.)—The paddock at the Newmarket race-course where saddling takes place. It adjoins the grand stand. 1884. St. James’s Gazette, May 1, p. 1. All the favourites were brought into the bird-cage. [M.] Birdlime, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Time. 2. (old.)—A thief. From the glutinous substance of the same name spread upon twigs for the purpose of catching birds and holding them fast. 1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, V., 2. That birdlime there stole it. 1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, III., 2. My rogue of a son has laid his birdlime fingers on’t. Bird’s-Eye, Bird’s-Eye Fogle, Bird’s-Eye Wipe, subs. (common).—A silk handkerchief spotted with eye-like markings.—See also Billy and Wipe. 1665. Pepys, Diary, May 14. To church, it being Whit-Sunday; my wife very fine in a new yellow bird’s-eye hood, as the fashion is now. 1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xviii. He wore a blue bird’s-eye handkerchief round his neck. 1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. His neckerchief was of the same hue [silver grey], with a light crimson bird’s-eye. Bird-Witted, adj. (old).—Inconsiderate; thoughtless; easily imposed on.—Grose. 1605. Bacon, Adv. Learning, II. (1861), 228. If a child be bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, the mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto. 1650. Ussher, Ann., VI., 360. [He] proved ... but a bird-witted man. Birk, subs. (back slang).—A ‘crib’ (q.v.), i.e., a house. For synonyms, see Diggings. Birthday Suit, subs. (common).—Naked; in the buff (q.v.); in the suit in which Adam and Eve first saw each other, and ‘were not ashamed.’ A French equivalent is s’habiller en sauvage. 1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, l. 61. I went in the morning to a private place, along with the housemaid, and we bathed in our birth-day soot. Bishop, subs. (old).—1. A warm decoction of wine, orange or lemon peel, and sugar—but variously compounded. Similar to flip and purl (q.v.). 1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—the town-raff and the bargees—well-blunted or stiver cramped—against dun or don—nob or big-wig—so may you never want a bumper of bishop. 1738. Swift, Women Who Cry Oranges, wks., 1755, IV., i., 278. Well roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup. They’ll make a sweet bishop. 1753. The World, No. 37. Punch, bishop, cool tankard, and negus are equally denied me. 1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlviii., p. 421. He and the landlord were drinking a bowl of bishop together. 2. subs. (American).—A bustle—part of feminine attire consisting of a pad worn on the back part of the waist, and designed to give prominence to the skirt. For synonyms, see Bird-cage. 1848. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, p. 42. Bishop. An appendage to a lady’s wardrobe, otherwise called a bustle. I sing the bishop, alias the bustle. 1862–75. Saxe, Progress. Imperial Fashion decides the gravest questions which divide the world. If wrong may not, by circumstance, be right,— If black cravats be more genteel than white,— If, by her bishop, or her ‘grace,’ alone A genuine lady, or a church, is known. 3. (common.)—A chamber utensil; a jerry; jordan; and it (q.v.). 4. (Winchester College.)—The sapling with which a fagot is bound together. Verb.—1. A term among horse dealers, for burning marks into a horse’s teeth, after he has lost them by age; or, by other deceptive arts to give a good appearance to a bad horse. By bishopping, a horse is made to appear younger than he is. The expression is derived from the name of a person who initiated the practice, and has no connection with ‘to bishop,’ a provincialism for ‘to burn.’ For synonyms, see Fig. 1727. R. Bradley, Family Dict., vol. I., s.v. ‘Horse.’ This way of making a horse look young, is by Horse Coursers called Bishoping. 1884. Ill. Lon. News, 23 August, 171, col. 2. To bishop ... a term ... signifying the use of deceptive arts to make an old horse appear like a young one. In French the process is called masquer en alezan; also maquiller un gayet. 2. To murder by drowning. The term, now obsolete, is like burke and boycott from the name of an individual. A man named Bishop drowned a boy in Bethnal Green, in 1831, to sell the body for dissecting purposes. 1837. Barham, I. L. (Account of a New Play). I burked the papa, now I’ll bishop the son. [d.] 1864. Athenæum, p. 559, col. 1. We have ‘to burke,’ and ‘to bishop.’ [M.] Bismarquer, verb (familiar).—To cheat; to play foul at cards or billiards. A word formed from the name of Prince Bismarck, the German Chancellor, whose policy in 1865–6 roused the indignation of a large section of European thought. Bit, Bite, Byte, subs. (old).—1. An old cant term for money. For synonyms, see Actual. 1532. Use of Dice Play (Percy Soc.). Now waxen is he so proud of his gain, because he hath gotten a new chain, fyer new apparel, and some store of byte. 1592. Defence of Conny-Catching, in Greene’s wks. XI., 44. So some that would not stoope a farthing at cardes, would venter all the byte in their boung at dice. 1607. Dekker, Jests to make you Merie, in wks. (Grosart) II., 328. If they follow you in the street, and once know where the bung and the bit is, as much as to say your purse and the money. 1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 122. To learne before he play what store of Bit he hath in his Bay, that is, what money he hath in his pursse. 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 149. Snack the bit. To share the money. 1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. He is caught—he must ‘stand and deliver’; then out with the dummy [pocket book], and off with the bit. 2. (colloquial)—The name given to coins varying in value according to locality—usually, however, to the silver piece of the lowest denomination. Fourpenny pieces are still called bits in English slang, but are more popularly known as Joeys (q.v., for synonyms); and in Demerara the term is in general use for the same coin; in America a 12½ cent piece is called a bit, and a defaced 20 cent piece is termed a long bit. A bit is the smallest coin in Jamaica, equal to 6d. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bit (s.) ... In the West Indies, it is the least piece of silver coin, which goes current at 7 pence half-penny. 1875. Scribner’s Magazine, July, p. 277. For a young city, San Francisco is very much wedded to petty traditions. It clings to the bit with a deathlike tenacity; clings to it against all reason and against its own interests. The bit is a mythical quantity. It is neither twelve and a half cents, nor half of twenty-five; it is neither fifteen cents nor ten cents. If you buy a bit’s worth, and throw down twenty-five cents, you get ten cents back; if you offer the same ten cents in lieu of a bit, you are looked upon as a mild sort of a swindler. And yet, the bit is the standard of minimum monetary value. Bitch, subs. (low).—1. An opprobrious term for a woman, generally containing an implication of lewdness and ‘fastness.’ Not now in literary use, though formerly so. [From its primary sense of a female dog.] It is the most offensive apellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of whore. 1400. Chester Pl. (1843), 181. Whom calleste thou queine skabde biche? [M.] 1575. J. Still, Gammer Gurton, II., ii. Come out, thou hungry needy bitch. [M.] 1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 9. An extravagant bitch of a wife. 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVII., ch. iii. There was my lady cousin Bellaston, and my lady Betty, and my lady Catharine, and my lady I don’t know who; damn me if ever you catch me among such a kennel of hoop-petticoated bitches. 1833. Marryat, P. Simple (1834), 446. You are a ... son of a bitch. 2. (old.)—Applied, opprobriously, as in sense 1, to a man. It has long since passed out of decent usage. c. 1500. E. E. Misc. (1855), 54. He is a schrewed byche, In fayth, I trow, he be a wyche. 1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, xviii., 310. Ulysses looking sourly answered, You bitch. [M.] 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVII., iii. It is an old acquaintance of above twenty years standing. I can tell you landlord is a vast comical bitch, you will like un hugely. Verb (low).—1. To go whoring; molrowing; to frequent the company of prostitutes. 2. To yield, or give up an attempt through fear.—Grose. 3. (common.)—To spoil; to bungle. To stand bitch.—To make tea, or do the honours of the tea table, or to perform a female part. Bitch is here used generically for a woman. Bitch Booby, subs. (old military).—A country girl.—Grose. Bitchery, subs. (low).—Harlotry; lewdness. [From bitch, sense 1, + ery.] 1532–3. More, Confut. Tindale, wks., 648, col. 1. Such marriage is very vnlawfull leckery and plain abhominable bychery. 1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, I., iv., 188. He will vnline himselfe from bitchery. 1663–1704. Thomas Brown, Works, Serious and Comical, III., p. 94. Thither run Sots purely to be drunk that they may ... forget ... the roguery of their lawyers, the bitchery of their paramours, or the ingratitude of the world. (?). Stanyhurst, Description of Ireland, p. 14. The quip sat as unseemly in his mouth as for a whore to reprehend bitchery, or for an usurer to condemn simony. Bitch Party, subs. (popular).—A party composed of women. Originally an Oxford term for a tea-party, tea being considered a beverage only fit for women. [From bitch, a woman, + party.] Also hen party (q.v.). Cf., Stag party. 1889. C. Whibley, In Cap and Gown, Characters of Freshmen, p. 176. ‘The studious freshman ... goeth to a small bitch-party and findeth his gown taken “by mistake.”’ Bite, subs. (old).—1. An old slang term for money.—See Bit. 2. (old.)—The female pudenda. For synonyms, see Monosyllable. 3. An imposition; a piece of humbug; a ‘sell’ or ‘do.’ Cf., Bilk, Bam, Bargain, and Sell, for synonyms. The sense runs through all stages, from jocular hoaxing to downright swindling. Also in the sense of disappointment, as in the old proverb ‘the biter bit.’ A man is bitten when he burns his fingers meddling in matters, which, though promising well, turn out failures.—See also Cross bite. 1711. Steele, Spectator, No. 156, ¶ 2. It was a common bite with him, to lay Suspicions that he was favoured by a Lady’s Enemy. 1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., ix., 43. Sharpers would not frequent gaming-tables, if the men of fortune knew the bite. 1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. ix. ‘It’s all a bam, ma’am—all a bamboozle and a bite, that affair of his illness.’ 1860. Sat. Review, Ap. 14, 475, 2. That form of practical joking, which in the time of ‘The Spectator,’ was known as a bite ... in the popular slang of the day, is designated ‘a sell.’ 1883. Daily News, Ap. 18, p. 5, col. 4. Lord Randolph Churchill, we fear, has been making Mr. Gladstone the victim of what, in the slang of Addison’s time, would have been called a bite, and what in the slang of our own time is called a ‘sell.’ 4. (old.)—A sharper; cheat; trickster. Cf., Bilk. See Rook for synonyms. 1742. Fielding, Miss Lucy (1762), 176. Is this wench an idiot, or a bite? Marry me, with a pox! 1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcviii. From which circumstance it was conjectured that Peregrine was a bite from the beginning, who had found credit on account of his effrontery and appearance, and imposed himself upon the town as a young gentleman of fortune. 1787. S. Jenyns, in Dodsley, III., 169. The fool would fain be thought a bite. 5. (popular.)—Applied in a transferred sense to anybody or anything suspected of being different to what it appears, but not necessarily in a bad sense. 1846. Brackenridge, Mod. Chiv., 21. The jockeys suspected that the horse was what they call a bite, that under the appearance of leanness and stiffness, was concealed some hidden quality of swiftness. 6. (common.)—One who drives a hard bargain; a ‘close fist.’ 7. (familiar.)—A nickname for a Yorkshireman.—See Daily News, Sept. 11, 1883, and Yorkshire Post, Jan. 9, 1884. 1883. Daily News, Sept. 4, p. 5, col. 6. The great and puissant race known indifferently as ‘tykes’ or bites. 8. (printers’.)—An irregular white spot on the edge or corner of a printed page, caused by the frisket not being sufficiently cut out. 1677. Moxon, Mech. Exerc. in Savage Dict. Print, s.v. Bite. If the frisket is not sufficiently cut away, but covers some part of the form, so that it prints on the frisket, it is called a bite. [M.] 1884. Blades, Caxton, 130. In ‘Speculum Vitæ Christi’ we actually find a bite, half of the bottom line remaining unprinted. [M.] Verb (old).—1. To deceive; cheat; swindle; to ‘do’ or ‘take in.’ In modern colloquial English to slick or to sell (q.v.). Formerly used both transitively and passively; now only in latter. 1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 109. Then a rook ... follows him close, and engages him in advantageous bets, and at length worries him, that is gets all his money, and then they smile and say, ‘The lamb is bitten.’ 1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 12. Nay, he has bit you fairly enough, that’s certain. 1724. A Journey through England. Many a poor German hath been bit by an ordinary or his taylor, after this manner; they have suffered the poor wretch to run in debt, made him an extravagant bill, and then arrested him, and so forced him to pay their demands. 1731. Fielding, The Lottery, Sc. 3. However, Madam, you are bit as well as I am; for I am no more a lord, than you are a fortune. 1822. [Nares] Love in a Barn, an old ballad. He shall not have my maiden-head, I solemnly do swear; But I’ll bite him of a portion, Then marry with Ralph, my dear. 1838. Thackeray, Yellowplush Memoirs, ch. x. ‘You were completely bitten, my boy—humbugged, bamboozled—ay, and by your old father, you dog.’ 1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. xvii., p. 232. I have no particular pleasure in recalling my Newmarket doings. I was infernally bit and bubbled in almost every one of my transactions there. Hence 2. (popular.)—To strike a hard bargain. 3. (old.)—To steal; e.g., ‘to bite the roger,’ to steal a portmanteau; ‘to bite the wiper,’ i.e., to purloin a handkerchief. Intj. (old.)—1. Formerly an equivalent to the modern ‘Sold!’ ‘Done!’ etc. 1704. Cibber, Careless Husband, Act iii. Ld. Mo. ’Tis possible I may not have the same regard to her frown that your Lordship has. Ld. Fop. That’s bite, I’m sure; he’d give a joint of his little finger to be as well with her as I am. 1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i.). Miss. I’m sure the gallows groans for you. Nev. Bite, Miss; I was but in jest. 1714. Addison, Spectator, No. 514. It is a superstition with some surgeons who beg the bodies of condemned malefactors, to go to the gaol and bargain for the carcass with the criminal himself.... The fellow who killed the officer of Newgate, very forwardly, and like a man who was willing to deal, told him, ‘Look you, Mr. Surgeon, that little dry fellow, who has been half starved all his life, is now half dead with fear, cannot answer your purpose.... Come, for twenty shillings I am your man.’ Says the Surgeon, ‘Done, there’s a guinea.’ This witty rogue took the money, and as soon as he had it in his fist, cries, ‘bite, I am to be hanged in chains.’ 2. (Charterhouse.)—A warning = Cave! To do a thing when the maggot bites, phr. (common), is to do it when the fancy takes one; ‘at one’s own sweet will.’ When a person acts from no apparent motive in external circumstances, he is said to have ‘a maggot in his head,’ to have ‘a bee in his bonnet’; or, in French, avoir des rats dans la tête; in Platt-Deutsch, to have a mouse-nest in his head, the eccentric behaviour being attributed to the influence of the internal irritation. Cf., Apartments to let. Bite One’s Hips, verbal phr. (tailors’).—To regret a word or action. Bite One’s Name In, verbal phr. (common).—To drink heavily; to tipple; also to drink greedily. Bite on the Bridle, verbal phr. (old).—To be pinched in circumstances; to be reduced; in difficulties. Biter, subs. (old).—1. A practical joker; a hoaxer; one who deceives; a cheat and trickster. Cf., Bite. The term now only survives in the proverbial expression, ‘the biter bit.’ For synonyms, see Rook. 1669. Nicker Nicked, in Hart. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 108. [Biter is given in a list of names of cheats and thieves’.] 1680. Cotton, Complete Gamester, in Singer’s Hist. Playing Cards (1816), p. 333. Hectors, setters, gilts, pads, biters, etc., and these may all pass under the general appellation of rooks. 1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 12. A biter, who is a dull fellow, that tells you a lye with a grave face, and laughs at you for knowing him no better than to believe him. 1711. Spectator, No. 47. These gentlemen are commonly distinguished by the name of biters: a race of men that are perpetually employed in laughing at those mistakes which are of their own production. 1712. Spectator, No. 504. A biter is one who tells you a thing you have no reason to disbelieve in itself, and perhaps has given you, before he bit you, no reason to disbelieve it for his saying it; and if you give him credit, laughs in your face, and triumphs that he has deceived you. 1812. Coombe, Syntax, Picturesque, c. xix. Pray have you travell’d so far north, To think we have so little wit, As by such biters to be bit? 2. (old.)—An amorous woman (sexually). Cf., Athanasian wench. Bite the Ear, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To borrow. Formerly, a term of endearment; to caress fondly. For synonyms, see Shins. 1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 502. He used to want to bite my ear (borrow) too often. Bite the Thumb, verbal phr. (old).—To make a gesture of contempt, which was formerly regarded in the light of an insult. Nares says the thumb in the action represented a fig, and the whole was equivalent to ‘a fig for you.’ There are several gestures of this kind. That best known is probably taking a sight (q.v.). A similar gesture of contempt is used by the lower orders in France which, there is little doubt, is the ‘biting the thumb’ spoken of in Romeo and Juliet. The person using the gesture placed the nail of his thumb under the front teeth of the upper jaw, and then jerked the thumb forward, using at the same time an expression equivalent to ‘I don’t care that for you.’ Another contemptuous action is placing the thumb between the closed fore and middle fingers; while according to Darwin’s Expression of the Emotions, it appears that with the Dakota Indians of North America ‘contempt is shown ... conventionally by the hand being closed and held near the breast; then, as the fore arm is suddenly extended, the hand is opened and the fingers separated from each other. If the person at whose expense the sign is made is present, the hand is moved towards him and the head sometimes averted from him.’ This sudden extension and opening of the hand perhaps indicates the dropping or throwing away a valueless object. 1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, i., 1. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them if they bear it. 1596. Lodge, Wit’s Miserie. Behold next I see Contempt marching forth, giving me the fies, with his thombe in his mouth. 1638. Randolph, Muses’ L. Glass, O. Pl., ix., 220. Dogs and pistols! To bite his thumb at me! Wear I a sword To see men bite their thumbs? 1678. Rules of Civility, transl. from French, p. 44. ’Tis no less disrespectful to bite the nail of your thumb, by way of scorn and disdain, and drawing your nail from between your teeth, to tell them you value not this what they can do. Bite Up, subs. (tailors’).—An unpleasant altercation. Bit-Faker or Turner Out, subs. (thieves’).—Coiner of bad money. [From bit, an old canting term for money, + faker, one who makes, or does.] Also bit-maker.—See Turner out and Faker. Bit Faking, subs. (thieves’).—Manufacturing base coin; counterfeiting. [From bit + fake + ing.—See preceding.] Cf., Turner out. Biting Up, subs. (tailors’).—Grieving over a loss or bereavement. Bit-Maker, subs. (old).—A counterfeiter.—See Bit-faker. 1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 447. Coiners—bit-makers. Bit-o’-Bull, subs. (old).—Beef. The French say un gobet; formerly, a dainty morsel. Bit of Blood, subs. (common).—A high-spirited horse; a thoroughbred. The derivation is obvious. For synonyms, see Prad. 1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 10. ’Mong the vehicles, too, which were many and various, From natty barouche down to buggy precarious, We twigg’d more than one queerish sort of turn-out, C—n n—g came in a job, and then canter’d about On a showy, but hot and unsound, bit of blood, (For a leader once meant, but cast off, as no good). 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, II., p. 156. Not that we slacken in our pace the while, not we: we rather put the bits of blood upon their mettle. Bit of Cavalry, subs. (old).—A horse. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc. 6. Tom. You are now at Tattersal’s, Jerry, a very worthy fellow, who made his fortune by a horse called Highflyer. Jerry. Hum! and if one may judge from the splendour and extent of his premises, he seems to be no small highflyer himself. Tom. You are right, Jerry—I shall here buy a bit of cavalry—that is a prad, on your judgment. Bit of Ebony, subs. (common).—A negro or negress. For synonyms, see Snowball. Bit of Fat, subs. (common).—1. An unexpected pecuniary advantage in a transaction. 2. (printers’.)—See Fat. Bit of Jam.—See Jam. Bit of Leaf, subs. (thieves’).—Tobacco. Bit of Muslin, subs. (common).—A young girl; generally applied only to prostitutes. Also bit of stuff. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack. Bit of Mutton, subs. (familiar).—A woman; generally, a prostitute is meant. Cf., Laced mutton, and for synonyms, see Barrack-hack. Bit of Sticks, subs. phr. (sporting).—A corpse. For synonyms, see Dead meat. Bit of Stiff, subs. (common).—A bank-note, or other paper money; the equivalent of money when not in specie, i.e., a draft or bill of exchange. 1854. Lever, Dodd Family Abroad, I., 313. I’m sorry that bit of stiff, meaning the bill, wasn’t for five thousand francs. 1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 234. He liked to have the party’s name written across a piece of paper with a stamp attached, commonly called a bit of stiff. To do a bit of stiff, phr. (common).—To accept a bill. Bit of Stuff, subs. (familiar).—An overdressed man; a man with full confidence in his appearance and abilities; a young woman; also called a bit of muslin. 1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xxiii. ‘One night he says to me, “Will, come up and I’ll show you a devilish fine piece of stuff.” So I walks with him, and he takes me to a shop where they dealed in marine stores, and we goes and finds your mother in the back parlour.’ Bit On.—See On. Bitter, subs. (popular).—A glass of beer. To do a bitter.—To drink a glass of bitter. Originally, says Hotten, an Oxford term varied by to do a beer. 1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, 1st., III., ch. x. Mr. Verdant Green and Mr. Bouncer ... turned into the coffee-room of ‘The Mitre’ to do bitters, as Mr. Bouncer phrased the act of drinking bitter beer. c. 1882. Comic Song, ‘The West End Boys,’ verse 3. Let fortune frown and friends betray, There’s a class of men that’s ever gay, Where some make troubles, they make joys, And are known by the title of the West End Boys. They commence their evening with cigars, And ‘How-d’ye-do, dear,’ at the bars, ‘Another bitter, I really can’t go, There’s something about you that charms me so.’ Oh, don’t they like, etc. Bittock, subs. (originally provincial; now common).—A distance of very undecided length. If a North countryman be asked the distance to a place, he will most probably reply, ‘a mile and a bittock.’ The latter may be considered any distance from one hundred yards to ten miles. Also of time. [From bit + ock, a diminutive suffix.] 1802. J. Wilson (‘Congleton’), M.S. Let. to F. Boucher. Bittock, a small Piece or small Bit; Cheshire. [M.] 1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. x. ‘To Chamwood, madam? It’s unco late, and its sax miles an’ a bittock down the water.’ 1884. Daily News, April 15, p. 4, col. 7. Edinburgh University is three hundred years old, or rather, three hundred years and a bittock. Bit You.—A hair of the dog that bit you.—See Hair. Bivvy or Gatter, subs. (provincial).—Beer; ‘shant of bivvy,’ a pot or quart of beer; probably from the Italian, bevere, bere. Latin, bibere. English, beverage. Biz, subs. (originally American, now general).—A vulgar corruption for business, employment, or occupation. ‘Good biz’ is profitable business. 1882. Democracy, ch. vii. A number of gentlemen were waiting for interviews with the President, and among them was the whole Pennsylvania delegation, ready for biz, as Mr. Tom Lord remarked, with a wink. 1884. Saturday Review, Jan. 5, p. 13, col. 2. It is satisfactory to learn from the conductor of the circus that biz is very fair. 1889. Ally Sloper, Aug. 17, p. 262, col. 1. We understand, though we cannot vouch for the truth of the statement, that a New York lady, moving in the best society, while twisting some worsted, hit upon the idea of applying a little system of her own to a larger field than mere yarn, so she invented a machine for twisting wire rope, and has sold the patent for £10,000 and a royalty upon future sales. Very good biz, this, eh! B. K. S., subs. (military).—An abbreviation of ‘barracks’; its usage is explained by quotation. 1887. Standard, 10 Feb., p. 5, col. 2. B. k. s., used by officers ‘in mufti,’ who do not wish to give their address. Blab, subs. (vulgar).—A revealer of that which should be kept secret; a betrayer; a babbler. A depraved word; once in common use, but rarely employed now, except colloquially. Grose [1785] includes it in his Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue as forming part of the slang of his time. These remarks apply with more or less cogency to blab when used, to signify loose talk or chatter, when employed as a verb, and to the various derivative compounds and allied forms, such as ‘blabber,’ ‘blabbing,’ ‘blabbing-book,’ etc.—a taint of vulgarism now rests upon them all. Black Act, subs. (American).—A corrupted form of black art (q.v.). Blackamoor’s Teeth, subs. (old).—Cowrie shells—the currency of some savage tribes. 1700. W. King, Transactioneer, p. 36. He has shells called Blackmoore’s Teeth, I suppose ... from their Whiteness. [M.] 1719. W. Wood, Surv. Trade, p. 334. Known by the Name of Cowries amongst Merchants, or of Blackamores’ Teeth among other Persons. [M.] Black-and-Tan, subs. (vagrants’).—Porter or stout and ale, mixed in equal quantities. [From black, in allusion to the dark colour of porter and stout, + and + tan, i.e., of the yellowish brown colour of ale.] Black-and-Tan Country, subs. phr. (American).—The Southern States of North America. [From black, a sobriquet for a negro, + and + tan, a pun and an allusion to the slang verb ‘to tan,’ to thrash or beat + country; i.e., the country where the negroes were tanned or beaten.] Black and White, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The black characters of print or writing on white paper. Therefore, to put a thing down in black and white is to preserve it in writing or in print. Black on white is a variant. 1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, IV., ii. I have it here in black and white. [Pulls out the warrant.] 1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, Act ii., Sc. 2. Gov. [with a letter] ... Alas, poor gentleman! Little does he think what black and white is here. 1712. Spectator, No. 286. My desire is, Sir, that you will be pleased to give us, in black and white, your opinion in the matter of dispute between us. 1714. Spectator, No. 616. They had like to have dumfounded the justice; but his clerk came in to his assistance, and took them all down in black and white. 1837. Carlyle, French Revolution, pt. III., bk. II., ch. viii. His accounts lie all ready, correct in black and white to the uttermost farthing. 1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xii., p. 202. ‘A man can’t so much as put on a pair of clean stockings in the morning, but its laid before high quarters in black and white at mid-day by the secret police!’ Black-Arse, subs. (old).—A kettle; a pot. [From black, from its colour, + arse, the posterior, hinder, or ‘bottom’ part.] Black Art, subs. (old).—1. Picking of locks; burglary. For synonyms, see Crack. 1591. Greene, Conny-Catch., wks., 1883, II., x., 72. I can set down the subtiltie of the blacke art, which is picking of lockes. 1608. Dekker, Belman of Lond., wks., 1884–5, III., 137. This blacke art ... is called in English, Picking of Lockes. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Black art, the art of picking a lock. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [The definition given is the same as that of Grose, as above-mentioned.] 2. (undertakers’.)—The business of an undertaker. Cf., Black work. 1861. Sala, Seven Sons of Mammon, i., p. 78. Rich men’s funerals in the first style of black art. Black-ball, verb (common).—See Pill. Blackballing, subs. (nautical).—Stealing or pilfering. A sailor’s word. It originated amongst the employees of the old Black Ball line of steamers between New York and Liverpool. The cruelty and scandalous conduct of officers to men—and sailors to each other—were so proverbial, that the line of vessels in question became known all over the world for the cruelty of its officers, and the thieving propensities of its sailors. Blackbeetles, subs. (old).—The lower strata of society. [Apparently a term of contempt derived from the cockroach, generally called a blackbeetle.] Obsolete. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Jerry: Tom, here’s a group of blackbeetles—do you see those lovely mendicants? Tom: Beauty in rags—I do—Cupid imploring charity. I’ll relieve him, for I’ll be after that match-girl directly. Jerry: And I’ll chant a few words to that beautiful ballad-singer. Log: And I’ll take pity on that charming beggar. Blackberry Swagger, subs. (common).—A person who hawks tapes, boot-laces, etc. Blackbird, subs. (popular).—Formerly an African captive on board a slaver; now generally understood as referring to a Polynesian indentured labourer, who, if not by name a slave, is often one to all intents and purposes. [Obviously derived from the black or dark-brown colour of these people.] 1881. Chequered Career, p. 180. The white men on board knew that if once the blackbirds burst the hatches ... they would soon master the ship. [M.] Verb.—To capture negroes or Polynesians; to kidnap (see subs.). Hence the verbal substantive and ppl. adj. blackbirding, in the same sense. 1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 398, col. 1. The day is not far distant when, to avoid blackbirding, and the revengeful massacres which these kidnappers provoke, the whole of Oceania will have to be placed under civilised control. 1883. Academy, 8 Sep., p. 158. [He] slays Bishop Patteson by way of reprisal for the atrocities of some blackbirding crew. [M.] 1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 Aug. p. 2, col. 2. Years ago blackbirding scoundrels may have hailed from Fiji. [M.] Blackbird-Catching.—See Blackbird. Black-Birders, subs. (popular).—See quotation. 1883. All the Year Round, 22 Sep., p. 355. Blackbirders, the kidnappers for labour purposes on the islands of the Pacific. Black Box, subs. (old).—A lawyer. So given in Grose [1785]; Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]; and in Duncombe’s Sinks of London [1848]. [From the black tin boxes in which clients’ papers are kept.] Black-Boy, subs. (old).—See Black-coat. Black Bracelets, subs. (old).—Handcuffs. For synonyms, see Darbies. 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 63. When the turnkey, next morning, stepped into his room, The sight of the hole in the wall struck him dumb; The sheriff’s black bracelets lay strewn on the ground, But the lad that had worn ’em could nowhere be found. Tol-de-rol! Black-Cattle, subs. (popular).—1. Clergymen; parsons. [From the prevailing hue of the garments worn by the profession.] Sometimes used in the same way as red-coats for soldiers, e.g., black-coats (q.v.); also devil dodgers, the latter of which, see for synonyms. 2. (old.)—Lice. These are also called active citizens and chates (q.v.). Black-Cattle Show, subs. (popular).—A gathering of clergymen. [From black-cattle (q.v.) + show, in its slang sense of a party or meeting.] Black-Coat, subs. (familiar.)—A parson. Cf., Black-cattle and Devil-dodger. 1627. R. Perrot, Jacob’s Vow, 52. Let us take heed how these black-coates get the day of us. [M.] 1671. Eachard, Observations, p. 176. Suppose we should bestow upon a poor low thinking black-coat, one of our best forms, such as follows; it is five to one he would commit some ecclesiastical blunder or other, in setting his name too near. 1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, i. You are the black-coat’s son of Knocktarlitie. 1870. Emerson, Soc. and Solit., ix., p. 197. The black-coats are good company only for black-coats. [M.] Black-Cuffs, subs. (military).—The Fifty-eight Foot, from the regimental facings which have been black since 1767. They have also been nicknamed the Steel Backs (q.v.). Black Diamonds, subs. (popular).—1. Coals. [A simile in allusion to the colour, and also to the fact that both coal and diamonds are carbon.] 1849. T. Miller, in Gabarni in London, p. 43. Were he even trusted with the favourite horse and gig to fetch a sack of black diamonds from the wharf. 2. Also formerly a rough but clever or good person; this sobriquet, however, has given place to rough diamond (q.v.). Black Dog, subs. (old).—1. Applied, circa 1702–30, to a counterfeit shilling and other base silver coinage. In this connection it may be pointed out that black had long previously been applied to base money. Ruding, in his Annals of the Coinage [London, 1817, vol. I., p. 405], having mentioned black money, appends this note—‘Qy. Turonenses Nigri? Copper money struck at Tours.’ [See Turney’s infra. Qy. corrupted from Tierney, name of maker.] It is introduced in his account of the Statute of Money, passed at York, 1335, 9 cap., Edward III., which recites that all manner of black money which had been commonly current in the king’s realm and obeisance should be utterly excluded, so as not to be current in one month after proclamation, on pain of forfeiture of the same. Later on, in 1339, a certain black money called ‘turneys’ was made by certain persons in Ireland, who circulated it to the injury of the king’s sterling money, and to his no little loss and prejudice. Proclamation had, therefore, been ordered to be made to prohibit the circulation of it, on pain of forfeiture of money and goods. But the king having been informed that great inconvenience had arisen from this prohibition on account of the scarcity of sterling money, it was, therefore, commanded that, provided it should be found on due inquiry more advantageous to the public to allow the currency of the said black money, proclamation should be made to authorise it until a sufficient quantity of other money was provided. 1706. Luttrell, in Ashton’s Reign Queen Anne, II., p. 225. The Art of making black dogs, which are shillings, or other pieces of money made only of Pewter, double wash’d. [M.] 1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., wks., 1755, V., ii., 44. Butcher’s half-pence, black-dogs, and others the like. [M.] 2. (common.)—Delirium tremens; the horrors; ‘jim jams.’ Black dog is a frequent figurative expression dialectically for depression of spirits, and melancholy. Among the ancients a black dog and its pups were considered an evil omen. For synonyms, see Gallon distemper. 1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxxiii. ‘Yes, sir,’ said the butler, nodding, ‘D.T., sir. After one of his rages the black dog comes, and it’s hawful work; so I hope you’ll go, sir.’ To blush like a black dog, phr. (old).—Not to blush at all; to be shameless.—See also Blush. 1634. Withal, Dictionary, p. 557 [ed. 1634]. Faciem perfricuit. He blusheth like a black dogge, hee hath a brazen face. Black Doll.—See Dolly shop. 1835. Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 174. [Speaking of a marine-store shop]: imagine, in addition to this incongruous mass, a black doll in a white frock, with two faces—one looking up the street, the other looking down, swinging over the door. 1838. Douglas Jerrold, Men of Character, II., p. 100. Five hundred articles, among which might be found knockers, scrapers, barbers’ poles, black dolls. 1861. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., p. 609. The best price given for old rags—inquire at the sign of the black doll. Black-Eye. To give a bottle a black eye, phr. (old).—To empty it. Cf., Dead man. Black-Eyed Susan, subs. (American).—Texan for a revolver. Among other slang equivalents for this weapon current in the Lone Star State may be mentioned meat in the pot, blue lightning, the peace-maker, mr. speaker, a one-eyed scribe, pill box and my unconverted friend. For synonyms, see Meat in the pot. Black-Fly, subs. (old).—A contemptuous name for a clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. The greatest drawback on the farmer is the black fly, i.e., the parson who takes tithe of the harvest. Blackfriars! intj. (thieves’).—An exclamation of warning; look out! beware!—See Thieves. Blackguard, subs. (common).—A man coarse in speech, and offensive in manner; a scamp; a scoundrel; a disreputable fellow. The term, as now used, is one of the utmost opprobrium, and although a good deal of uncertainty hangs about its history and derivation, it seems pretty clear that a certain amount of odium has always been attached to the word. Between two of its primary significations, however,—(1) a kitchen knave or scullion, and (2) a guard of attendants, black in person, dress, or character, generally in reference to the devil’s body-guard—and the modern usage, there is a somewhat marked line to be drawn. The earliest mention is as follows:— 1532. MS. Churchwarden’s Accompts. St. Margaret’s, Westminster (Receipts for burials). Item Receyvid for the lycens of iiij. torchis of the blake garde vjd. What this guard was is not definitely known. Some have suggested that it was a body of soldiers; others that it was a band of torch bearers at funerals; while some incline to the belief that it was comprised of street link-boys. Better supported by evidence are the senses first mentioned, in which blackguard signifies (1) a scullion, and (2) a member of the devil’s body-guard. But here too, Murray points out that it would be difficult to assign priority. First, however, let the quotations be given in sets:— Sense 1 = a scullion. 1535. Sir W. Fitzwilliams, 17 Aug., in Cal. State Papers. Two of the ring-leaders had been some time of the black guard of the king’s kitchen. [M.] 1579. Fulke, Refut. Kastel, 779. They ought not, nor yet any of the scullerie or blacke garde. [M.] Sense 2 = Devil’s body-guard; also other attendants. 1583. Fulke, Defence, x., 386. Pelagius, Celestins, and other like heretics of the devil’s body-guard, [M.] 1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, wks. [1884–5] III., 214. The Great Lord of Limbo did therefore commaund all his Blacke guard that stood about him, to bestirre them. [M.] Comparing these one with the other, we are clearly face to face in one set of quotations with a popular superstition—a belief of an age when witchcraft was prevalent, and when hobgoblins and the like were assigned as black guards to his Satanic Majesty. Whether there was any connection in the popular mind between the King’s scullions and the Devil’s body-guard, cannot now be definitely stated. Still, it is probable; and this view is borne out by later references. It is curious to note the concluding lines of Hudibras’ Address to Ralpho, which may perhaps explain the process by which the term of black guard may have come to be applied to the lowest class of domestics in the royal kitchens or other great establishments. Still, as stated, priority cannot be given to either; moreover, the use of black guard in either sense may have been a mere play on words, whether of 1 on 2, or 2 on 1 is equally uncertain. The quotation from Hudibras is as follows: 1678. Butler, Hudibras, pt. III., canto 1, line 1403. I do believe thee, quoth the knight; Thus far I’m sure thou’rt in the right, And know what ’tis that troubles thee, Better than thou hast guess’d of me. Thou art some paltry, blackguard sprite, Condemn’d to drudg’ry in the night; Thou hast no work to do in th’ house, Nor half-penny to drop in shoes; Without the raising of which sum You dare not be so troublesome; To pinch the slatterns black and blue, For leaving you their work to do. This is your business, good Pug Robin, And your diversion, dull dry bobbing. So also the following:— 1655. Fuller, Church History [1845], vol. V., p. 160. For who can otherwise conceive but such a prince-principal of darkness must be proportionately attended with a black guard of monstrous opinions. The Black Guard of Satan, argues a writer in Notes and Queries [Sir J. Emmerson Tennent, N. and Q., 1 S., vii., 78], was supposed, in the popular view, to perform the drudgery of the kitchen and servants’ hall in the infernal household. 1588–1628. Hobbes, Microcosmus, vol. II., p. 134. Since my lady’s decay I am degraded from a cook, and I fear the devil himself will entertain me but for one of his blackguards, and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt. Hence came the popular superstition that these goblin scullions, on their visits to the upper world confined themselves to the servants’ apartments of the houses which they favoured with their presence, and which at night they swept and garnished; pinching those of the maids in their sleep who, by their laziness, had imposed such toil on their elfin assistants; but slipping money into the shoes of the more tidy and industrious servants whose attention to their own duties before going to rest had spared the goblins the task of performing their share of the drudgery. In allusion to this is Gifford’s note on Ben Jonson’s plays [vol. II., p. 170],— In all great houses, but particularly in the Royal Residences, there were a number of mean dirty dependents, whose office it was to attend the wool-yard, sculleries, etc. Of these, the most forlorn wretches seem to have been selected to carry coals to the kitchens, halls, etc. To this smutty regiment, who attended the progresses, and rode in the carts with the pots and kettles, which, with every other article of furniture, were then removed from palace to palace, the people, in derision, gave the name of black guards; a term since become sufficiently familiar, and never properly explained. Many other references also go to prove the connection in the popular mind, so far as usage is concerned, between the two significations. In all this, however, the peculiarly contemptuous odium attached to the word in modern times is absent, and between the old and the modern significations a sharp line may, as already stated, be drawn. The earliest reference to blackguard as applied to a vagabond or loafer occurs in 1683. Since that time the word seems gradually to have become more and more depraved, until its present meaning of a low, worthless fellow, one open to, and ready for any villainy has been reached. The following quotations will well repay comparative study. 1683. MS., in Lord Steward’s Office, Windsor Castle [N. and Q., 1 S., ix., p. 15]. 7 May, Whereas of late a sort of vicious, idle, and masterless boys and rogues, commonly called the blackguard, with divers other lewd and loose fellowes, vagabonds, vagrants, and wandering men and women, do usually haunt and follow the Court. 1695. Congreve, Love for Love, Act iii., Sc. 10. Or if that won’t do, I’ll bring a Lawyer that shall out-lye the Devil: and so I’ll try whether my black-guard or his shall get the better of the day. 1744. Nov. 26, Walpole, Lett. to Mann (1833), II., 57. The whole stage filled with blackguards, armed with bludgeons and clubs. 1780. Parody on the Rosciad, etc., p. 13. Like him I’m a blackguard and sot. 1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Speculist, i., 59. As black-guards at Newmarket meeting bawl about the lists of horses. 1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. iii., p. 37. ‘I must request you to be a little more careful in your language. You have come amidst gentlemen here, not blackguards.’ Adj.—Of or pertaining to a blackguard; to the scum or refuse of society; vile; vicious. 1760. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, vol. II., ch. ix. He is become a blackguard gaol-bird. 1803. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), I., 178. His friends were ill-natured, and behaved like blackguard beasts. Verb.—To act like a ruffian; to use filthy, scurrilous language; to play the vagabond or scoundrel. 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxix. ‘I have been called names, and blackguarded quite sufficiently for one sitting.’ So also with other derivatives and compounds—blackguardism, blackguardize, blackguardly, blackguardy. 1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 124. The talent of common blackguardism. 1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. v. I was awakened by being shoved through the folding-doors of a gin-shop, into a glare of light and hubbub of blackguardism. 1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xxvi. ‘I beg your pardon, sir, for saying that; I said it in a hurry. It was blackguardly.’ 1883. William Morris, reported in Illust. London News, March 10, p. 243, col. 3. Almost all ordinary wares now made by man were shabbily and pretentiously ugly.... Not even the pine-trees and gardens could make the rich men’s houses at Bournemouth tolerable. They were simply blackguardly; and even as he spoke they were being built by the mile. Black Hole, subs. (Anglo-Indian).—Cheltenham, from the number of retired Anglo-Indians who live there. Cf., Asia Minor. 1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. 234, col. 1. Gained for Cheltenham the ... title of The Black Hole. Black Horse, subs. (military).—A nickname of the Seventh Dragoon Guards, so called from the regimental facings, black on scarlet. Occasionally the epithet is shortened into The Blacks. During the reign of George II., the corps was known as The Virgin Mary’s Guard, and is now often called Strawboots (q.v.). Black House, subs. (trade).—A place of business where hours are long, and wages at starvation rates; a sweating house. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 234. I have mentioned that the black houses or linen-drapers at the west end of London, were principally supplied from the east end. Black Indies, subs. (old).—Newcastle-on-Tyne, from its wealth in coal. The term is now obsolete, but it was in common use at the latter part of the eighteenth century. Black Jack, subs. (Winchester College).—A large leathern jug for beer, holding two gallons. The term was not peculiar to Winchester; in olden times Jacks were common everywhere. (?) Simon the Cellarer. But oh, oh, oh! his nose doth show, How oft the Black Jack to his lips doth go. Black job, subs. (common).—A funeral. Mr. H. J. Byron, in his annotated copy of the Slang Dictionary states ‘it was the late Lord Portsmouth’s hobby to attend all the black jobs he could hear of.’ [From black, in reference to the sombre trappings of funerals + job].—See Black work. 1866. Yates, Land at Last, I., p. 101. ‘What, a funeral mute?’ ‘Yes, Sir, black-job business,’ etc. Black Joke, subs. (old).—The female pudenda.—See Monosyllable for synonyms. Said to have been the burden of an obscene song, circa 1811. Blackleg, subs. (common).—1. A turf swindler; a rook; a welsher; also one who cheats at cards or billiards. Origin unknown; although many speculations have been hazarded, none are satisfactory.—See Leg. 1771. B. Parsons, Newmarket, II., 163. The frequenters of the Turf, and numberless words of theirs are exotics everywhere else; then how should we have been told of blacklegs, and of town-tops ... taken in ... beat hollow, etc. [M.] 1774. Colman, Man of Business, I., in wks. (1777) II., 133. Countesses and semptresses, lords, aldermen, blacklegs, and Oxonians. 1812. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, Picturesque, ch. x. The crowd with their commission pleas’d, Rudely the trembling black-leg seiz’d, Who, to their justice forc’d to yield, Soon ran off dripping from the field. 1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xv. ‘Mr. T—— is pursuing quite disgraceful courses all night and day, squandering away his money among sharpers and blacklegs.’ 2. A workman who, when his fellows are on strike, is willing to go on working. An opprobrious term. Cf., Black-nob and Scab. 1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Oct., p. 7. If the timber merchants persist in putting on blacklegs, a serious disturbance will ensue. [M.] 3. Also by another transference of meaning applied to any one failing, or refusing to join his fellows in combination for a given purpose. 1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21, p. 5, col. 1. It was stated at the meeting that the master bakers were much behind the journeymen in the matter of organisation, and the difficulty of maintaining the price against unscrupulous bakers at ‘a living figure’ was emphasized. The question of the preparation of a list of master baker ‘blacklegs’ was also touched upon. These men are selling bread at 4½d. the quartern, and at even a lower rate. Verb (tailors’).—Amongst the fraternity of ‘snips,’ to blackleg is used as synonymous with ‘to boycott’—i.e., to make things so uncomfortable for a man that he is compelled to leave his work or the town. To blackleg it, phr. (trades’).—Amongst trades’ union men to return to work before the causes of a strike have been removed, or settled to the satisfaction of the leaders. 1888. Baltimore Herald, May 6. Early this morning the mountain paths leading to the William Pen colliery were lined with men, dinner in hand, determined to go to work. Some were non-union miners, while the remainder were Knights of Labor who had determined to blackleg it, regardless of the jeers and threats of their companions. Black-Leggism, Black-Leggery, subs. (common).—Cheating; swindling; the arts and practices of a blackleg (q.v.—sense 1). 1832. Maginn, in Blackwood’s Mag., XXXII., 427. From following any profession save the Army, the Navy, Black-apronry and Black-leggery. [M.] Black-Man or Black Gentleman, subs. (old).—The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper. 1606. Dekker, in Newes from Hell, in wks. (Grosart) II., 113. [Old Nick called the Black Gentleman.] 1861. G. Meredith, Evan Harrington, ch. iii., p. 23 (1885). ‘Rich as Crœsus, and as wicked as the black man below! as dear papa used to say.’ Blackmans.—See Darkmans. Black Maria, subs. (popular).—A prison van or omnibus, used for the conveyance of prisoners. The origin of the phrase is unknown, but black is obviously from the dark and sombre colour of Her Majesty’s Carriage as it is sometimes jocularly called. This view is also supported by the fact that a variant is Sable Maria (see quot.). Julian Marshall, in Notes and Queries [6 S., vii., p. 355], suggests that the term Maria may be allied to ‘Marinated,’ transported to some foreign plantation, and ‘married,’ persons chained or handcuffed together, in order to be conveyed to gaol [Grose has this, as also has the Lexicon Balatronicum]. In marinated evident allusion is made to the compulsory voyage; in married to the forced wedlock of convictism. Black Maria may, therefore, possibly be a corruption of one or the other, or both terms. A writer on slang states that the term is said to have originated in Philadelphia in 1838, but gives no evidence in support of the statement. 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 61. On alighting from the ‘Sable Maria’ we were ushered through a door into a long white-washed passage, with cells on one side. 1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge xvii. It is the time when Black Maria, the prison van, stands waiting at the door, and the signal is given that the prisoners are coming out. 1889. Answers, Feb. 9. There are two kinds of Black Marias. One is called the night van and the other the day. The passengers politely term them ‘mails.’ The day van holds eighteen passengers not including the driver and warder, and the night van a dozen. The vans are divided into two halves, and on each side are small compartments about two feet square with a seat and door, which is carefully locked. Amongst French Synonyms may be mentioned:—Le courrier du Palais (a thieves’ term: courrier, a post or mail + Palais, an abbreviated form of Palais de Justice, a police court or sessions house); un panier à salade (familiar: ‘a salad basket’); le courrier de la prefecture (thieves’: Cf., courrier du Palais. Préfecture = the office of a chief magistrate); l’omnibus pègres (in slang un pègre signifies ‘a thief’); un guimbard (thieves’: une guimbarde is properly ‘a long cart’); le service du château (roughs’ and thieves’: ‘the prison service’; château = prison). For other synonyms, see Her Majesty’s Carriage. Black-Monday, subs. (old).—1. A schoolboys’ term for the Monday on which, after holidays, school re-opens. Obviously called black, from the reluctance with which young hopefuls turn their backs upon the sweets of home and play. Black Friday was used of the day on which Overend, Gurney & Co., suspended payment—10 May, 1886. Cf., Blue Monday. 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. xi. She now hated my sight, and made home so disagreeable to me, that what is called by school-boys black Monday was to me the whitest in the whole year. 1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. i. There comes a time when the days are grudgingly counted to a blacker Monday than ever makes a schoolboy’s heart quake within him. 2. (popular.)—The Monday on which the death penalty is carried out; these events are generally arranged to fall on the day in question. Black-Mummer, subs. (old).—An epithet applied to one unwashed and unshorn. Black-Nob, subs. (trades’ union).—A non-unionist; one who, while his fellows are on strike, persists in working at his trade; a blackleg (q.v.). [Apparently a humorous variant of blackleg. From black = wicked, atrocious, + nob, the head, in place of leg in blackleg.] They are also called knobsticks and scabs (q.v.). Black Ointment, subs. (American thieves’).—A term for uncooked meat. Black-Pot, subs. (old).—A toper; a tippler. [Beer mugs were called black-pots; also black-jacks, hence, probably, a transference of the name from the utensil to the drinker.] 1594. Greene, Fr. Bacon, v., 122. I’ll be Prince of Wales over all the black-pots in Oxford. 1636. Heywood, Love’s Mistr., II. Iugg, what’s shee but sister to a black-pot. 1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, xxxii. A whole whiskin, or black-pot of sufficient double ale. Black Psalm. To sing the black psalm, phr. (old).—To cry; a saying used to children.—Grose. Blacks.—See Black horse. Black Sal or Suke, subs. (popular).—A kettle.—See Sukey for synonyms. Black Saturday, subs. (workmen’s).—A Saturday on which an artisan or mechanic has no money to take, having anticipated it by advances. Cf., Black Monday and Blue Monday. Black-Sheep, subs. (common).—A mildly opprobrious term for a scapegrace; a ‘bad lot’; ‘un mauvais sujet.’ It is also applied like blackleg and black-nob to workmen who persist in working when their comrades are on strike. The word is hardly slang now. 1864. Le Fanu, Uncle Silas, ch. xxvi. ‘Your Uncle Silas had injured himself before that in the opinion of the people of his county. He was a black sheep, in fact. Very bad stories were told and believed of him.’ 1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxxvii. ‘In all cities there are black sheep, but in a city like London, sound finance is the rule, I am sure.’ 1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxviii. ‘Many companies, perfectly sound in principle, may be ruined by a sudden decrease in the price of shares; a panic sets in, and in a few hours the shareholders may lose all. And if you bring this about by selling without concert with the other favoured allottees, you’ll be called a black sheep.’ Verb (Winchester College).—When a fellow in ‘Junior Part’ got above (or ‘jockeyed’) a fellow in ‘Middle Part.’ Blacksmith’s Daughter, subs. (popular).—A key. Formerly the key with which the doors of sponging houses were unlocked. Also Locksmith’s daughter, which see for synonyms. 1859. C. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities. Place it under the care of the blacksmith’s daughter. 1864. Reader [quoted in N. and Q., 5 S., ix., 263]. Blacksmith’s daughter. A key. I have never met with this word in print, but have heard it frequently in conversation. Black-Spice Racket, subs. (old).—The practice of robbing chimney sweepers of their tools, bag, and soot.—Lexicon Balatronicum. Black Spy, subs. (old).—A cant name for the devil. The French equivalent is le dache. For synonyms, see Skipper. Black-Strap, subs. (common).—1. Thick, sweet port. A contemptuous term, in allusion to its dark colour, strap being an old name for wine.—(See quot.). 1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 131. Sometimes likewise this Card-cheating, goes not vnder the name of Bernard’s Lawe, but is called Batt fowling, and then ye Setter is the Beater, the foole that is caught in the net, the bird, the Tauerne to which they repaire to worke the Feate, is the Bush; the wine the Strap, and the cardes the Limetwigs. 1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 3. Tom (taking his seat): Gentlemen, I beg pardon for being scarce so long; but having to start early, I thought it best to see that the toggery was all right and fly—I never shirk the black strap intentionally, you know. Jerry: Don’t mention it, my dear Tom. 1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. x. The orator gets deeper into his subject, till an extremely abrupt conclusion ... empties every bumper of ‘black strap’ like a shot. 2. (American.)—Properly speaking, gin mixed with molasses, but frequently applied to a compound of any alcoholic liquor with molasses. Beverages of this description were at one time the commonest of drinks among agricultural labourers. 1882. Pinkerton, Molly Maguires and Detectives, p. 84. From the great iron kettle a savory incense arose; it came from an admixture of high-wines and common molasses, in about the proportion of one gallon of the latter to four of the spirit.... The seething blackstrap was pronounced ready for use. It rapidly disappeared, and, as it diminished and was imbibed, the fun and hilarity proportionately increased. 3. (old.)—A task of labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar as a punishment for small offences.—Grose. Black’s Your Eye. To say black’s your eye, phr. (old).—To accuse; to find fault with. The phrase was varied by black’s your eyebrow, nail, etc. A more modern rendering is black is the white of your eye. 1528. Roy, Sat. (1845). They eate their belies full.... And none sayth blacke is his eye. [M.] 1583. Stubbs, Anatomic of Abuses, p. 65. And then no man say blacke is their eye, but all is well, and they as good Christians, as those that suffer them unpunished. 1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Love’s Cure, iii., 1. I can say black’s your eye, though it be grey; I have conniv’d at this your friend, and you. 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, IX., iv. The house is well known to be a house of as good reputation as any on the road, and, though I say it, is frequented by gentry of the best quality, both Irish and English. I defy anybody, to say black is my eye, for that matter. Black-Teapot, subs. (popular).—A negro footman. Blackwork, subs. (common).—Undertaking. The waiters met with at public dinners are often employed during the day as mutes, etc. Omnibus and cab drivers regard blackwork as un dernier ressort.—See Black-job. 1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxvi. A florid man who officiates as a waiter at the London Tavern o’nights, and sometimes takes a spell in the black work, or undertaking line of business. Bladder of Lard, subs. (popular).—A bald-headed person. [From the supposed similarity of the smooth, hairless cranium to a bag or bladder of lard.] 1886. Athenæum, July 31, p. 142. An elderly Jew money-lender, whom she afterwards describes to her admiring friends as a bladder of lard, a graceful reference to his baldness and tendency to stoutness. Blade, subs. (common.)—A roysterer; a gallant; a sharp, keen fellow; a free and easy, good fellow. [Probably from blade, a sword, a soldier. There seems no warrant for supposing the word connected with the Dutch bloed, or with the term ‘blood,’ a dandy, in use in the time of the Georges in a somewhat similar sense; indeed, the following quotations show a much older usage. In French a ‘sly blade’ is called un renaré.] 1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii., 4. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! By Jesu, a very good blade!—a very tall man! 1632. Chapman and Shirley, The Ball, Act iv. This came first o’ keeping company with the blades, From whom I learnt to roar and run away. 1636. Davenant, The Wits, Act v. The old blade Skulks there like a tame filcher, as he had New stolen ’bove eggs from market-women. 1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, I., ii. If he be that old Rough testy blade he always used to be. 1664. Pepys, Diary, Jan. 4. For suffering his man (a spruce blade) to be so saucy as to strike a ball while his master was playing in the Mall. 1667. Pepys, Diary, June 3. With his hat cocked like a fool behind, as the present fashion among the blades is. 1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, Act iv., Sc. 2. These London blades are all stark mad; I met one about two hours ago, that had forgot his name, and this fellow would persuade me now, that I had forgot mine. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Blade (s.) ... is sometimes used to signify a beau, spark, or hectoring fellow. 1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act i., Sc. 2. ‘A troublesome old blade, to be sure; but a keeps as good wines and beds as any in the whole country.’ 1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xxiv., p. 115. ‘He forged wills, this blade did, if he didn’t also put the supposed testators to sleep too.’ 1883. Broadside Ballad, ‘Happy Thoughts,’ st. 4. My Uncle Dowle has lots of money; He’s a very knowing looking blade. Blamed, ppl. adj. (popular).—An expletive used to emphasize a statement. It partakes of the nature of an oath, being often used instead of ‘doomed’ or ‘damned.’ In America the expression is more of a colloquialism than it is in England.—See Oaths. 1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. vi. Yes, John Bull is a blamed blockhead. 1872. S. Clemens, Roughing It, ch. ix. The keeper had fired four times at an Indian, but he said with an injured air, that the Indian had ‘skipped’ around so’s to spile everything—and ammunition’s blamed skurse too. 1873. Carleton, Farm Ballads, p. 18. And so that pourin’ dissentions in our cup; And so that blamed cow-critter was always coming up. 1888. Detroit Free Press, Oct. 6. ‘Did you see any Quakers in Philadelphia?’ was asked of a Detroiter who lately returned from that city. ‘Only one that I was sure of.’ ‘Did he “thee” and “thou” you?’ ‘He did. He got down off his hack and said: “If thee don’t pay me 2 dols. I’ll knock thy blamed head off,” and I paid, although I knew the regular fare was twelve shillings. You don’t want to fool with those Quakers any, and don’t you forget it.’ 1888. Portland Transcript, May 9. ‘Why do you object to your daughter marrying?’ ‘Wouldn’t object ef she wuster marry the right sorter man.’ ‘Isn’t Tom the right sort of man?’ ‘Not by a blamed sight.’ Blame it! intj. (common).—A round-about oath. Equivalent to ‘Damn it!’ [A transferred sense of blame.] Blamenation! intj. (common).—Damnation!—See Oaths. Blank, Blanked, Blankety, adj. (common).—Euphemistic oaths, the derivation of which is clearly an outcome of the practice of representing an oath, for decency’s sake in printing, by a dash or blank space; e.g., d——d. The terms are used in America in many combinations (see quots.). Cf., Oaths. 1857. C. Dickens, Farce for the Championship, in All the Year Round. Enter a closely shaven, bullet-headed fellow in an ecstasy of excitement at having just seen Cuss, and at the exquisite ‘fitness’ of that worthy. ‘So help me blank, blank!’ he cries delightedly, ‘if he ain’t a blank picter with the weins in his face down ’ere and ’ere, a showin’ out just if a blank hartist ’ad painted him. Tell yer he’s beautiful, fine as a blank greyhound, with a blank heavy air with him that looks blank like winnin’. Take yer two quid to one, guv’nor,’ adds the speaker, suddenly picking out a stout purple-faced farmer in the group of eager listeners. 1873. C. Reade, Simpleton, xxiii. Blank him! that is just like him; the uneasy fool! [M.] 1878. Mrs. Edwardes, Jet, iii., 272. ‘——the colonel of the regiment!’ exclaims Mark.... ‘Blank the colonel of the regiment!’ With slow, unmistakable gusto she lingers over the monosyllable ‘blank.’ [M.] 1879. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, in Hallberger’s Illustrated Magazine, vol. I., p. 378. Because you’re religious, blank you, do you expect me to starve? Go and order supper first! Stop! Where in blank are you going? Here you’ve been and gone three hours on an errand for me, and blame me if you ain’t runnin’ off without a word about it. 1888. Troy Daily Times, Feb. 3. The captain looked anxious, and an irate fellow-passenger, who had not ceased swearing since we left Tuxpan, declared by all that is sacred and profane that he had known vessels to be hindered thirty days; yes, even three months, by that blankety blankety bar! 1888. Owosso (Mich.) Press, April. ‘Doctor, I’m a dead man!’ ‘Not right now?’ said I, as I kicked his dog out. ‘Just as good as dead,’ said he, ‘or you wouldn’t kick that dog in that way with safety. Not by a blankety blank blank sight.’ ‘Needn’t waste so much profanity, Mr. Starkhill,’ said I. Blanket. Lawful blanket, subs. (old).—A wife. For synonyms, see Dutch. Blanket Fair, subs. (popular).—Bed. Cf., Bedfordshire, Sheet Alley, and Land of Nod. Blanket Hornpipe, subs. (common).—Sexual commerce. The allusion is obvious. Cf., Basket making. Blarmed, ppl. adj. (common).—A euphemism for blessed (q.v.); ‘damned’; ‘blowed’ (q.v.); or blamed (q.v.), of the last of which it is probably a corruption.—See Oaths. 1867. No Church, I., 104. To be in a blarmed hurry. 1872. John Forster, Life of Dickens, ch. xxxi. (III., p. 191). He saw a strange sensation among the angry travellers whom he had detained so long; heard a voice exclaim, ‘I am blarmed if it ain’t Dickens!’ and stood in the centre of a group of Five Americans! Blarm Me! intj. (common).—A euphemistic oath.—See Blarmed. Blarney, subs. (colloquial).—Blandishment; soft speech, or ‘sawder’; gross flattery; ‘gammon.’ [From Castle Blarney in Ireland, in the wall of which, difficult of access, is placed a stone. Whoever is able to kiss this is said thereafter to be able to persuade to anything. Blarney is from bladh-ey, flowery island, and this may have some connection with the curious tradition. On the other hand, according to Brewer, Cormack Macarthy held the Castle of Blarney in 1602, and concluded an armistice with Carew, the lord president, on condition of surrendering the fort to the English garrison. Day after day his lordship looked for the fulfilment of the terms, but received nothing except protocols and soft speeches, till he became the laughing-stock of Elizabeth’s ministers, and the dupe of the lord of Blarney.] 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He has licked the blarney stone; he deals in the wonderful, or tips us the traveller. 1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xix. They were as cunning as foxes and could tell blarney from good sense. c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ‘A nice young thing.’ Such a nice young thing, such a sweet young thing, Her name was Kate Carney, she came from Killarney, So full of her blarney, but fond of her Barney, Such a fair young thing, a rare young thing, And just for a lark she had dyed her hair dark, And they called her the Colleen Dhu. 1884. Ruskin, in Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Nov., p. 11, col. 2. It was bombastic English blarney—not Irish. [M.] The French have baliverne and pelotage with the same meaning. Verb.—1. To wheedle; to coax; to flatter grossly. 2. (American thieves’.)—Besides the English slang signification of ‘to wheedle,’ it also bears the secondary meaning, among the low and criminal classes of America, of ‘to pick locks.’ Blart Out, verb (American, ? nonce word).—A corruption of ‘blurt out’; to utter abruptly. 1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, pref., p. v. It warn’t the part of a gentleman for to go and pump me arter that fashion, and then go right off and blart it out in print. Ibid, ch. viii. And there are others again who blart right out whatever comes uppermost. Blasé, adj. (common).—Used up; exhausted with enjoyment; satiated. [From French blaser, of unknown derivation.] Its extended colloquial use in England is explained in second quotation. 1823. Byron, Don Juan, ch. xii., st. 81. A little blasé—’tis not to be wondered At, that his heart had got a tougher rind, And though not vainer from his past success, No doubt his sensibilities were less. 1883. G. A. Sala, in Illustrated London News, March 10, p. 235, col. 3. There should be a chronology of slang. It is about forty years ago, I think, that the great popularity of a French farce called ‘L’Homme Blasé’ brought the word into colloquial use in England; indeed the first translation of the French piece (at the Princess’s, Wright, the low comedian, playing the hero,) was called Blasé, with some sub-title that I forget. Subsequently another translation was produced, Charles Mathews playing the principal character. As a title for this version, we borrowed a slang term from the Americans, and ‘L’Homme Blasé’ became ‘Used Up’! Blast, verb (low).—To curse; to damn. An expression of reprobation and hatred. Used in such combinations as Blast me! Blast you! Blast your eyes! etc.—See Oaths. 1654. Chapman, Revenge for Honour, V., ii. And thus I kiss’d my last breath. Blast you all! Ta. Damn’d desperate villain! 1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. X., ch. v. ‘I don’t know what you mean by ominous,’ cries the colonel; ‘but, blast my reputation, if I had received such a letter, if I would not have searched the world to have found the writer.’ 1759. Goldsmith, Cit. of the World, lett., 105. ‘Blast me!’ cries Tibbs, ‘if that be all, there is no need of paying for that.’ 1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. viii. ‘Hands, Captain MacTurk!’ exclaimed Sir Bingo, in some confusion; ‘no, blast him—not so bad as that neither.’ Blasted, ppl. adj. (low).—Execrable; confounded; often substituted for ‘damned,’ ‘bloody,’ it being thought a milder form. Grose has blasted fellow for an abandoned rogue, and blasted brimstone for a prostitute. [From blast, q.v.]—See Oaths. 1682. Dryden, Medal, 260. What curses on thy blasted Name will fall. 1750. Chesterfield, Letters, 8 Jan. (1870), 169. Colonel Chartres ... who was, I believe, the most notorious blasted rascal in the world. [M.] 1874. Pusey, Lent. Sermons, 79. Balaam after the success of his blasted counsel. [M.] 1884. Good Words, Nov., p. 767, col. 1. Jim Black states that the blasted railway has done away with those journeys. Blatantation, subs. (? nonce word).—Noisy effusion; swagger. [From blatant, noisy, offensively clamorous, + ation.] Cf., Blatancy. 1833. Graphic, Feb. 24, p. 199, col. 3. On the ground betting men are conspicuous with their books, blatantations, blackguardism, and swell clothes. Blater, subs. (old).—A calf. [Probably a corruption of ‘bleater,’ from its cry.] 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11 [list of cant words in]. Blater, a calf. 1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxxxii. Don’t be glim-flashy; why you’d cry beef on a blater. Blather, subs. (familiar).—Noisy talk; voluble nonsense. Cf., Blether. 1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxix., p. 309 (1873). ‘There’s a letter there from Sir Mordaunt, askin’ for more time, and promisin’ all sorts of things; but I’m sick of him and his blather.’ Verb.—To talk volubly; noisily; nonsensically.—See Blether. 1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxiv. Mrs. O’Brien was blathering about the pedigree of the O’Briens and the O’Shandrydans to Mrs. Joyce. Blatherskite, subs. (common).—1. Boastful disputatious swagger. Cf., Bletherskite. 2. A swaggerer; boaster; one who talks volubly and nonsensically. Cf., Bletherskite. 1888. New York Herald, July 29. Every blatherskite republican is filled to the brim and spouting high protection, while the democrats are not prepared to meet them for want of documents. 1888. Chicago Watchman. Dr. Brookes, of St. Louis, must be a nice man to live with. He refers to Dr. R. W. Dale and Dr. Parker as ‘blatant blatherskites,’ and evidently regards Professor Drummond as beyond reformation. Blayney’s Bloodhounds, subs. (military).—The Eighty-ninth Foot. They obtained this nickname during the Irish Rebellion in 1798. [Blayney, from their Colonel’s name + Bloodhounds from their skill in tracking Irish rebels.] They also earned for themselves the sobriquet of The Rollickers, in allusion to the ‘jolly doggish’ bearing of the corps. Blaze, subs. and verb (common).—In some of the usages of this word, the precincts of slang are narrowly touched, even if the boundary line is not crossed; as e.g., when a man is said to blaze his way through the labyrinths of the metropolis. The original meaning is well known. The early settlers in traversing the vast forests which abounded on the American continent, found it very necessary to mark their route. This they did by the simple expedient of blazing the trees at convenient distances. Blazing consists merely in chopping a piece of the bark off each tree selected in the desired line of march. The mark itself is called a blaze. In addition to this, blazing was also adopted as an indication that the land within the limits of the trees thus marked had been appropriated by a settler—a rude and informal, but, in early days, a thoroughly well recognised method of securing a title to the land. Some writers affect to derive the word from the old French blazon, the armorial bearing of the Normans, and quote the use of ‘blazen,’ by Shakspeare, in a sense not altogether dissimilar to the meaning conveyed by blazing, as proof to this effect. It is employed generally in America and all English-speaking colonies. The following quotations will exemplify its use both in the original and more figurative senses.—See Blazes. 1737. Wesley, wks. (1872) I., 68. We then found another blaze and pursued it. [M.] 1883. Bret Harte, In the Carquinez Woods, ch. viii. ‘I made a blaze hereabouts to show where to leave the trail. There it is,’ he added, pointing to a slight notch cut in the trunk of an adjoining tree.... They proceeded cautiously at right angles with the blazed tree for ten minutes more. Blaze-away, intj. (common).—Look sharp; ‘stir your stumps’—an injunction to renewed and more effective effort. Blazer, subs. (popular).—Originally applied to the uniform of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of St. John’s College, Cambridge, which was of a bright red and was called a blazer. Now applied to any light jacket of bright colour worn at cricket or other sports. Prof. Skeat [N. and Q., 7 S., iii., 436] speaking of the Johnian blazer, says it was always of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks it not improbable that the fact suggested the name which subsequently became general. 1880. Times, June 19. Men in spotless flannel, and club blazers. [M.] 1885. Punch, June 27, p. 304. On the morning of the start for our ‘Spin to Brighton,’ Harkaway turns up clad in what he calls a blazer, which makes him look like a nigger minstrel out for a holiday. 1889. Daily News, Aug. 22, p. 6, col. 6. Dress by the Sea. Sir,—In your article of to-day, under the above heading, you speak of ‘a striped red and black blazer,’ ‘the blazer,’ also of ‘the pale toned’ ones. This is worth noting as a case of the specific becoming the generic. A blazer is the red flannel boating jacket, worn by the Lady Margaret, St. John’s College, Cambridge, Boat Club. When I was at Cambridge it meant that and nothing else. It seems from your article that a blazer now means a coloured flannel jacket, whether for cricket, tennis, boating, or seaside wear.—Yours faithfully, Walter Wren. Blazes, subs. (general).—The infernal regions. This, an allusion to the flames of hell, was the original meaning; constant use, however, has lessened the force of the expression, and as in the case of ‘bloody,’ few who employ such flowers of oratory have any notion of the proper signification. In most cases the word is now a meaningless intensitive, and takes rank with such expressions as like one o’clock, like winkey, etc. The verb to blaze is likewise employed in a manner closely bordering on slang. Thus one says of an action that it is a blazing shame; that he has a blazing headache; that so-and-so is a blazing thief; that such a job is blazing hard work; that it is a blazing hot day—all figurative uses of the legitimate idea. Appended are illustrations of some of its usages. (Common.)—The brilliant habiliments of flunkeys. Derived from the episode of Sam Weller and the ‘swarry.’ Old Blazes, subs. (common).—The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper. 1849. Southern Literary Messenger, June. He looked, upon my word, like Old Blazes himself, with his clothing all on fire, and rage and despair in his face. Go to blazes, phr. (common).—Go to the devil; go to hell—expressions of contempt used in imprecations. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 135. He jumps through a trap in the window with a bottle on it, marked ‘Old Tom,’ and a scroll falls down, written gone to blazes. 1861. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip, I., p. 99. Old Parr Street is mined, sir—mined! And some morning we shall be blown into blazes,—into blazes, sir, mark my words! 1862. Mrs. Riddell (‘F. G. Trafford’), Too Much Alone, p. 200. ‘Has no one been here this afternoon?’ ‘Yes, one man, to ask his way to blazes, or some place else.’ 1880. S. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Sketch (Mr. Skae’s Item). I could have told Johnny Skae that I would not receive his communication at such a late hour, and to go to blazes with it. 1882. Jas. Payn, in ‘A Failure of Justice’, in Glow Worm Tales, p. 97. ‘Sir,’ cried I, authoritatively, ‘let me tell you I am a Middlesex magistrate.’ ‘Oh, yes: a likely story!’ was his audacious reply. ‘You’ve got ’Ighbury Barn written on your countenance you have, go to blazes!’ and he slammed down the window. Like blazes, adv. phr. (popular).—Vehemently; with extreme ardour.—See Anything and Winkey. 1845. B. Disraeli, Sybil or The Two Nations, p. 330. Syllabubs like blazes, and snapdragon as makes the flunkeys quite pale. Ibid, p. 369. ‘They pelted the police....’ ‘And cheered the red-coats like blazes,’ said Mick. Ibid. She sets her face against gals working in mills like blazes. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 159. She liked this very much, in fact so much, that the other little ones used to cry like blazes because I wouldn’t let them have a turn at them [the stilts]. 1859. Chas. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, I., p. 15 (in parts). A blazing strange answer. 1864. J. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone or Thorough. They hate each other like blazes. 18(?). De Quincey, Spanish Nun, sect. 24. The horse was so maddened by the wound, and the road so steep, that he went like blazes. How, Who, or What the blazes, phr. (popular).—A somewhat more intense interrogatory than Who or What or even Who or What the Dickens. 1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. lv., p. 479. ‘Pell,’ he used to say to me many a time, ‘how the blazes you can stand the head-work you do, is a mystery to me.’ 1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xvii. ‘Who the blazes would recognise Jack Seymour in those shore-going duds?’ Drunk as blazes or blaizers, phr. (common).—Very drunk; what is vulgarly called ‘beastly’ drunk. Whether this expression follows the derivation of the examples given above, or whether we must seek its origin in a totally different direction, is a matter of some doubt. The alternative derivation suggested is that the phrase is really drunk as blaizers, an expression which dates back at least to 1830 [N. and Q., 6 S., i., 434]. Sir Thomas Wyse, in Impressions of Greece, speaking (see Life of Richard Waldo Sibthorp, by J. Fowler, 1880, p. 227) of the reverence for St. Blaize, in Greece (who is also, as is known, the patron saint of the English woolcombers), and how his feast was observed in the woollen manufactories of the Midland Counties, says, ‘Those who took part in the procession were called Blaizers, and the phrase as drunk as blaizers originated in the convivialities common on those occasions! So good “Bishop and Martyr” Blaize is dishonoured as well as honoured in England, and very probably in Greece.’ Further data may be found in Chambers’ Book of Days, vol. I., pp. 219–20. Bleach, verb (Harvard University.)—To absent oneself from morning prayers.—Hall’s College Words and Phrases. Bleached Mort, subs. (old).—A fair complexioned wench.—Grose. [From bleached, white or fair, + mort, a girl or woman.] Bleak, adj. (American thieves’).—In the phraseology of American thieves, bleak means handsome. Bleater, subs. (old).—The victim of a sharper or rook. In the following quotation a Jack in the box (q.v.) is an old thieves’ term for a swindler or cheat. 1609. Dekker, Lanthorne, wks., 1884–5, III., 290. They that are Cheated by Iacke in a Boxe are called bleaters. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bleaters, those cheated by Jack in a Box. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. (Same definition given.) Bleating Cheat, subs. (old).—A sheep.—Grose. [In the old cant cheat or chete [from Anglo-Saxon ceat] signified a thing; and the names of animals were frequently formed by adding an adjective descriptive of their peculiar noise or cry. Thus a grunting cheat was a pig; a cackling cheat a fowl; a bleating cheat a sheep.] A sheep is also called a wool-bird (q.v.). Among French thieves this animal is designated une morne. Bleating Cull, subs. (old).—A sheep stealer. [From bleating, see preceding, + cull, a man, honest or otherwise.] Bleating Prig or Rig, subs. (old).—Sheep stealing. [From bleating, see Bleating cheat, + prig, or rig, the act of stealing.] Bleed, verb tr. and intr. (popular).—1. To be victimised; to lose or part with money so that the loss is felt; to be ‘rushed’ (q.v.); to have money drawn or extorted from one. [An allusion to the loss sustained by parting with one’s life blood.] 1668. Dryden, An Evening’s Love, Act iv., Sc. 1. In fine, he is vehement, and bleeds on to fourscore or an hundred; and I, not willing to tempt fortune, come away a moderate winner of two hundred pistoles. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bleed (v.) ... also to part with money freely, upon proposing something agreeable to a person’s disposition, whether it be in gaming or anything else. 1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxvi. To whom he was particularly agreeable, on account of his person, address, and bleeding freely at play. 1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xxii. The reputed readiness with which she bled, at last brought her the honour of an old countess, who condescended to win from her, at two sittings, very nearly £5,000. 1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxviii. ‘You have got a bill of sale for her furniture.... By Jove, sir, you’ve bled that poor woman enough.’ 1885. Manchester Evening News, 23 June, p. 2, col. 2. Men who give bills have to bleed for the accommodation. 2. (printers’.)—A book bleeds when the margins are ‘planed’ down so that the edge of the printed portion is cut away. 1876. Daily Telegraph, June 9, p. 2, col. 1. So very carelessly has the mechanical part of production been done that, in the phraseology of the craft—half technical, half slang—the pages bleed in many places—i.e., the binder’s knife when cutting the edges has also cut away portions of the printed matter. Bleeder, subs. (University).—1. A duffer beyond compare; a superlative fool. (common).—A euphemism for ‘bloody fool.’ 2. (sporting.)—A sovereign. For synonyms, see Canary. 3. (old.)—A spur; an obvious allusion. Bleeding, adj.—An expletive, which, if meant, would partake of the nature of an oath; as it is there is little enough, sanguinary, either literally or metaphorically about much that is described as bleeding. It sounds big and weighty to those who use it, and that suffices. 1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. II., ch. xxiii. ‘When he isn’t up to one dodge he is up to another. You make no bleeding error.’ Bleeding Cully, subs. (old).—One who parts easily with his money, or bleeds freely.—Grose.—[See Bleed.] Bleed the Monkey, verbal phr. (nautical).—To steal rum from the mess tub called ‘the monkey.’ The term is exclusively naval, ‘monkeys’ not being known on merchant ships. The practice is also called sucking the monkey, and tapping the admiral.—See Admiral. 1889. Chambers’ Journal, 3 Aug., p. 495. To suck the monkey is a phrase explained in Peter Simple as having originally been used among sailors for drinking rum out of cocoa-nuts, the milk having been poured out and the liquor substituted. It is now applied to the act of drinking on the sly from a cask by inserting a straw through a gimlet hole, and to drinking generally. Barham, in the legend of the Black Mousquetaire says: What the vulgar call sucking the monkey, Has much less effect on a man when he’s funky. Blenker, verb (American).—To plunder. A cant phrase much used during the Civil War. Possibly allied to the northern provincialism ‘blenk,’ a trick or stratagem. ‘Blenk’ was also used in Morte d’Arthur in the sense of ‘to bilk,’ or ‘cheat.’ Bless, verb (popular).—To curse; to damn.—See Blessed. To bless oneself, verbal phr. (common).—To be surprised; to be vexed; to be mortified. Generally, ‘God bless me!’ or ‘Bless my eyes!’ ‘Bless my soul!’ ‘Lor’ bless me!’ 1592. Shakspeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream, iv., 2, 11. Quin: Yea, and the best person too: and he is a very paramour, for a sweet voice. Flu: You must say, paragon: a paramour is, God bless us, a thing of nought. 1615. T. Adams, Black Dev., 71. He ... would blesse himselfe to think that so little a thing could extend itself to such a capacity. [M.] 1665. Pepys, Diary, 1 Apr. How my Lord Treasurer did bless himself, crying he could do no more, etc. 1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ch. xl. Rub your hands thrice across your foreheads—blow your nose—cleanse your emunctories—sneeze, my good people!—God bless you. 1814. Miss Austen, Mansfield Park, ch. xviii. Could Sir Thomas look in upon us just now, he would bless himself, for we are rehearsing all over the house. 1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol, p. 77. ‘Why, bless my soul,’ cried Fred, ‘who’s that?’ 1853. Bulwer Lytton, My Novel, I., p. 307. After they had lain apart for a little while, very silent and sullen, John sneezed. ‘God bless you!’ says Joan, over the bolster. Not a [penny] to bless oneself with, phr. (popular).—Utterly impecunious; ‘without a sou.’ 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, I., p. 237. He landed there without a penny to bless himself with. 1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, I., p. 113. I heard that Mr. Mell was not a bad sort of fellow, but hadn’t a sixpence to bless himself with. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 55. The most of ’em ain’t got a farthing to bless themselves with. 1861. George Eliot, Silas Marner, p. 38. I have not a shilling to bless myself with. To bless one’s stars, verbal phr. (common).—To thank oneself; to attribute one’s good fortune to luck, generally in a ludicrous sense. 1845. Hood, Pauper’s Christmas Carol, iii. Ought not I to bless my stars? 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 230. Forty-eight marks! a week’s remission. The very thought made me savage, but I blessed my stars I had not lost my class, or my good berth. Blessed, Blest, ppl. adj. (popular).—An ironical euphemism; often used like blazing for ‘cursed,’ ‘damned,’ etc., or as a vow.—See quot. from Hindley and Oaths. 1806. Windham, Let. in Speeches (1812), I., 77. As one of the happy consequences of our blessed system of printing debates, I am described to-day ... as having talked a language directly the reverse of that which I did talk. [M.] 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 139. One Maidstone Fair time, I saw one of the gipsy Lees called ‘Jemmy,’ fighting with a man much bigger than himself. Tom Rosseter, the mumper, was seconding his brother-in-law, Jemmy Lee, when, as Jemmy kept throwing his man very heavily, he said, ‘My dear blessed brother, don’t throw the blessed man like that or you will be sure to kill him.’ ‘Well,’ said Jemmy, ‘but my dear blessed brother, if I don’t kill the dear blessed man, why the big blessed —— will be sure to kill me, and so I must keep on throwing the dear blessed man, for you see what a blessed big dear fellow he is to me.’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 245. ‘They called in the coppers, and some feller in the shop twigged my old girl as one he’d a-seen before, and blessed if they didn’t identify her as having lifted some things out of the shop, and she was pinched for seven “stretch.”’ 1882. Punch, Aug. 5, p. 49. Sir Pompey Bedell: ‘Oh!—er—Mr. Grigsby, I think! How d’ye do?’ [extending two fingers]. Grigsby: ‘I hope I see you well, Sir Pompey. And next time you give me two fingers, I’m blest if I don’t pull ’em off.’ 1889. Sporting Times, July 6. St. Mannock.—Did you ever hear a still, small voice whispering over its morning shrimps, ‘What a pair of blessed fools you are!’ Blether, Blather, subs. (Scotch and U.S.A.).—Nonsense; vapid talk; voluble chatter. b. 1759, d. 1796. Burns, Tam Samson’s Elegy, st. 12. Yon auld gray stane, amang the heather, Marks out his head, Whare Burns has wrote in rhyming blether, Tam Samson’s dead! 1886. Pall Mall Gazette, 3 May, 6, 2. Havelock’s florid adjurations to his men, the grim veterans of the 78th, bluntly characterized as blether. Hence blethering (verb, subs.) used in the same sense as blether, and as an adjective for ‘volubly’ or ‘foolishly talkative.’ Cf., Bletherskate. b. 1759, d. 1796. Burns, Holy Fair, st. 8. And some are busy blethrin’ Right loud that day. 1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. xiv. ‘I hae been clean spoilt, just wi’ listening to twa blethering auld wives.’ 1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. vi. He had brought this blethering Irishman down here, and deluged him with punch for the express purpose of turning him inside out. Bletherskate, Blatherskite, subs. (provincial and American).—1. Boastful swagger, whether in talk or action. 2. A boaster; noisy talker of blatant nonsense. [From blether, to talk nonsensically, + skate, allied to Scotch skyte, a contemptible fellow.] It occurs in Maggie Lauder, a well-known Scotch song, a fact which Murray says led to its popularisation in the United States. In Ireland it seems to have taken the forms of bladder-skate and bladderum-skate. Circa 1650. F. Sempill, Maggie Lauder, i. Jog on your gait, ye blether-skate. [M.] 1825. C. Croker, Tradit. S. Ireland, p. 170. He was, as usual, getting on with his bletherumskite about the fairies. [M.] 1870. J. R. O’Flanagan, Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland. ‘Lord Redesdale was speaking of people who learnt to skate with bladders under their arms, to buoy them up if they should fall into a hole and risk being drowned.’ ‘Ah, my Lord,’ said Toler, ‘that is what we call bladderumskate in Ireland.’ Blew, verb (common).—1. To inform; to ‘peach’; to expose; to betray.—See Blow upon, of which it is a variant. 2. (popular.)—To spend; to waste; generally in connection with money. When a man has spent or lost all his money, he is said to have blewed it. [The derivation is uncertain, that most likely being its reference to a corrupt grammatical use of blew, the past tense of ‘to blow.’ Money spent recklessly and wasted vanishes as if blown away by the wind.] 1884. Daily Telegraph, May 28, p. 5, col. 1. ‘Which paid him £1,700 compensation, when he took to horses, and blewed the blooming lot in eighteen months.’ 1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Isabel and Maudie knew the Turf and all its arts— They had often blewed a dollar on a wrong ’un— And Isabel one evening met a mug from rural parts, An attenuated Juggins, and a long ’un. French Synonyms. Se faire rincer (popular: ‘to be cleared out’ [at a game]. Rincer, properly ‘to drench,’ ‘to serve out,’ also has the slang signification of ‘to thrash’); paumer (thieves’ and vagrants’: this verb is very old, and is derived from palma = empoigner. It also signifies to arrest, lose, etc.); laumir (an old cant term); se faire ratisser (familiar: literally ‘to scrape oneself’); faire rasoir (gaming: ‘to be penniless’); se faire enturer (popular: ‘to cut into oneself’; enture = incision or cut); panner quelqu’un (popular); mettre dans le sac (gamesters’: Cf., ‘be in a hole’); décavage (familiar: a term employed to signify the circumstances of a gamester who has ‘blewed it’; one who is in ‘Queer Street’—from décavé, a ruined gamester); se faire lessiver: ‘to wash oneself.’ Michel gives lessive = defence, and lessiveur = barrister, and remarks that better terms could hardly be given to advocate and speech by those charged with offence, and who wish to return from the same ‘white as snow,’ or, as police phraseology hath it, without a stain upon one’s character. For other synonyms, see Shave. Blimey, intj. (low).—A corruption of ‘Blind me!’; an expression little enough understood by those who constantly have it in their mouths. Blind, subs. (common).—1. The night time—an allusion to the absence of light.—See Darkmans. 2. (familiar.)—A pretence; a shift; an action through which one’s real purpose is concealed; that which obstructs; a ‘make-believe.’ 1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act iii. He ... took your court to her, only as a blind to your affection for me. 1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, Act ii., Sc. 5. I know you don’t love Cynthia, only as a blind for your passion to me. 1703. Mrs. Centlivre, Beau’s Dual, I., i. (1872), i., 70. Am I publish’d to the world as a blind for his designs? 1877. E. L. Linton, World Well Lost, ch. xxviii. The excuse was too palpably a blind to be accepted as a reason. 1889. Answers, July 13, p. 104, col. 3. The Major and the Captain he referred to in his letters were mere ‘blinds.’ The Captain relied upon the fact that not one person in a dozen took the trouble to apply to these gentlemen. 3. (printers’.)—A paragraph [¶] mark is so called; from the eye of the reversed ‘P’ being filled up. Adj. (old).—Tipsy; in liquor. Nares says this cant term was used with others in the works of Taylor, the water-poet [1630]. For synonyms, see Screwed. Blind as a brickbat, adv. phr. (colloquial).—A facetious simile for very blind—mentally or physically. 1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, III., p. 97. The old scholar ... is as blind as a brickbat. When the devil is blind, adv. phr. (common).—Never. The French have three very graphic—though in one case very vulgar—analogues for this expression—quand les poules pisseront, which need not be translated; le trente six du mois, i.e., ‘on the thirty-sixth day of the month,’ and quand les poules auront des dents, i.e., when cocks and hens have teeth. To go it blind.—A luminous figure of speech to convey the idea of entering upon an undertaking without thought as to the result, or inquiry beforehand. This is one of the many slang expressions which owe their origin to the American game of poker, the special form of which known as blind poker, where the cards are betted upon before being looked at, being responsible for the phrase now in question. Cf., also Blind (subs.). 1848. J. Russell Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., p. 118— ‘to impress on the popular mind The comfort and wisdom of goin’ it blind.’ 1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 328. Blind Poker has given rise to the very common phrase, to go it blind, used whenever an enterprise is undertaken without previous inquiry. 1882. General Sherman, Memoirs, vol. I., p. 342. I know that in Washington I am incomprehensible, because at the outset of the war I would not go it blind, and rush headlong into a war unprepared and with an utter ignorance of its extent and purpose. 1888. Chicago Ledger, May 12. ‘And so you’ve married a jewel, have you, Tom?’ ‘I have, for a fact, Dick.’ ‘Lucky dog! You’re a man in a million. Mighty few go it blind and fare as well as you’ve done.’ ‘I didn’t go it blind. I employed a detective, and he managed to get board in the family.’ Blind Cheeks, subs. (common).—The posteriors. [The derivation is from an obvious simile.] Among English Synonyms are—Two fat cheeks and ne’er a nose; blind Cupid; ampersand; cheeks; arse; corybungo; dopey; droddum; dummock; feak; bum; nock (i.e., ‘a notch’); round mouth; windmill; blind-eye; monocular eye-glass. French Synonyms. Un borgne (low: ‘a one-eyed person’); un cyclope (the allusion is mythological—from Cyclops, the one-eyed giant, whose optic was placed in the middle of the forehead); la rose des vents; un piffe; un pignard; boite aux ordures. German Synonym. Acherponim (from Hebrew achar ponim; literally ‘the face at the back’). For other synonyms, see Bum. Blind Drunk, adj. phr. (common).—Very intoxicated; so drunk as to be unable to see better than a blind man. Americans say, ‘So drunk as not to be able to see through a ladder.’ For synonyms, see Screwed. 1845. Disraeli, Sybil or the Two Nations, p. 350. Hang me if I wasn’t blind drunk at the end of it. Blinder. To take a blinder, phr. (thieves’).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft. Blind Eye, subs. (common).—The podex.—See Blind cheeks. Blind Half Hundred, subs. (military).—The Fiftieth Regiment of Foot; from so many men suffering from ophthalmia during the Egyptian campaign [1801]; also the Dirty Half Hundred from the men in action wiping their faces with their black facings during the Peninsula War. Half Hundred is an adaptation of the number of the regiment—the Fiftieth. The corps is also called the ‘Gallant Fiftieth,’ from its gallantry at the battle of Vimiera, 1808. 1871. Chambers’ Journal, No. 417, p. 803. The Dirty Half Hundred was the curious nickname given to the 50th Foot. Two accounts are given of the origin of this. One asserts that it was from their red uniforms being faced with black and silver lace, and thus giving the regiment a dull and sombre appearance; whilst the other tells us that it was from the men wiping their perspiring faces with the black cuffs of their coats, and thus giving their countenances a somewhat swarthy tint. Whatever may be the origin of this sobriquet, they bear a second about which there can be no doubt. From the glorious charge, led by Colonel Walker, at Vimiera, this regiment is known as the ‘Gallant Fiftieth.’ 1886. Tinsley’s Magazine, April, p. 322. Most people have heard of the ‘Fighting Fiftieth.’ But the 50th are rich in nicknames. They are, or at least they were, the Blind Half-Hundredth, having been but too literally blinded by the ravages of ophthalmia when in Egypt with Sir Ralph Abercromby. And when on one occasion the men dried the perspiration from their faces with their cuffs, they for a while became the Dirty Half-Hundredth. Blind Harpers, subs. (old).—Beggars counterfeiting blindness, playing on fiddles, etc.—Grose. Blind-Man’s Holiday, subs. (familiar).—Formerly this common colloquialism signified the night or darkness; it is now, however, usually applied to the time ‘between lights’ when it is too dark to see, but often not dark enough to light up, and a holiday or rest from work is taken. The blind from their infirmity are in general exempted from labour, and in this view keep holiday; when the twilight hour comes, when those that can work, or read, etc., can no longer see to do so, it is blind-man’s holiday to them, and they of necessity rest accordingly. This derivation, one would think, is sufficiently obvious; but, on the other hand, there are those who think the expression a corruption of ‘blind-man’s all-day.’ The meaning then would be that the gradual departure of light brings one to the state which the blind man endures all day, or which is all the day the blind man has. Whichever derivation be true, it is, however, interesting to note that this ‘household word’ of to-day has been in the mouths of the English people for more than three hundred years. It is the English equivalent of the Scotch in the gloaming, of an equally venerable lineage. 1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 263. And what will not blinde Cupid doe in the night which is his blindman’s holiday? 1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Indeed, madam, it is blindman’s holiday; we shall soon be all of a colour. 1824. T. Fielding, Proverbs, etc. (Familiar Phrases), p. 147. Blindman’s holiday. 1866. Aunt Judy’s Mag., Oct., 358. At meal times, or in blindman’s holiday, when no work was to be done. [M.] Blind Monkeys, subs. (common).—Hotten thus explains this expression:—An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the blind monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. ‘How much a week? and what to do?’ are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, ‘Five bob a week at the doctor’s—you’re to stand behind the door and make the patients sick. They won’t want no physic when they sees your mug.’ Blindo, verb (military).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft. Blind One’s Trail, verbal phr. (American).—Figuratively, to remove the traces of one’s actions; to conceal one’s intentions. This expression is obviously traceable to the days of Indian warfare, when even the lives of those engaged often depended upon the success with which the trail could be ‘blinded,’ or obliterated. Also to trash one’s trail (q.v.). Blind Side, subs. (familiar).—The blind side of a person or thing is that which is weakest; the most assailable side. The expression is much older than the example quoted by Murray [1655]. 1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, Act i., p. 79 (Plays, 1874). For that, we’ll follow the blind side of him, And make it sometimes subject of our mirth. 1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act iii. Con. My father’s credulous, and this rogue has found the blind side of him. 1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. III., ch. v. Indeed, if this good man had an enthusiasm, or what the vulgar call a blind side, it was this,—he thought a schoolmaster the greatest character in the world, and himself the greatest of all schoolmasters. 1820. Lamb, Elia (Mrs. Battle). All people have their blind side—their superstitions. Blink, verb (American).—To drink. [Probably of humorous origin, similar to smile (q.v.).—and alluding to a wink or blink exchanged between friends and comrades before drinking. A frequent toast is ‘I look towards you,’ and the transference of sense in such a phrase as ‘I wink’ or ‘blink to you,’ and then the use of to blink for ‘to drink’ is easy enough. Cf., also To go out and see a man.] Blinker, subs. (popular).—1. The eye. [From blink, to move the eyelids, to wink; Cf., Winkers; Peepers; Optics, etc.] For synonyms, see Glims. 1816. Quiz, Grand Master, I., ii. A patent pair of goggle winkers, Conceal’d from public view his blinkers. [M.] 1888. American Humorist. ‘Blank your blinkers,’ angrily retorted Brudee, ‘your business was not to fight, but show us the enemy.’ 2. (common.)—pl. Spectacles. For synonyms, see Barnacles. 1732. M. Green, Grotto, 10. Bigots who but one way see through blinkers of authority. [M.] 1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I., 38. A little fellow, with blinkers over his eyes. [M.] 1851. Thackeray, Eng. Hum., IV. (1858), 205. Who only dare to look up at life through blinkers. [M.] 3. (provincial.)—In Norfolk, a black eye. 4. (pugilistic.)—A hard blow in the eye. Blank your blinkers.—A euphemistic oath, equivalent to the more common ‘D——n your eyes.’—See Oaths. Blink-Fencer, subs. (thieves’).—A person who sells spectacles. [From blink, a contracted form of ‘blinkers,’ spectacles + fence, primarily a receiver of stolen goods, but also applied to a tradesman of any kind, + er.] Blinko, subs. (thieves’ and vagrants’).—An amateur entertainment held, generally, at a public house; a free and easy (q.v.); a sing song (q.v.). 1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. ‘What is a blinko for instance?’ ‘Well, it’s a kind of entertainment, singing, and that,’ replied the old fellow, ‘to which strangers are not invited—least of all the police.’ 1883. Daily Telegraph, August 4, p. 2, col. 1. ‘An Harmonic blinko, the proceeds of which will be given towards buying a barrow for Young Duckling, who has got married with no visible means of support.’ Blister, verb (common).—Employed euphemistically for ‘to damn.’ Cf., Blamed. 1840. H. Cockton, Valentine Vox, ch. xxvi. ‘Where can they be hid?’ he exclaimed, with great emphasis. ‘Blister ’em! Where can the scoundrels be got to?’ Blizzard, subs. (popular).—A poser; a stunning blow; an unanswerable argument, etc., etc. This word, recently brought into prominent notice as the name by which sudden and exceptionally severe snowstorms are known in the Western States of America, is one the etymology of which is dubious. Some authorities derive it from the German blitz—lightning, but a correspondent of N. and Q. claims it as of English nationality, asserting that the word has been known in the Midland Counties in its present form, or nearly so, for over thirty years; further stating that ‘may I be blizzered’ is a common oath there. Assuming that the expression is a variation of the more generally familiar ‘May God strike me blind’ (that is, presumably by lightning), there is nothing antagonistic between the two theories of its genesis, and a further light is perhaps thrown upon the subject, tending to support its German origin, by the fact that, in Pennsylvania, it has been familiar, according to a correspondent of the New York Sun, for more than half-a-century, its use and meaning being akin to the instances above mentioned. It appears that in the central counties of the State in question, the word was always used to include the idea of the ‘poser,’ and even of force, violence, spitefulness, or vindictiveness. If one dealt another a hostile blow he ‘gave him a blizzard on the nose,’ ‘on the jaw,’ ‘between the eyes,’ etc. If a magistrate lectured a litigant severely he ‘gave him a blizzard.’ If in debate one dealt mercilessly in ridicule he ‘gave his opponent a blizzard.’ If one man swore at or cursed another he ‘gave him a blizzard.’ If a man’s wife scolded him she ‘gave him a blizzard.’ When it is remembered that Pennsylvania is the State in which the Dutch or German element most largely predominates, it does not seem far fetched to attribute its origin to a Teutonic source, more especially as there is nothing in the English usage to preclude such a derivation. However this may be, the word invariably seems to imply suddenness combined with violence; and, at any rate, it apparently disposes of the supposition that the word is of Western origin, or a coinage of so recent a date as is frequently supposed. Like most words of its class, which have largely struck the popular taste, it has been generally adopted in an idiomatic sense to signify a stunning blow; an overwhelming argument, or a cool reception. 1834. Crockett, Tour Down East, 16. A gentleman at dinner asked me for a toast; and supposing he meant to have some fun at my expense, I concluded to go ahead, and give him and his likes a blizzard. 1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 443. Blizzard, a term referred back to the German Blitz, means in the West a stunning blow or an overwhelming argument. 1884. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. L. News, Feb. 23, p. 171, col. 2. Blizzard. The philologers in American Slang refer back to the German blitz; and its original meaning in the Western States seems to have been a stunning blow or an overwhelming argument. In the Eastern States a sudden set-in of severe frost is called a ‘cold snap.’ Query, how many ‘cold snaps’ does it take to make a ‘blizzard’? 1888. San Francisco News Letter. I should like to have seen the Colonel’s face when he got that very cold, blizzardy letter. I bet that if Minnie had been near him he would have slapped her real hard. Bloak.—See Bloke. Bloat, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A drowned body. 2. A drunkard. The simile which groups the two is, perhaps, not far wrong. [Probably from bloat, an adjective signifying puffed, swollen, inflated. Bloat was also formerly in use in England as a contemptuous name for a human being.] Bloated Aristocrat, subs. (familiar).—An opprobrious epithet for a man swollen with the pride of rank or wealth; also a general sobriquet applied by ‘the masses’ to ‘the classes.’ ‘Bloated’ has long been employed in a similar sense. Swift spoke of a certain statesman as ‘a bloated minister’ [1731]. 1861. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip, I., p. 101. What a bloated aristocrat Thingamy has become since he got his place! 1863. G. A. Sala, Breakfast in Bed, essay I., p. 17 (1864). Of the two most salient English gentlemen represented, one is a bloated aristocrat of a Baronet hopelessly in debt, the other a rapid brainless nobleman. 1869. M. Twain, Innocents Abroad, ch. x. We sat down finally, at a late hour, in the great Casino, and called for unstinted champagne. It is so easy to be bloated aristocrats where it costs nothing of consequence! Bloater.—See My Bloater; also Mild Bloater. Blob, verb (vagrants’).—To talk; to ‘patter.’ [Probably a corrupted form of blab.] Beggars are of two kinds—those who screeve (introducing themselves with a fakement, or false document) and those who blob, or state their case in their own truly ‘unvarnished’ language. [See, however, second quot.] 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 339. ‘Of professional beggars there are two kinds—those who “do it on the blob” (by word of mouth), and those who do it by “screeving,” that is, by petitions and letters.’ 1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. xxvi. ‘Five minutes more and we shall run into him,’ he shouts, sitting well back on his horse, and urging him to his extreme pace, ‘when he blobs like that he’s getting beat. See how Canvas sticks to him, and the yellow dog hangs back waiting for the turn.’ Block, subs. (old).—A stupid person; a hard unsympathetic individual; one of mean, unattractive appearance. [A figurative sense of block, as of wood or stone.] a. 1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, III., iii., p. 44 (Arber). Ye are such a calfe, such an asse, such a blocke. 1595. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen, Act ii., Sc. 5. Speed. What an ass art thou! I understand thee not. Launce. What a block art thou, that thou canst not! 1599. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour. Induct. Cor. Hang him, dull block! 1624. Massinger, Bondman, II., ii. This will bring him on, Or he’s a block. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Block (s) ... sometimes an ignorant, stupid fellow. 1881. Besant and Rice, Chaplain of the Fleet, pt. II., ch. iv. She said that her partner was delightful to dance with, partly because he was a lord—and a title, she said, gives an air of grace to any block—partly because he danced well and talked amiably. 2. The head. Possibly an abbreviated form of barber’s block (q.v.). For synonyms, see Crumpet. 1637. Shirley, Lady of Pleas, II., i. Buy a beaver For thy own block. 1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xxxv. ‘I cleaned a groom’s boots on Toosday, and he punched my block because I blacked the tops.’ Barber’s Block, subs. (common).—1. A transferred sense [from a wooden head for showing off a wig] applied to a showy, over-dressed man; a fop. 1876. E. Lynn Linton, Hallberger’s Illus. Mag., p. 72. No, not to men worthy of the name of men—men, not barber’s blocks. 2. The head.—See Block, sense 2. 1823. Scott, Peveril of the Peak, ch. v. (I., p. 67). Were I not to take better care of the wood than you, brother, there would soon be no more wood about the town than the barber’s block that’s on your own shoulders. A chip of the same old block, phr. (common).—A man or thing exhibiting the same qualities as he or that with which a comparison is made. 1627. Sanderson, Serm., I., 283. Am not I a child of the same Adam, a vessel of the same clay, a chip of the same block, with him. [M.] 1655. L’Estrange, Charles I., 126. Episcopacy, which they thought but a great chip of the old block Popery. [M.] To cut a block with a razor, phr. (old).—Inconsequent argument; futile endeavour; incongruous application of means or ability to the end in view. 1774. Goldsmith, Retaliation, 42. ’Twas his fate unemployed or in place, sir, to eat mutton cold and cut blocks with a razor. To block a hat, phr. (popular).—To crush a man’s hat over the eyes by a blow; to bonnet (q.v.). Blockers.—See Block Ornaments. Block House, subs. (old).—A prison; the house of detention. For synonyms, see Cage. 1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, III., xi., 85. To stop the disorders of our disorderly Theeues ... built a Block-house. [M.] 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Block-houses, Prisons, houses of correction, etc. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [Same definition given as in Grose.] 1889. Murray, New English Dictionary. [Common since c. 1500: of uncertain history. The Ger. equivalent blockhaus (‘einen steinen Blockhaus’) is quoted by Grimm, 1557 and 1602; the Du. blokhuis is in Kilian, 1599; Fr. blocus, generally considered to be the same word, and orig. in same sense, is quoted by Littré in the 16th c. (Cf., Bloccuz). So far as evidence goes, the Eng. is thus the earliest; but we should expect it to be of Du. or Ger. origin. In any case the sense was not originally (as in modern notion) a house composed of blocks of wood, but one which blocks or obstructs a passage. The history and age of the Ger. blockhaus and Fr. blocus require more investigation.] Block Island Turkey, subs. (American).—Salted cod-fish. Connecticut and Rhode Island. Slang delights in naming fish as flesh. For some curious examples, see Two-eyed steak. Block Ornaments, or Blockers, subs. (common).—1. Small pieces of meat of indifferent quality, trimmings from the joints, etc. Exposed for sale on the blocks or counters of butcher’s shops in cheap neighbourhoods. 1848. Fraser’s Mag., XXXVII., 396. Forced to substitute a blocker of meat, with its cheap accompaniment of bread and vegetables ... for poultry and rump steaks. [M.] 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 54. For dinner ... they buy block ornaments, as they call the small, dark-coloured pieces of meat exposed on the cheap butchers’ blocks or counters. Ibid, p. 516. What they consider a good living is a dinner daily off good block ornaments (small pieces of meat, discoloured and dirty, but not tainted, usually set for sale on the butcher’s block). 1884. Punch, No. 2063, p. 29. And eager-faced women must bargain for tainted block ornaments still. 1887. Standard, Jan. 20, The Poor at Market. Watching a man who stands with his wife and little girl before a butcher’s shop, let us see what they have to choose from in buying for the next day’s dinner. On the shelves set out in front of the shop meat scraps are offered at 3½d. the lb.; better scraps (or block ornaments, as they are termed) at 4d.; somewhat shapeless small joints of beef from inferior parts at 5d., one coarse shoulder of mutton at the same; tolerably good-looking meat at 6d.; mutton chops at 7d. and 8d.; and rump steak at 10d. 2. Applied to individuals, a block ornament signifies a queer looking man or woman—one odd in appearance. Bloke or Bloak, subs. (common).—A man; a fellow. In saying ‘not strictly “a man” as Hotten defines it, but a man in a contemptuous sense,’ Barrère is himself wide of the mark. The word may sometimes be used contemptuously; but, generally speaking, any idea of reproach or praise is absent, and a bloke means a man pure and simple. In witness whereof are the following examples of its use. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 397. If we met an old bloke (man) we propped him. 1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. A gentleman.—A bloak. 1860. Sala, The Baddington Peerage, II., p. 49. My old bloke! 1862. Kingsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., Dec, 96. Little better than blokes and boodles after all. [M.] 1863. Ouida, Held in Bondage, bk. I., p. 245. The girl is stunning, the blokes say, so we must forgive you. 1865. Miss Braddon, in Temple Bar, XIII., 483. The society of the aged bloke is apt to pull upon the youthful intellect. 1869. J. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. It came out in the course of the evidence that the meaning of the word bloke was ‘a man whom a woman might pick up in the street.’ 1873. Robinson, Little Kate Kirby, I., p. 136. ‘Give us a horder then, old bloke,’ shrieked another gamin. c. 1875. Broadside Ballad, ‘Keep it Dark.’ I have heard though may be it isn’t a fact, Keep it dark! That the present Lord Chancellor’s going to be sacked, Keep it dark! And Dr. Kenealy, that popular bloke, That extremely warm member, the member for Stoke, Is about to succeed him, the lawyers to choke— But, keep it dark! c. 1869. Broadside Ballad, ‘Shooting the Moon.’ Spoken—Yes, and I used to do very well, until some ragged young urchin said to his pal, don’t you varder, don’t you know that ere bloke, that’s the bloke we saw the other day with a barrow. 1883. Daily News, May 15, p. 7, col. 2. ‘When you are coming out into the yard ask the next bloke to change numbers with you.’ In each case the ‘face value’ of the word appears to be simply ‘a man,’ and in spite of Barrère’s assertion that ‘in the police newspapers twenty-five years ago a bloke was a victim of sharps, a stupid person, a greenhorn,’ the evidence is all the other way; in one instance, indeed, the individual in question is reported to be ‘a gentleman.’ As regards derivation, its origin is uncertain. Hotten and Ogilvie compare it with the Hindustanee loke, a man; while Leland traces it to ‘the Dutch blok, a log, a fool.’ For synonyms, see Cove. Blood, subs. (old).—1. A fop; dandy; buck; or ‘fast’ man. Originally in common use, but now obsolete. [From that legitimate sense of the word which attributes the seat of the passions and emotions to the blood. Hence, a man of spirit; one who is worth mention, and, in an inferior sense, he who makes himself notorious, whether by dress or rowdyism.] In the last century, especially during the regency of George IV., the term was largely in vogue to denote a young man of good birth or social standing about town; subsequently, it came to mean a riotous, disorderly fellow. 1562. Bulleyn, Sicke Men, etc., 73a. A lustie blood, or a pleasaunte brave young roister. [M.] 1606. John Day, Ile of Gulls, Act i., p. 9. Basil. Welcome gallants, welcome honord bloods. Ibid. To which effect we have sent a generall challenge to all the youthfull bloods of Africa. 1752. Adventurer, No. 15. Our heroes of liberty, whether Bucks or Bloods, or of whatever other denomination, when by some creditor of slavish principles they have been locked up in a prison, never yet petitioned to be hanged. 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 21. ‘Trenchard!’ he muttered—‘Aliva Trenchard. They were right, then, as to the name. Well, if she survives the accident—as the blood who styles himself Sir Cecil fancies she may do—this ring will make my fortune by leading to the discovery of the chief parties concerned in this strange affair.’ 1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. x. A perfect and celebrated blood, or dandy about town, was this young officer. 1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. ii., p. 36. The modern bloods have given up the respectful ceremonies which distinguished a gentleman in my time. 2. (old.)—Money. [A comparison of blood, as the vital principle, to money, as that upon which the sustenance of life depends—the ‘sinews of war,’ the ‘needful,’ etc.] For all synonyms, see Actual. 1748. Dodsley, Collection of Poems, III., 199. He sticks to gaming, as the surer trade; Turns downright sharper, lives by sucking blood. 1872. M. E. Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, ch. iv. ‘A man who ought to consider himself uncommonly fortunate never to have known what it was to be hard up, or to have a pack of extravagant sons sucking his blood, like so many modern vampires.’ Verb (familiar).—To deplete of money; to victimise; a figurative usage of ‘to bleed’; i.e., surgically, to let or draw blood by opening a vein. Cf., subs., sense 2, and Bleed. 1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 187. ‘He is very likely to want a thousand pounds at any moment. There’s a leaven of the old squire in his composition, and I recollect hearing that he was blooded over the Phaeton Leger.’ ‘You surely can’t mean that he has taken to racing? Why, you must be aware that he has no money for anything of that sort.’ Blood and Entrails, subs. (American).—The British ensign is so nicknamed by Yankee sailors; English salts return the compliment by jokingly speaking of the American flag as the gridiron and doughboys (q.v.). Blood and Thunder, subs. (common).—A beverage of port wine and brandy mixed. Port is the blood, from its colour; brandy the thunder—the combined effects being, it is held, provocative of ‘thundering’ head-aches. Blood and Thunder Tales, subs. phr. (originally American, now common).—Low class fiction, the term being generally applied to works dealing with the exploits of desperadoes, cut-throats, and other criminals. Also called Awfuls, Penny dreadfuls, Gutter literature, Shilling shockers, etc., all of which see for further illustrations. 1876. Portland Transcript, May. Here let me say one word to the Transcript mothers. Look carefully to your child’s reading matter. Beware of the cheap, trashy romances, the blood and thunder tales by Tom, Dick and Harry, which fill the counters of so many of our bookstores. 1883. Daily News, March 26, p. 2, col. 3. The blood and thunder tragedies generally associated with the transpontine drama. Blood-an’-’Ouns, phr. (old).—An abbreviated form of an old and blasphemous oath—‘God’s blood and wounds!’ 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 58. ‘Och! if he’s a friend o’ yours, my dear joy, there’s no more to be said; and right sorry am I I struck him. But, blood-an’-’ouns! man, if ould Nick himself were to hit me a blow, I’d be afther givin’ him another.’ Blood-Curdler or Blood-Freezer, subs. (common).—A narration or incident which ‘makes the flesh creep’; that which stirs one’s feelings strongly, and generally repulsively. Said of a sensational murder, a thrilling ghost-story, etc. Cf., Blood and thunder tales. Blood for Blood, phr. (trade).—When tradesmen exchange wares, setting the cost of one kind off against another instead of making payment in currency, they are said to give blood for blood. Cf., Blood. (1) the vital fluid; (2) money—hence applied to that upon the sale of which a man is dependent for a livelihood. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. A hatter furnishing a hosier with a hat, and taking payment in stockings, is said to deal blood for blood. Blood-Freezer.—See Blood-curdler. Blood-Red Fancy, subs. (pugilistic).—A particular kind of handkerchief sometimes worn by pugilists and frequenters of prize fights.—See Billy. 1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 446. Red silk handkerchief. Blood-red fancy. Blood Suckers, subs. (military).—The Sixty-third Regiment of Foot. Blood-Tub, subs. (American).—A rowdy; a blustering bully; a rough. This nickname was peculiar to Baltimore, which city, perhaps of all cities in the Union, enjoyed, for a time, an unenviable reputation on account of the rowdyism of a section of its inhabitants. More or less, however, these turbulent gangs infest all the more important centres of population, and answer in many respects to the English ‘roughs.’ They are recruited largely from the labouring and commercial population; they drink, and swear, but commit no crime, save an occasional deed of violence in times when excitement runs unusually high, and are for the most part affiliated with one or other of the two political parties, the Republicans or Democrats. They are known as Dead Rabbits in New York, Moyamensing Hounds in Philadelphia, Blood-tubs in Baltimore, where at other times they have also been designated Babes, Plug-uglies, and Ashlanders. The Blood-tubs are reported to have been mostly butchers, and to have got their epithet from having, on an election day, dipped an obnoxious German’s head in a tub of warm blood, and then driven him running through the town. 18(?). Song of the Irish Legion. Blood-tubs and plug-uglies, and others galore, Are sick for a thrashing in sweet Baltimore; Be jabers! that same I’d be proud to inform Of the terrible force of an Irishman’s arm. Bloody, adj. (low).—An epithet difficult to define, and used in a multitude of vague and varying senses. Most frequently, however, as it falls with wearisome reiteration every two or three seconds from the mouths of London roughs of the lowest type, no special meaning, much less a sanguinary one, can be attached to its use. In such a case it forms a convenient intensitive, sufficiently important as regards sound to satisfy those whose lack of language causes them to fall back upon a frequent use of words of this type. Bloody occasionally carries with it a suspicion of anger, resentment, or detestation. [For suggested derivations, and some incidental illustrative examples, see adverbial usage, which follows.] 1840. R. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii., 2. You’ll find me a bloody rascal. Ibid, xx., 61. They’ve got a man for a mate of that ship, and not a bloody sheep about decks. [M.] 1880. Ruskin, Fiction, Fair and F., § 29. The use of the word bloody in modern low English is a deeper corruption, not altering the form of the word, but defiling the thought in it. [M.] Adv. (low).—Among the vulgar at the present day bloody, used adverbially, says G. A. Sala [Notes and Queries, 4 S., i., Feb. 8, 1868], simply qualifies the superlative and excessive. Admiral Gambier, who is said to have introduced ‘tea and piety’ into the navy, very properly discountenanced the practice so long common to naval officers of d——g the sailors’ eyes while they were reefing topsails. His tars, scarcely grateful, nicknamed the admiral ‘Old Bloody Politeful.’ The lower classes use bloody indifferently as a term of depreciation or appreciation. Thus, it’s a bloody shame; and per contra in a flash song, the poet (supposed to be languishing in prison) recounts that the chaplain discoursed to the inmates— ‘How Jonah lived inside of a whale, ’Twas a bloody sight better than county gaol.’ As regards derivation, dual causes seem to have operated in the evolution of bloody in its depraved sense. The various stages are summarised by Murray, in so far as evidence will permit, as follows. The origin is not quite certain; but there is good reason to think that it was at first a reference to the habits of the ‘bloods’ or aristocratic rowdies of the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th c. The phrase ‘bloody drunk’ was apparently = ‘as drunk as a blood’ (Cf., ‘as drunk as a lord’); thence it was extended to kindred expressions, and at length to others; probably in later times, its associations with bloodshed and murder (Cf., a bloody battle, a bloody butcher) have recommended it to the rough classes as a word that appeals to their imagination. We may compare the prevalent craving for impressive or graphic intensives, seen in the use of jolly, awfully, terribly, devilish, deuced, damned, ripping, rattling, thumping, stunning, thundering, etc. There is no ground for the notion that bloody, offensive as from association it now is to ears polite, contains any profane allusion, or has connection with the oath ‘’sblood!’ In this particular it may be noted that Mr. C. G. Leland is in error when he says ‘Mr. Hotten thinks this is an expletive without reference to any [italics not in original] meaning.’ Mr. Hotten neither said nor implied anything of the kind, but just the reverse; and Mr. Leland has hung his remarks upon a misquotation. Hotten’s exact words are ‘bloody, an expletive used, without reference to meaning, as an adjective and an adverb, simply for intensification’—a very different thing; ergo as far as Hotten goes he is absolutely correct. There seems little doubt, however, that the association of bloody with bloodshed and murder has had a very large influence in determining its present bad signification in the mouth of a cockney of the lower classes. It is noteworthy, too, that the German blutig is sometimes used, says H. Tiedeman [N. and Q., 4 S., i., Feb. 8, 1868], in the same manner as the London bloody:—While living in Dresden, I heard many times uttered such phrases as— ‘Ich habe keinen blutigen Heller mehr,’ [I have no bloody penny or ‘red cent’ more], for ‘I have not a single penny left,’ etc. Was, then, the Dresden blutig introduced to the London mob in the shape of bloody? The Dutch bloedig may be used figuratively, just as the French sanglant. Une injure sanglante might be translated by ‘een bloedige beleediging.’ It might, and it is in fact, sometimes used to qualify an adjective. To say ‘bloedig schoon’ (literally, ‘bloody beautiful’), would be perfectly correct, but then it has not the sense of exceedingly; it keeps its original meaning. ‘Bloedig schoon’ could not be rendered otherwise than by sanguinary and beautiful. 1676. Sir G. Etheredge, Man of Mode (Act i., Sc. 1), p. 186, ed. 1723. Dor. Give him half-a-crown. Med. Not without he will promise to be bloody drunk. 1684. Dryden, Prol. Southerne’s Disappointment, line 59. The doughty bullies enter bloody drunk. [M.] 1706. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, Act iv., Sc. 1. Plume. Thou art a bloody impudent fellow. [There is no question of fighting in the context.] 1711. Swift, Journal to Stella, 8 May, letter 22. It was bloody hot walking to-day. 1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. ‘I’ve a bloody great mind to go down with him,’ stuttered another. From the foregoing examples the word would appear to have been once in literary use; it is not now customary to print it in full, but thus, b——y. In passing it may be mentioned that there is no ground for attributing its derivation to ‘By’r Our Lady.’ Bloody Back, subs. (old).—A soldier; a nickname alluding to the colour of his coat. [From bloody = of the colour of blood, i.e., scarlet or blood-red + back.] 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Bloody back. A jeering appellation for a soldier. Bloody Chasm. To bridge the bloody chasm, phr. (American).—A favourite expression with orators who, during the years immediately succeeding the Civil War, sought to obliterate the memory of the struggle. The antithetical phrase is to wave the bloody shirt (q.v.). Bloody Eleventh, subs. (military). The Eleventh Regiment of Foot. At the battle of Salamanca, fought with the French, the corps was nearly cut to pieces, whence its sanguinary sobriquet. At Fontenoy and Ostend also, it was hard-pressed and nearly annihilated. Bloody Jemmy, subs. (common).—An uncooked sheep’s head.—See Sanguinary James for synonyms. Bloody Shirt. To wave the bloody shirt.—A phrase which is only one of many of a similar character, variants such as ‘to wave the crimson banner,’ ‘the ensanguined under garment,’ etc., being quite frequently met with in American journalism. Its origin and history is thus explained in Americanisms, Old and New:—It is a political phrase used in the States to signify the opening anew or keeping alive of factious strife on party questions. Primarily it was the symbol of those who, during the Reconstruction period at the close of the rebellion of the Southern or Confederate States, would not suffer the Civil War to sink into oblivion out of consideration for the feelings of the vanquished. Perhaps a more odious term never crept into politics than the bloody shirt; it is alike distasteful to the sense, brutal and vulgar, and capable of misuse. There are still those who, in American politics, in the thousand and one points of difference which continually and inevitably must arise between institutions so diverse in origin, tradition, and practice as those of the North and South, seek for party purposes to estrange the one from the other by keeping alive the exciting memories of the old bitter struggle. When a man is said to have waved the bloody shirt it is known that he has gone back in spirit and intent to the sorrowful days of the Republic, when the blue and the grey, each confident of battling for the right, were slaying each other in the valleys of the South. He ignores the peace which has settled over the old fields of war, and does not assent to the hand clasp of Federal with Confederate. He tries to open the strife anew, mocks the spirit of forgiveness, and rakes the old ashes over in the hunt for a burning coal. He scoffs at those who fought against the Union, and, because they have come back to it, calls them insincere. He rebukes the veteran who forgave them when together they laid down their arms. This is called waving the bloody shirt, and to-day, when many of those now in active life cannot remember the time when the Rebellion had closed, and the boys were marching home, there are legislators and journalists who devote their efforts to stirring up a sectional hatred which without these efforts would be but a tradition. Many Southerners keenly resent the spirit which thus traduces the now loyal South, and declares it hypocritical. The bloody shirters, as they are called, rail at the decency which forgives and forgets, and with venomous tongues revile alike those who fell in the lost cause, those who lived to repent, and those who would grant pardon. So long as men lost to honour will do this the action must have a name—it will be called waving the bloody shirt. From this special meaning it is now passing into general use to indicate similar tactics in regard to any cause. It has recently been introduced into English journalism in connection with the Irish struggle, and the ‘Unionist Party’ has been accused of waving the bloody shirt—with how much truth or the reverse there is here no concern. The origin of the expression is to be sought in a Corsican custom now nearly, if not quite, obsolete. In the days of the fierce vendette—the feuds which divided the Corsicans, family from family, bloodshed was a common occurrence. Before the burial of a murdered man, the gridata was celebrated. This word, which literally means a crying aloud, may be translated ‘a wake.’ The body of the victim was laid upon a plank; his useless firearms were placed near his hand, and his blood-stained shirt was hung above his head. Around the rude bier sat a circle of women, wrapped in their black mantles, who rocked themselves to and fro with strange wailings. The men, relatives and friends of the murdered man, fully armed stood around the room, mad with thirst for revenge. Then one of the women—the wife or mother or sister of the dead man—with a sharp scream would snatch the bloody shirt, and waving it aloft begin the vocero—the lamentation. This rhythmic discourse was made up of alternate expressions of love for the dead, and hatred of his enemies; and its startling images and tremendous curses were echoed in the faces and amidst the mutterings of the armed mourners. Its application to American politics is credited to Mr. Oliver P. Morton, who, elected United States senator in 1867, and again in 1873, took a prominent part as a leader of the more radical Republicans, favouring a stern policy of coercion in the reconstruction of the Southern States. He was one of the Presidential Candidates at the Cincinnati Convention of 1876, his name standing second on the first ballot. Happily, however, his opinions were too pronounced to unite the factions of his party, and the ultimate choice fell upon Mr. Hayes. 1888. Coldwater (Mich.) Sun, Jan. The bloody shirt is gradually fading away. The white-winged dove of peace spreads her wings here and there, patriotism forgets and forgives old differences, sectionalism is gradually giving way to love of country—the whole country. In fact the ill-feeling between the North and South would have died out years ago among the veterans of both sections, had they been left to themselves, and the politicians been as patriotic as they. 1888. New York Weekly Times, Mar. 21. It is reprehensible to the last degree for the Bourbons of the South to continue to play on the colour line—the Southern bloody shirt—and then denounce Republican extremists for doing the same thing at the North. Bloomer, subs. (Australian prison slang).—A mistake. Said to be an abbreviated form of ‘blooming error.’—See Blooming. Blooming, often Bloomin’, ppl. adj. (common).—This word, similar in type to ‘blessed,’ ‘blamed,’ and other words of the kind, is, as used by the lower classes, a euphemism for bloody (q.v.), but it is also frequently employed as a mere meaningless intensitive. Like the last-named word, little count is taken of its exact primary meaning. Its slang use may be traced to that figurative sense of the orthodox word, which signifies ‘in the bloom of health and beauty,’ ‘in the prime,’ ‘flourishing,’ etc. Some uncertainty exists as to the origin of this not over-ornamental addition to our expletive vocabulary. If the word is used by Granvil (see quot.) in its modern sense, then the phrase is very much older than has hitherto been imagined. Barring this, it would seem that we are indebted for it to the Californian coast, although there is little doubt that the chief instrument in its acclimatization in England was Mr. Alfred G. Vance, the comic singer, well-known in connection with ‘Jolly dogs,’ and other extensively popular music-hall songs. As before stated, it has very largely supplanted ‘bloody’; bally (q.v.) is also used in the same manner. Its applications are manifold. One is requested not to make any blooming mistake or error; another ‘showing off,’ or ‘putting on side,’ is told not to be so blooming flash; an excessively stupid man is spoken of as a blooming idiot; and an inquisitive individual is told more forcibly than politely, perhaps, ‘you asks me no bloomin’ imper’int questions, an’ I tells yer no bloomin’ lies.’ 1726. Rev. J. Granvil, Sadducismus triumphatus [under the head of ‘The Demon of Tedworth’ (1661). Granvil makes mention that on one occasion the spirit came into a room panting like a dog, and] company coming up, the room was presently filled with a blooming noisome smell. 18(?). Colonel John Hay, Ballad, ‘The Mystery of Gilgal.’ He went for his ’leven inch bowie knife: I tries to foller a Christian life, But I’ll drop a slice of liver or two, My bloomin’ shrub, with you. 1887. G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (Told to the Missionary). ‘I feels like a bloomin’ babby—I gets so infernal weak.’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 222. ‘Afore that I worked in the galleries, a making the casemates for the guns, and blooming hard work it was.’ 1882. Punch’s Almanac, p. 4. The Steam Launch in Venice (‘Sic Transit Gloria Mundi’)—’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Ow my! If it ’yn’t that bloomin’ old Temple Bar, as they did aw’y with out o’ Fleet Street!’ Mr. Belleville (referring to guide book): ‘Now it ’yn’t. It’s the fymous Bridge o’ Sighs, as Byron went and stood on; ’im as wrote ‘Our Boys,’ yer know!’ ’Andsome ’Arriet: ‘Well, I never!’ 1880. Jas. Greenwood, Flyfaker’s Hotel, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 59. ‘Who’s got any music?’ presently exclaimed the dirty scoundrel who had been mending the boxing-glove; ‘—— me, let’s have a bloomin’ lark! Let’s have a tune and a song. Who’s got any bloomin’ music?’ 1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxxviii. ‘And if there’s fire there ought to be nothen to stop us from cooking a bloomin’ old goat.’ 1889. Ally Sloper, July 6. Injured Innocence: Indignant Son of Labour. Well, I’m blowed! If that ’ere bloomin’ swell ain’t a-himitatin’ me! Bloss, subs. (old, and American thieves’).—A generic name for a woman, whether girl, wife, or mistress. Probably from an attributive sense of ‘blossom.’ For example, Shakspeare, in Titus Andronicus [1588, iv., 2, 72], employs it in the sense of one lovely and full of promise. ‘Sweet blowse you are a beautious blossome sure.’ Tennyson also [1847] in the Princess [v., 79] uses the expression, ‘My babe, my blossom, ah, my child!’ Cf., Blowen. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bloss (cant), the pretended wife of a bully or shop-lifter. 1881. New York Slang Dictionary, ‘Slang Stories,’ p. 42. ‘Why, Bell, is it yourself? Tip us your daddle, my bene mort. May I dance at my death, and grin in a class-case, if I didn’t think you had been put to bed with a shovel....’ ‘No, Jim, I only piked into Grassville with a dimber-damber, who couldn’t pad the hoof for a single darkman’s without his bloss to keep him from getting pogy.’ Blot the Scrip, verbal phr. (old).—To put an undertaking into writing; the modern phrase is ‘to put it in black and white.’ Hence To blot the scrip and jark it (old), i.e., to stand engaged, or bound for anyone.—Grose. Jark means a seal, and in Oxford slang, a safe conduct pass; in the former sense it is retained in the patter of modern American thieves, a synonym being jasker. Jarkman is the name given in America to a begging letter writer, whose accomplishments in this respect are varied by the production of false characters for servants, and other documents of a kindred nature. This is a case, like many others, in which old English cant terms have, across the Atlantic, been invested with a new meaning. Formerly a jarkman was equivalent to an ‘Abram-man,’ i.e., a licensed beggar. Bloviate, verb (American).—To talk aimlessly and boastingly; to indulge in ‘high falutin’. [A factitious word probably founded on the verb blow, sense 1, on the model of ‘deviate.’] Said to have been in use since 1850. Blow, subs. (common).—1. A shilling. Amongst Synonyms for this coin are beong; borde; button; deaner or deener; bob; bobstick (old slang); breaky-leg; gen (this forms part of the so-called back slang); hog; levy; peg; stag; teviss; twelver; touch-me (this is an abbreviated form of touch-me-on-the-nob, rhyming slang for bob or shilling); Abraham’s willing (also rhyming slang for a shilling). 1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. But afterwards I got 3s. 9d., and then four blow. Ibid. I went to the Steel (Bastile—Coldbath Fields Prison), having a new suit of clobber on me and about fifty blow in my brigh (pocket). 1885. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 5, p. 2, col. 6. They said they could sell some for five blows (shillings), and that he could easily make £158 of the stuff. 2. (Old University.)—A drunken frolic; a spree. Cf., Blow-out, subs. For synonyms, see Jamboree. Verb.—1. To boast; to brag; to ‘gas’—generally to talk boastfully or self-assertingly of oneself or one’s affairs. In this sense to blow, long dialectically current, is now regarded as slang. It is also associated with the idea of angry speech, ‘storming,’ ‘fuming.’ Cf., Blow up, and for synonyms, see Gas. c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 97. Blouing veynly wip fleschli wit. [M.] 1519. Four Elements, in Hazl. Dodsley, I., 41. Why, man, what aileth thee so to blow? [M.] 1785. Burns, Epistle to J. Lapraik, st. 16. I winna blaw about mysel; As ill I like my fauts to tell. 1883. Graphic, Jan. 27, p. 79, col. i. The whole team has taught Australia not to blow (as they say)—a not unneeded lesson. 1883. Mrs. Campbell Praed, Sketches of Australian Life, p. 45. ‘He was famous for his coolness and daring, and for blowing, in Australian parlance, both of his exploits and of his “bonnes fortunes.”’ 2. (general.)—To inform; to expose; to betray; to peach. Cf., also Blow upon and Blow the gab. [This is a transferred sense of blow = to breathe out; to give forth by breathing; hence, to sound a signal on an instrument; to blaze abroad as by a trumpet.] For synonyms, see Peach. 1575. Appius and Virg., in Hazl. Dodsley, IV., 136. Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye? [M.] 1721. Defoe, History of Colonel Jack. ‘As for that,’ says Will, ‘I could tell it well enough, if I had it, but I must not be seen anywhere among my old acquaintances, for I am blown, and they will all betray me.’ 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Blow (v.) ... also to discover the secrets of another; also when a person undervalues or slights a person or thing, he is said to blow upon it. a. 1859. L. Hunt, Country Lodgings, in Casquet Lit. (1877), I., p. 42, col. 1. D—n me, if I don’t blow ... I’ll tell Tom Neville, [M.] 3. (American.)—To lie; and in a slightly less opprobrious sense to ‘gas’ so much as to be perilously near the border-line which separates boasting exaggeration from absolute untruth. 4. (general.)—Frequently employed euphemistically for ‘to damn’—generally in the imperative.—Blow it! i.e., ‘hang it’! or damn it! Cf., Blowed, with which it is closely allied in all senses. 1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii. ‘Well, if you won’t stand a pot,’ quoth the tall man, ‘I will, that’s all, and blow temperance.’ 1883. Miss Braddon, Golden Calf, ch. xxvi. ‘Blow his station in life! If he was a duke I shouldn’t want him.’ 5. (general.)—To lose or spend money. Cf., Blue. 6. (University.)—To indulge in a frolic or spree. Cf., Blow out; also To go on the blow. 7. (Winchester School.)—To blush. To bite the blow, phr. (old cant).—To steal goods; to Prig, which see for synonyms. Blow a Cloud, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To smoke a cigar or pipe; Hotten says, ‘a phrase used two centuries ago’ but gives no authority, and Murray’s earliest example only dates from 1855, but as will be seen below, it occurs in Tom Crib in 1819. 1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 39. ... His fame I need not tell, For that, my friends, all England’s loud with; But this I’ll say, a civiller Swell I’d never wish to blow a cloud with. 1870. M. Twain, Innocents Abroad, ch. vii. And blowing suffocating ‘clouds’ and boisterously performing at dominoes in the smoking-room at night. French Synonyms. Tubons en une (popular: ‘let’s blow a cloud’; tuber = to smoke); piper; la fumerie (popular: smoking); faire du brouillard (‘to produce or make a fog or mist’); en bourrer une; bouffarder. A German Synonym is Esef schwächen, or schweihen. Blow-Book, subs. (old).—A book containing indelicate or ‘smutty’ pictures. 1708. Post Man, 8 June. Last Sunday a person did pennance in the Chapter-House of St. Paul’s, London, for publickly shewing in Bartholomew Fair a book called a blow-book, in which were many obscene and filthy pictures: the book was likewise burnt, and the person paid costs. Blowed. To be blowed, verb (familiar).—Blowed is here a euphemism for ‘damned’; to all intents and purposes, it is frequently little more than a thinly-veiled oath. Hotten says that Tom Hood used to tell the following story:—‘I was once asked to contribute to a new journal, not exactly gratuitously, but at a very small advance upon nothing—and avowedly because the work had been planned according to that estimate. However, I accepted the terms conditionally—that is to say, provided the principle could be properly carried out. Accordingly, I wrote to my butcher, baker, and other tradesmen, informing them that it was necessary, for the sake of cheap literature and the interest of the reading public, that they should furnish me with their several commodities at a very trifling per-centage above cost price. It will be sufficient to quote the answer of the butcher:—“Sir,—Respectin’ your note, Cheap literater be blowed! Butchers must live as well as other pepel—and if so be you or the readin’ publick wants to have meat at prime cost, you must buy your own beastesses, and kill yourselves.—I remain, etc., John Stokes.”’ Cf., Blow me! 1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 50. Others remonstrating with the said Thomas Sludberry, on the impropriety of his conduct, the said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid expression, ‘You be blowed.’ 1863. Jeaffreson, Live It Down, III., p. 249. (Cries of ‘Chair, Chair,’ and ‘Order, order.’) ‘Order be blowed!’ exclaimed the infuriated Mr. H. 1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. II., ch. v. ‘Holiday be blowed!’ said Fledgely, entering, ‘What have you got to do with holidays?’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 244. ‘No,’ says she, ‘we’ve got some more besides that, and enough, too, to take us to France. Blowed, old man, if we don’t go to Paris, and there we can get £300 for them.’ 1879. Punch’s Almanac, p. 7. Seasonable Slang. For Spring.—You be blowed! For Summer.—I’ll warm yer! For Autumn.—Not so blooming green! For Winter.—An ice little game all round. 1889. Ally Sloper’s H. H., Aug. 3, p. 242, col. 2. ‘Blowed if I’d have made her Mrs. Juggins, if I’d have known she wor going to make a footstool of me!’ Blowen or Blowing, subs. (old.)—This word appears to have passed through a series of ups and downs in the course of its career. Originally signifying a woman, without special reference to moral character, it subsequently came to mean a showy courtesan, or a prostitute. It still retains the latter meaning, but is frequently used in a more complimentary sense than heretofore to signify a finely built handsome girl. In America among the criminal classes it is only used to designate a mistress. Its derivation is extremely uncertain, the two most important suggestions being that it comes (1) from the reputation having been ‘blown upon’; and (2) that in Wilts blowen signifies a blossom—hence blowen a flower; a pet. 1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720) IV., 17. What ogling there will be between thee and the blowings! 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 143. Blowen, a woman. 1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Blowen, a prostitute: a woman who cohabits with a man without marriage. 1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. ii. ‘If she’s a good girl, and loves you, she’ll not let you spend your money on her.’ ‘I haint such a ninny as that,’ said Beck, with majestic contempt. ‘I ’spises the flat that is done brown by the blowens.’ 1848. C. Kingsley, Yeast, ch. xi. Why don’t they have a short simple service now and then, that might catch the ears of the roughs and the blowens, without tiring out the poor thoughtless creatures’ patience, as they do now? For synonyms in the sense of prostitute, see Barrack-hack. Blower, subs. (old).—1. A girl; a contemptuous name in opposition to jomer (q.v.); given by Grose [1785]. 2. (American and Colonial.)—A good talker; a boaster; a ‘gas-bag.’ Cf., Blow, verb, sense 1. 1863. Manhattan, in Evening Standard, 10 Dec. General Grant ... is not one of the blower generals. [M.] 1864. Spectator, 22 Oct., 1202, col. 1. Notorious among our bar and the public as a blower. [M.] 1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 584. ‘You need not blow so, my friend. I don’t believe a word of what you say.’ Hence also the noun blower, a braggart, with special reference to his success in imitating Baron Munchausen. 3. A pipe. Cf., Blow a cloud. Blow Great Guns, verbal phr. (popular).—To blow a hurricane; a violent gale. Sometimes varied by to blow great guns and small arms. 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], 23. ‘Curse me, if I don’t think all the world means to cross the Thames this fine night!’ observed Ben. ‘One’d think it rained fares as well as blowed great guns. Why, there’s another party on the stair-head inquiring arter scullers; and, by the mass! they appear in a greater hurry than any of us.’ 1854. H. Miller, Sch. and Schm. (1858), 14. It soon began to blow great guns. [M.] Blowhard, subs. (American).—A Western term of revilement, the precise meaning of which it would be difficult to explain, since a newcomer may, in one and the same breath, be called a blarsted Britisher, a Coyote, and a blowhard. If all these are synonymous, then indeed the Englishman in America is in a bad way. Cf., Blower, sense 2. Blow Hot and Cold, verbal phr. (familiar).—To be treacherous; inconsistent; vacillating. There is an allusion in the expression to one of Æsop’s fables. 1577. W. Bullinger, Decades (1592), 176. One which out of one mouth, doeth blowe both hoat and colde. [M.] 1756. The World, No. 185. This old fellow is of a most capricious, unequal temper, and, like the satyr in the fable, blows hot and cold in the same breath. 1856. Motley, Dutch Rep., V., v., 750. Being constantly ordered ‘to blow hot and cold with the same breath.’ Blowing Up, subs. (colloquial).—A scolding; a severe reprimand; a jobation.—See Blow up. The French equivalent is affres (fem. pl.), i.e., ‘agonies.’ 1839. Haliburton, Letter-Bag Gt. West, IV., 42. I would give him a good blowing-up. [M.] 1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xxv., p. 448. The waves dashed over the pier, ducking the three or four venturesome spirits who went on there. I was one—and received a good blowing up from Mr. Brandon for my pains. Blow in One’s Pipe, verbal phr. (American).—A transatlantic equivalent of to blow or blew [one’s money]; i.e., to spend it. Blow Me! Blow Me Up! Blow Me Tight! intj. phr. (popular).—Expressions which, like blowed (q.v.), serve either as half-veiled oaths or as merely big sounding but meaningless exclamations. 1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 48. ‘Blow me up (says he) if I have had a fellow with such rum toggys cross my company these many a day.’ 1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress. Says Bill ‘there’s nothing like a Bull And blow me tight’—Bill Gibbons ne’er In all his days was known to swear, Except light oaths, to grace his speeches, Like ‘dash my wig’ or ‘burn my breeches,’ ‘Blow me——’ 1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 25. Here blow me, I’ll do such a thing I never did before, I’ll say thirty—yes, thirty shillings buys the lot, and I’ll have no more nor take no less. Blow One’s Bazoo, verbal phr. (American).—To boast; to swagger; to gasconade. [From the Dutch bazu, an abbreviation of bazuin, a trumpet; hence an equivalent of the English ‘to blow one’s own trumpet’.] Blow Oneself Out, verb (common).—To eat heartily; to gorge oneself.—See Blow out. 1837. Barham, I. L. (Babes in the Wood). In the dog-days, don’t be so absurd As to blow yourselves out with green-gages! Blow Out, subs. (common).—A gluttonous feast, a heavy ‘feed,’ or entertainment. Also called a Tuck in, which see for synonyms. Cf., Blow oneself out. 1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, II., 264. ‘She sent me a card for her blow-out,’ said Mowbray, ‘and so I am resolved to go.’ 1847. Th. Hook, Man of Many Friends. The giving good feeds is, with many of these worthies, the grand criterion by which the virtues and talents of mankind are measured ... these persons call a similar favour either a ‘spread’ or a ‘blow-out.’ 1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. viii. ‘Get us hot water, and sugar, and cigars, and plenty of the real stuff, and we’ll have a blow-out.’ Verb (thieves’).—To steal. For synonyms, see prig. Blowse, Blowsy, Blouze, Blowzy, subs. (old).—1. A beggar’s trull; a wench. 2. A slatternly woman, especially one with dishevelled hair. Thought to be of canting origin. In Grose’s time the term was humorously varied by Blowsabella, in reference to the country girl in Gay’s pastoral poem, ‘The Shepherd’s Week,’ which depicts rural life in its character of poverty and rudeness, rather than as clothed in the colours of romance. We, fair, fine ladies, who park out our lives From common sheep-paths, cannot help the crows, From flying over; we’re as natural still As Blousalinda. 1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. xvi., st. 37, p. 43 (E.D.S.). Whiles Gillet, his blouse, is a milking thy cow. 1605. Chapman, All Fooles, Act iv., p. 68 (Plays, 1874). Wed without my advice, my love, my knowledge, Ay, and a beggar, too, a trull, a blowse! 1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, III., i. Wench is your trull, your blouze, your dowdie. 1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. VII., p. 20. So the old Babylonian Blouze, And her demure fanatick Spouse. 1851. Thackeray, English Humorists, p. 167. Are not the Rosalindas of Britain as charming as the Blousalindas of the Hague? Blow the Gab or Gaff, verbal phr. (common).—To reveal, or ‘let out’ a secret; to peach. Cf., Gaff, Gag and Gab. For synonyms, see Peach. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To blow the gab (cant), to confess, or impeach a confederate. 1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xliii. ‘One of the French officers, after he was taken prisoner, axed me how we had managed to get the gun up there; but I wasn’t going to blow the gaff.’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 122. The prisoner, burning for revenge, quietly bides his time till the chief warder comes round, then asks to speak to him, and ‘blows the gaff.’ Blow the Grampuse, verbal phr. (nautical).—To throw cold water on a man who has fallen asleep when on duty. Blow the Groundsels, verbal phr. (old).—To have sexual commerce on the ground. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To blow the groundsils (cant), to lie with a woman on the floor. Blow Together, verbal phr. (tailors’).—To make garments in a slovenly manner. Blow Up, subs. (colloquial).—A scolding; a ‘wigging’; a railing. 1809. Sir W Gell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1883), I., 355. There won’t be any quarrel, so you need not fear. The only chance is Keppel making a blow up when she abuses me. 1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxviii. Morgan had had ‘a devil of a blow hup with his own guv’nor, and was going to retire from the business haltogether.’ 1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. vii. ‘Mind the hice is here in time; or they’ll be a blow up with your governor.’ Verb (colloquial).—To scold. 1809. Sir W. Gell, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), I., 355. I have heard her daughter blow up Lady Salisbury when she had quarrelled with Lady Sefton. 1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illust. L. News, June 16, p. 599, col. 1. That the ’aughty nobleman should blow up the clerk for presuming to take a seat in his presence. To blow up sky-high, phr. (American).—The American, fond of doing everything with unusual energy, likes to blow up sky-high, an addition which lends colour to the supposition that probably the phrase is originally a nautical one, and really borrowed from the blowing up of a vessel, much as the meaning of the words must have evaporated before it reached the present stage. Blow upon (old).—To betray; to tell tales of; to discredit; to defame.—See Blow, verb, sense 2. Used also with indirect passive. 1402. [? T. Occleve], Letter of Cupid, in Arber’s Garner, vol. IV., p. 61. Thus they despisèd be, on every side, Dislanderèd and blown upon full wide. 1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. X., ch. ii. ‘That the reputation of her house, which was never blown upon before, was utterly destroyed.’ 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, II., p. 239. It fortunately occurred to me, that if I gave it him myself, I could be of no farther use. I should have been blown upon immediately. 1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. III., ch. xii. ‘The condition of our affairs is desperate, and may be blown upon at any moment.’ 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 4. Both desisted from their own recriminations as to ‘rounding’ and ‘blowing’ on each other. 1882. Jas. Payn, in Glow Worm Tales, p. 301. ‘An Improvement on a System.’ If Mr. Prince had caught me before his establishment had got ‘blown upon’ in the public prints, he might have persuaded me to become an inmate of the Agapemone. I hope I should not have approved of the manner of life in vogue at that institution, but I make no doubt that I should have fallen in with it without much resistance. Blub.—See Blubber, verb. Blubber, subs. (common).—1. The mouth. From the figurative use of the word, especially of anything swollen or protruding, as of the lips. For synonyms, see Potato-trap. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. I have stopped the cull’s blubber, I have stopped the fellow’s mouth. 2. A woman’s breasts.—See Sport blubber, and for synonyms, Dairies. Verb (familiar).—To cry; to weep—used contemptuously. Also shortened into blub. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 283, 1. Han women none other wrech ... but blober and wepe till hem list stint. [M.] 1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, xliv. (1804), 202. He blubbered like a great school-boy who had been whipped. 1826. Scott, Woodstock, IV. Phœbe Mayflower blubbered heartily for company. [M.] To sport blubber, phr. (common).—To show one’s breasts, said of women, especially those with large and prominent bosoms. Blubber and Guts, subs. (common).—Obesity; a low term. Blubber-Belly, subs. (common).—A fat person. Blubber Head, subs. (common).—A foolish, empty-headed individual.—See Apartments to let. Blucher (ch. hard), subs. (Winchester College).—1. A College præfect in half power. Their jurisdiction does not extend beyond ‘Seventh Chamber passage,’ though their privileges are the same as those of other præfects. They are eight in number. 1864. Blackwood, p. 86. The remaining eight college præfects (called in Winchester tongue, bluchers) have a more limited authority, confined to Chambers and the Quadrangle. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The eight senior præfects were said to have ‘full power,’ and had some slight privileges not enjoyed by the remaining ten, who were generally called bluchers. 2. A non-privileged cab plying at railway stations. The origin of the name and its application, as far as known, is given in the two following quotations. 1864. Soc. Sc. Review, I., p. 406. The railway companies recognise two other classes of cabs, called the ‘privileged’ ... and the ‘Bluchers,’ named after the Prussian Field-Marshal who arrived on the field of Waterloo only to do the work that chanced to be undone. 1870. Athenæum, 5 March, p. 328. Non-privileged cabs, which are admitted to stations after all the privileged have been hired, are known as Bluchers. Bludgeoner, subs. (harlotry).—A bully; pimp; ponce; a man attached to a house of ill-fame for the purpose of terrorising victims, and rendering easier the task of plunder. [From bludgeon, a stout stick or club, + er or eer; i.e., one armed with the weapon in question.] 1852. Blackwood’s Magazine, p. 224. Those brutal bludgeoneers ... go out ... in gangs to poach. [M.] 1855. Trollope, Warden, xiv., p. 144. Old St. Dunstan with its smiting bludgeoneer has been removed. Bludger, subs. (thieves’).—A low thief, who does not hesitate to use violence; literally one who will use a bludgeon. Cf., Bludget. 1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Those who plunder with violence; as ... bludgers or ‘stick slingers,’ who rob in company with low women. Bludget, subs. (American).—This is given in the New York Slang Dictionary [1881] as ‘a low female thief, who decoys her victims into alley-ways, etc., to rob them.’ Cf., Bludger. Blue.—Few words enter more largely into the composition of slang, and colloquialisms bordering on slang, than does the word blue. Expressive alike of the utmost contempt, as of all that men hold dearest and love best, its manifold combinations, in ever varying shades of meaning, greet the philologist at every turn. A very Proteus, it defies all attempts to trace the why and wherefore of many of the turns of expression of which it forms a part—why true blue should be synonymous with faithful, staunch adherence to one’s faith and principles; or why, on the other hand, to look blue should signify affected with fear, dismayed, and low-spirited. Curiously enough, the historical method helps but little to decide why in one case an exact reversal of meaning should have taken place in the application of the word; for, as far as the evidence is concerned, both the good and bad shades of meaning appear to run contemporaneously. It is also noteworthy that the word enters largely into the slang of nationalities other than our own; indeed, one of the most curious, as well as one of the most interesting facts connected with the comparative study of slang, is that which reveals the oneness of the human race in its modes of thought and speech, the Tower of Babel notwithstanding. This special feature of slang will, to some extent, be found dealt with at the end of this work; but the subject is too wide, and the field too vast, for one student to have accomplished much single-handed. This, however, may be said; that, comparing the slang of one nation with that of another, one finds the same ideas cropping up, revealing, alas! the same follies and foibles, but also showing, let it be said, in the few cases where slang travels beyond the earthy and the sensual, the same aspirations, the same endeavour, and the same hope. Subs.—1. A policeman. [From the colour of the uniform.] This epithet can be traced back to Elizabethan days [see Blue-bottle], and the uniform seems to have been blue from time immemorial; indeed, this colour appears from the earliest times to have been the badge of servitude. Pliny tells us blue was the colour in which the Gauls clothed their slaves; and, for many ages, blue coats were the liveries of servants, apprentices, and those in humble stations of life—to wit, the blue-clad beadles, the ‘varlets’ who wore the blue, the blue-coat boys, and even harlots in a house of correction, who wore blue as a dress of ignominy. The proverb quoted by Ray, ‘he’s in his better blue clothes,’ i.e., ‘he thinks himself wondrous fine,’ has reference to the livery of a servant. The police more recently have been known collectively as blues, the men in blue, blue-boys, blue bottles, blue-devils, royal regiment of foot-guards blue, all nicknames referring to the colour of the uniform. For general synonyms, see Beak. 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 257. He would chatter gaily and enter with great gusto into the details of some cleverly executed ‘bit of business,’ or ‘bilking the blues,’—evading the police. 18(?). Hood, Row at the ‘Oxford Arms.’ Well, that’s the row, and who can guess the upshot after all? Whether Harmony will ever make the ‘Arms’ her house of call; Or whether this here mobbing, as some longish heads fortell it, Will grow to such a riot that the Oxford blues must quell it. 2. A blue is known to licensed victuallers and their customers in certain districts of Wales as a compromise between the half-pint and the pint pot. It is not recognised as a legal measure by the authorities on weights and measures, but it is approaching to something like a status, as it deserves to do in the interests of temperance. Although there is no Board of Trade standard of the blue, and inspectors have no power to stamp measures of this denomination for use in trade, the Board of Trade has pointed out to the local authorities that there is nothing in the Weights and Measures Act to prevent the use of the blue or to make its possessor liable to penalties, always provided of course that the vessel is not used as a measure. 3. A scholar of Christ’s Hospital; a blue-coat boy. [This nickname is also derived from the colour of the clothes—blue drugget gown or body with ample skirts to it, a yellow vest underneath in winter time, small clothes of Russia duck, worsted yellow stockings, a leathern girdle, and a little black worsted cap, usually carried in the hand, being the complete costume. This was the ordinary dress of children in humble life during the reigns of the Tudors.] 1834. W. Trollope (Title), Christ’s Hospital ... with memoirs of Eminent Blues. 1877. W. H. Blanch, Blue-Coat Boys, p. 33. To some extent it holds also with regard to Civil Engineers, amongst whom, however, one well-known name is that of a blue. 4. Short for blue-stocking (q.v.); formerly a contemptuous term for a woman having or affecting literary tastes. 1788. Madame D’Arblay, Diary (1876), iv., 219. He was a little the more anxious not to be surprised to-night, but his being too tired for walking should be imputed to his literary preference of reading to a blue. At tea Miss Planta again joined us, and instantly behind him went the book; he was very right, for nobody would have thought it more odd or more blue. 1823. Byron, Don Juan, ch. xi., st. 50. The Blues, that tender tribe, who sigh o’er sonnets. 1845. Disraeli, Sybil, p. 76. ‘But she was very clever....’ ‘Accomplished?’ ‘Oh, far beyond that....’ ‘A regular blue.’ 1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., p. 7. His Aunt Virginia was as learned a blue as her esteemed ancestress in the court of Elizabeth, the very Virgin Queen of Blues. 5. Female learning or pedantry. 1824. Byron, Don Juan, xvi., 47. She also had a twilight tinge of blue. [M.] 6. (University.)—At Oxford and Cambridge a man is said to get his blue when selected as a competitor in inter-university sports. The University colours are, for Oxford, dark blue; and for Cambridge, light blue. Cf., To get one’s silk, said of a barrister when made Queen’s Counsel. Adj.—1. A contemptuous epithet applied usually to women of literary tastes.—See Blue-stocking. The French have elle est bleue celle-là; en voilà une de bleue; je la trouve bleue. 1788. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary (1842), iv., p. 219. Nobody would have thought it more odd or more blue. 1834. Southey, The Doctor, ch. lxxxix. Les Dames des Roches, both mother and daughter were remarkable and exemplary women; and there was a time when Poictiers derived as much glory from those blue ladies as from the Black Prince. 1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xi. She was a little, a very little blue—rather a babbler in the ‘ologies’ than a real disciple. 1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. iii., p. 33. Blue ladies there are, in Boston; but like philosophers of that colour and sex in most other latitudes, they rather desire to be thought superior than to be so. 1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxiii. She had been growing decidedly blue. Not only had she, under Bray’s auspices, published a series of papers in Blunt’s Magazine, but she had positively written a child’s book. 1864. Spectator, No. 1875, p. 660. A clever, sensible woman, rather blue. 2. Indecent; ‘smutty’; obscene. This may be derived from the blue dress of harlots—see preceding, subs., 1.—although Hotten suggests it as coming from the French Bibliothèque Bleu, a series of books of very questionable character. Books or conversation of an entirely opposite nature are said to be brown or Quakerish, i.e., serious, grave, decent. 3. Gloomy; fearful; depressed; low-spirited. Cf., To look blue, Blue funk, and In the blues. Possibly an allusion to the blueness of cold. 1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxviii. Charley replied that neither had he any money at home. ‘That’s blue,’ said the man. ‘It is rather blue,’ said Charley. 1862. Trollope, Orley Farm, I., p. 93. It’s blue; uncommon blue. 1864. Yates, Broken to Harness, I., p. 60. ‘My dear Charlie,’ said the girl.... ‘That certainly is a blue look-out,’ she continued—for however earnest was her purpose she would not but express herself in her slang metaphor. 1872. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, ch. xl. I kept up my blue meditations. 1874. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Gilded Age, ch. xxvii. I had forgotten dear, but when a body gets blue, a body forgets everything.... I am sorry I was blue, but it did seem as if everything had been going against me for whole ages. Verb.—1. To blush. Cf., subs., sense 3. 1709. Steele and Swift, Tatler, No. 71, p. 8. If a Virgin blushes, we no longer cry she blues. [M.] 2. To pawn; pledge; spend; actually to get rid of money quickly. Cf., Blew. There are two suggested derivations of the word when used in this sense; (1) that it is connected with ‘blown,’ i.e., dissipated or scattered; and (2) that money so squandered has disappeared as effectually as if it had passed into the blue, i.e., the sky or the deep sea. The German has ins blaue hinein, ‘away into the blue,’ equivalent to the French passer au bleu. Faire passer au bleu is to dissipate, spend, or squander. For synonyms, in the sense of to pawn, see Pop. 1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 2. This top coat?—would blue it. 1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. 111. I never minds blueing the pieces purvided I gets a good spree. 3. To miscalculate; ‘to make a “mess” of anything’; to mull. 4. (thieves’.)—To steal; to plunder. To be blued, to be robbed. For synonyms, see Prig. By all that’s blue, phr. (popular).—A euphemistic oath; probably meaning ‘by Heaven.’ It may be compared with the French parbleu, synonymous with par Dieu. 1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxiii. ‘The black cat, by all that’s blue!’ cried the Captain. Men in blue, phr. (popular).—The police.—See Blue, subs., sense 1. 1882. Besant, All Sorts and Cond. of Men, ch. xliii. ‘You must now begin to think seriously about handcuffs and prison, and men in blue.’ 1886. G. A. Apperson, Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 137. The police in recent times have been known as the blues and the men in blue. Till all is blue, phr. (popular).—1. To the utmost; to the end; for an indefinite period. Smyth, in his Sailors’ Word Book, says this phrase is borrowed from the idea of a vessel making out of port and getting into deep water. 1835. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. xix. [The land] could be made to carry wheat till all’s blue again. Ibid., 3 S., ch. xx. Your mother kickin’ and screamin’ till all was blue again. 1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, I., p. 184. I’ll have at her again, and dance till all’s blue before I give in. 2. When applied to drinking, till all is blue signifies exceeding tipsy. As will be seen, this usage is somewhat ancient. It is an allusion to the supposed effect of drinking on the eyesight. An analogous French expression is avoir un coup d’bleu (to be slightly tipsy). 1616. R. C., Times’ Whis., v., 1835. They drink ... Vntil their adle heads doe make the ground Seeme blew vnto them. 1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, iv., 2. We can drink till all look blue. 1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Dunstan). ‘I have nothing to do: And ’fore George, I’ll sit here and I’ll drink till all’s blue!’ To look blue, phr. (popular).—To be confounded; surprised; astonished; annoyed or disappointed. French equivalents are en rester tout bleu; en être bleu; en bailler tout bleu; and baba from ébahi, astounded. c. 1600. Rob. Hood (‘Ritson’), II., xxxvi., 84. It made the sunne looke blue. [M.] 1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. Blue, adj. ... 2, blank, or cast down; as, he looked blue upon it. 1884. Cornhill Mag., Jan., p. 111. The prudent (and sagacious) officer looked blue. But he speedily recovered himself. To make the air blue, phr. (popular).—To curse; to swear; to use profane language. Cf., Blue, adj., sense 2. True blue, phr. (colloquial).—Faithful; genuine; real; an allusion to blue as the colour of constancy. A reference either to the deep blue of the sky or sea suggestive of interminableness; or, it may be derived as was ‘Coventry blue,’ from a dye that would neither change its colour nor be discharged by washing; hence figuratively, to signify persons or things of sterling character or quality. In neither case is the argument clear or decisive; there is certainly no reason in nature why the colour and cardinal virtue should be thus associated. Blue skies and blue seas are proverbially deceitful, and on the other hand, the expression seems too old a one to owe its origin to the dyer’s skill. 1383. Chaucer, Squiere’s Tale. And by hire bedde’s hed she made a mew, And covered it with velouettes blew, In signe of trouthe that is in woman sene. Ibid, Court of Love, line 246. So you dir folke (quod she) that knele in blew, They were the colour ay and ever shal, In signe they were, and ever wil be true, Withoutin change. Blue Apron, subs. (common).—A tradesman. 1721. Amherst, Terræ Fil., xliii., 230. For if any saucy blue-apron dares to affront any venerable person ... all scholars are immediately forbid to have any dealing or commerce with him. 1868. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 98. A blue-apron statesman, a lay politician, a tradesman who interferes with the affairs of the nation. The reference is to the blue apron once worn by nearly all tradesmen, but now restricted to butchers, poulterers, fishmongers, and so on. Bluebacks, subs.—1. The paper money of the Confederates. A cant name, originating, as in the case of United States paper currency greenbacks, in the colour of the printing on the reverse. A more pronounced slang name, subsequently applied to bluebacks, was ‘shucks,’ from their worthlessness after the war. ‘Shucks’ is an old English term for the refuse of peas and similar products when shelled. 1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 291. The confederate notes bore, for the same reason, the name of bluebacks, which was, however, soon exchanged for the slang term of shucks. 2. The Orange Free State paper money. 1878. Trollope, South Africa, II., p. 206. Bluebacks, as they were called, were printed. Ibid, p. 222. The bluebacks as the Orange Free State banknotes were called. Blue Bellies.—A nickname bestowed by Southerners, during the Civil War, upon their opponents of the North, whose uniform was blue. They were also called boys in blue, yanks, etc. The Southerners, on the other hand, received such names as the secesh, rebs, and johnny rebs, the latter being sometimes shortened to johnnies. The grey uniform of the Confederates likewise caused them to be styled boys in grey and greybacks, the latter epithet cutting two ways, as the Southern soldiers not only wore grey uniforms, but ‘greyback’ in America as well as England signifies a louse. 1883. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 9, p. 5, col. 4. The Confederate armies during the great Civil War in America ... were known ... as ‘Greybacks,’ whereas their Federal opponents, from the light-azure gaberdines which they wore, were dubbed ‘blue-bellies.’ Blue Bills, subs. (Winchester College).—The tradesmen’s bills sent home to the parents and guardians of students. [So called from the colour of the envelopes generally used.] Blue Billy, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A handkerchief (blue ground with white spots) sometimes worn and used as a colour at prize-fights.—See Billy, sense 1. 2. (mining.)—See quotation. 1887. ‘Death of Blue Billy,’ in Chamb. Jour., Dec. 17, p. 812. Blue Billy is the technical name given to the lime rendered foul in the purification of the gas. Blue Blanket, subs. (common).—1. The sky. This simile is an old one; Defoe’s use of it may probably have been suggested by Shakspeare’s ‘blanket of the dark’ (Macbeth, I., v.). c. 1720. Defoe, Hist. of Devil, quoted in N. and Q., 7 S., ii., 289; see also 7 S., ii., 492. We must be content till we come on the other side the blue blanket, and then we shall know the whole story. 1877. Greenwood, Under the Blue Blanket. The vagrant brotherhood have several slang terms for sleeping out in a field or meadow. It is called ‘snoozing in Hedge Square’; ‘dossing with the daisies’; and ‘lying under the blue blanket.’ The French say, ‘coucher à l’hotel de l’Etoile,’ i.e., ‘to sleep at the Star Hotel’; while in the Fourbesque, or Italian cant, heaven or the sky is termed copertore, a covering or blanket. 2. (common.)—A rough overcoat made of coarse pilot cloth. Blue Blazes.—See Blazes. Blue Boar, subs. (old).—A certain venereal disease. Blue-Bottle, subs. (popular).—1. A policeman. This epithet, at one time applied generally to all wearers of a dark blue uniform, is now invariably understood to mean a guardian of the peace. It is one of the oldest of the nicknames given to members of the force, and occurs as far back as 1598. Cf., Blue, sense 1, and see Beak for synonyms. 1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., v., 4. Dall [addressing beadle] ... you blue-bottle rogue, you filthy famished correctioner. 1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. lxiv. ‘Police, indeed!’ muttered Charley, ‘the General can’t remember that he is out of London.... These confounded sulky Austrian officials are rather different customers to deal with from our blue-bottles.—Messrs. Al and Co.’ 1864. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Sept. 13. Caught in his own toils by the blue-bottles of Scotland Yard, [M.] 1864. Blackwood’s Mag., p. 15. He who could summon to his aid every alphabetical blue-bottle that ever handled a truncheon. 1888. Middleton, Michaelmas Term. And to be free from the interruption of blue beadles, and other bawdy officers. 2. A serving-man, blue having been the usual habit of servants. Cf., Blue-coat. 1602. Honest Whore, O. Pl., iii., 389. You proud varlets, you need not be ashamed to wear blue, when your master is one of your fellows. 1608. Dekker, Belman, sign E., 3. The others act their parts in blew coates, as (if) they were their serving-men. Hence blue-bottle is sometimes a term of reproach for a servant. [Case Altered, i., 2. O. Pl., v., 6.] And a serving-man, in B. Jonson, says, ‘Ever since I was of the blue order.’ About 1608, when Middleton’s Comedy of A Trick to catch the Old One was produced, the blue-coats of servants appear to have been changed for cloaks, such as were worn by the upper classes also at that time. Thus, in that comedy [Act ii., Anc. Drama, v., p. 151]:—There’s more true honesty in such a country serving man, than in a hundred of our cloak companions. I may well call ’em companions, for since blue coats have been turned into cloaks, one can scarce know the man from the master. B. Jonson [Mask of Christmas] introduces New Yeares Gift, In a blew coat, serving-man like, with an orange, etc. 1845. G. P. R. James, Arrah Neil, p. 325. The personage to whom he addressed himself, was one of the serving-men of that day, known by the general term of blue-bottles. 1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. x. (I., p. 173). I fancy you would love to move to court like him, followed by a round score of old blue-bottles. Ibid, ch. xi. My lord, my father ... has blue-bottles enough to wait on him. Blue Boy, subs. (common).—A bubo; a tumour or abscess with inflammation. Specially applied to that kind which is a result of venereal disease. Blue-Boys, subs. (popular).—The police. The expression is generally used in the plural. Cf., Blue, sense 1, and Beak, sense 1. 1880. Jas. Greenwood, Help Myself Society, in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 68. The ‘Help Yourselves’ are especially strong in instrumental music. They have a friend in Colonel Fraser, the head of the City police, and the excellent band of that branch of the force is at their service, and Sir E. Henderson shows himself to be at heart a ‘Help Yourself,’ by permitting the instrumental blue boys belonging to several metropolitan divisions to spend a Saturday night there. Besides these, they have the Polytechnic orchestral band when it is required, and an excellent grand piano with a skilled player and accompanyist. Blue Butter, subs. (common).—Mercurial ointment, used for the destruction of parasites. Blue-Coat, subs.—A constable; a guardian of public order. This, like many of its congeners, has been applied to serving-men, beadles, tailors, and others wearing a uniform of a dark blue colour. Like blue, blue-bottle, etc., its application to a policeman is of some antiquity. Cf., Blue, sense 1, and Beak, sense 1. 1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 19 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). And being so taken, haue beene carried to places of correction, there wofully tormented by blew-coates, cowardly fellowes, that ... haue so scourged vs, that flesh and blood could hardly endure it. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 417. ‘I thinks them Chartists are a weak-minded set ... a hundred o’ them would run away from one blue-coat.’ Blued or Blewed, ppl. adj. (common).—Tipsy; drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed. Blue Dahlia, subs. (common).—A colloquialism for something rare or seldom seen; a rara avis. Blue Devils, subs. (popular).—1. Dejection; lowness of spirits; hypochondria. 1786. Cowper, Letters, No. 219, vol. II., p. 143 (ed. 1834). I have not that which commonly is a symptom of such a case belonging to me,—I mean extraordinary elevation in the absence of Mr. Blue devil. When I am in the best health, my tide of animal sprightliness flows with great equality. 1790. W. B. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso, Sc. 1. Or, dropping poisons in the cup of joy, Do the blue devils your repose annoy? 1871. Planché, King Christmas. There are blue devils which defy blue pills. 1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge iii. He got discontented and had fits of blue devils. Two French equivalents for feeling out of sorts are s’emboucaner, and s’éncoliflucheter. 2. (popular.)—Delirium tremens. From the apparitions drunkards often suppose they see. In both this and the foregoing sense blue devils is contracted into blues. 1818–9. Cobbett, Resid. U.S., 42. It was just the weather to give drunkards the blue devils. 1831. Scott, Demonology, i., 18. They, by a continued series of intoxication, became subject to what is popularly called the blue devils. Hence such derivatives as blue devilage; blue devilry; blue devilism; and an adjectival form blue devilly. 1871. Lockhart, Fair to See, I., p. 208. On the lower hills the pine-trees loomed through stagnant mists with a dejected and blue-devilly aspect. Blue Fear, subs. (popular).—Extreme fright. [From the ‘blue’ or pallid cast of countenance which fear is supposed to induce. The same as blue funk (q.v.), which is more general.] 1883. R. L. Stevenson, The Treasure of Franchard, in Longman’s Mag., April, p. 683. Anastasie had saved the remainder of his fortune by keeping him strictly in the country. The very name of Paris put her in a blue fear. Blue Flag, subs. (common).—A blue apron (q.v.). Worn by butchers, publicans, and other tradesmen. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He has hoisted the blue flag, he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, alluding to the blue aprons worn by publicans. Blue Funk, subs. (popular).—Extreme fright, nervousness, or dread. [Funk is ‘to stink through fear’; Wedgwood connects it with the Walloon funker, ‘to smoke.’] 1856. Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 196. If I was going to be flogged next minute, I should be in a blue funk. 1861. Macmillan’s Magazine, p. 211. I was in a real blue funk. 1861. Saturday Review, Nov. 23, 534. We encounter ... the miserable Dr. Blandling in what is called a blue funk. [M.] 1871. Maxwell, in Life (1882), xvi., 382. Certainly χλωρὸν θέος is the Homeric for a blue funk. Blue Hen’s Chickens, subs. (American).—A slang name for the inhabitants of Delaware. The nickname arose thus: Captain Caldwell, an officer of the first Delaware regiment in the American War of Independence, was noted for his love of cock-fighting. Being personally popular, and his regiment becoming famous for their valour, they were soon known as ‘game-cocks’; and as Caldwell maintained that no cock was truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, his regiment, and subsequently Delawareans generally, became known as blue hen’s chickens, and Delaware as the Blue Hen State for the same reason. A boaster is also often brought to book by the sarcasm, ‘Your mother was a blue hen no doubt.’ Blue Horse, subs. (military).—The Fourth Dragoon Horse, from its facings. Blue Lightning, subs. (American).—One of the grimly facetious names with which Texans have christened revolvers. At times a dispute has literally been a word, a flash of blue lightning and—certain death. For synonyms, see Barker. Blue Monday, subs. (workmen’s).—A Monday spent in dissipation and absence from work. One often hears the phrase ‘to feel Mondayish.’ The German has der blaue Montag. Cf., Black Saturday. 1885. Harper’s Magazine, p. 873, col. 1. The workman getting sober after his usual blue Monday. [M.] Blue Moon. Once in a blue moon, phr. (popular).—Extremely seldom; an unlimited time; a rarely recurring period. An old phrase, first used in the sense of something absurd. A blue moon, like the Greek Kalends, is something which does not exist. A variant is ‘when two Sundays come in a week.’ As regards origin nothing is known; barring the extract from Roy and Barlow, authorities give no examples earlier than 1876—a curious fact. 1526. Roy and Barlowe, Rede me and be not wroth, p. 114 [ed. Arber, 1871]. Yf they saye the mone is belewe, We must beleve that it is true, Admittynge their interpretacion. 1860. F. W. Robinson, Grandmother’s Money, I., p. 144. If he talked till a blue moon, etc. 1876. Miss Braddon, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, ch. xxiv. Why should she stint as to one or two puddings a week ... and a fruit pasty once in a blue moon. 1884. R. E. Francillon, Ropes of Sand, ch. xxi. ‘I’ve made bold to take the chance of your being at home for once in a blue moon, Mr. Carew,’ said she. Blue Murder or Blue Murders, subs. (common).—A term used to describe cries of terror or alarm; a great noise; an unusual racket. Cf., French morbleu. 1887. J. S. Winter, Eng. Ill. Mag., Dec., p. 179. The dingy person dropped his victim and howled what the half-dozen officers ... graphically described as blue murder. Blueness, subs. (common).—Indecency. Smutty talk is described as blue, sense 2 (q.v.). 1840. Carlyle, Diderot, Ess., 240. The occasional blueness of both [writings] shall not altogether affright us. French Synonyms. Les horreurs; les bêtises; les gueulées. To talk blue is rendered by décravater ses propos. Blue Noses, subs. (American).—The natives of Nova Scotia. A nickname given them by the Yankees in allusion, it is said, to a potato of that name which Nova Scotians claim to be the best in the world. Proctor, however, thinks differently, and says he would wager that the Nova Scotians were called blue noses before the potato which they rear was so named, and hazards the suggestion that the nickname refers to the blueness of nose resulting from intense cold. 1837–40. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’). Do you know the reason monkeys are no good? Because they chatter all day long,—as do the niggers,—and so do the blue noses of Nova Scotia. 18(?). Sir George Simpson, Overland Journey, vol. I., p. 19. After a run [in the steamer] of fourteen days, we entered the harbour of Halifax, amid the hearty cheers of a large number of blue noses. Blue [or Blew] One’s Screw, verbal phr. (common).—To waste or squander one’s salary. [From blue or blew (q.v.) + screw (q.v.).] Blue Peter, subs. (card-players’).—The signal or call for trumps at whist. [Properly a blue flag with white square in centre, hoisted as a signal for immediate sailing.] 1875. Beeton, Handy Book of Games, p. 358. Since the introduction of Blue Peter, the necessity of leading through your adversary’s hand has become less and less. Blue Pigeon, subs. (thieves’).—Lead used for roofing purposes. Cf., Bluey and Blue pigeon flyer. Of doubtful origin, but possibly a punning allusion. Lead has long been known as ‘bluey,’ and pigeons frequently find a resting-place on house-tops. 1887. Judy, 27 April, p. 200. A burglar whose particular ‘lay’ was flying the blue pigeon, i.e., stealing lead. (Nautical.)—The sounding lead. Blue Pigeon Flyer, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A thief who steals lead from the roofs of buildings. Hotten thus explains the modus operandi. Sometimes a journeyman plumber, glazier, or other workman, who, when repairing houses, strips off the lead, and makes away with it. This performance is, though, by no means confined to workmen. An empty house is often entered and the whole of the roof in its vicinity stripped, the only notice given to the folks below being received by them on the occasion of a heavy downfall of rain. The term flyer has, indeed, of late years been more peculiarly applied to the man who steals the lead in pursuance of his vocation as a thief, than to him who takes it because it comes in the way of his work. 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 165. Blue pigeon flying. Fellows who steal lead off houses, or cut pipes away. French equivalents are un limousineur; un gras-doublier; un mastaroufleur. To fly the blue pigeon, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To steal lead from the roofs of houses.—See Blue pigeon. French equivalents are faire la mastar au gras-double; ratisser du gras double. 1872. J. Doran, in Notes and Queries, 4 S., x., 308. Even at the present day, no rascal would stoop to strip lead from the roof of a house. At least, what honest men would call by that name, he would prettily designate as ‘flying the blue pigeon.’ Blue Pill, subs. (popular).—A bullet; also called blue plum and blue whistler. For synonyms, see Pill. 1861. N. Y. Tribune (Let. from Missouri), Nov. 10. Between blue pills, halters, and the penitentiary, we shall soon work off this element of rascaldom and horse-thieves. Blue Plum, subs. (thieves’).—A bullet. Cf., Blue pill and Blue whistler. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Surfeited with a blue plumb, wounded with a bullet; a sortment of George R——’s blue plumbs, a volley of ball, shot from soldier’s firelocks. 1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood (1884), p. 95. Believe me, there is not a game, my brave boys, To compare with the game of high toby; No rapture can equal the toby man’s joys, To blue devils, blue plumbs give the go by. Blue Ruin, subs. (common).—Gin, generally of inferior quality. For synonyms, see Drinks. c. 1817. Keats, A Portrait. He sipped no olden Tom or ruin blue, or Nantz or cherry brandy. 1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 39. A few short words I first must spare, To him, the Hero, that sits there, Swigging Blue ruin, in that chair. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Log. Here, Landlord, more Blue Ruin, my boy! Sal. Massa Bob, you find me no such bad partner; many de good vill and de power me get from de Jack Tar. 1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. xx. ‘The littel un ... had been abrought up upon spoon-meat, with a dash o’ blue-ruin to make him slim and ginteel.’ 1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the western gin-shops goes generally by the name of blue-ruin or ‘short.’ Blues, subs. (popular).—1. Despondency; hypochondria; depression of spirits. [A shortened form of blue devils (q.v.).] A French synonym is se faire des plumes or paumer ses plumes. 1807. Washington Irving, Salmagundi (1824), p. 96. In a fit of the blues. [M.] 1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. viii. The moat alone is enough to give one the blues. 1889. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 10. ‘Miss Aurora,’ he said suddenly, one evening after dinner, ‘it’s awfully dull at Drive now; does it never strike you so?’ ‘Very often, my dear,’ answered Miss Aurora promptly. ‘It’s as dull as—’ ‘Ditch-water,’ supplied Driver, finding she paused for a word which would express dulness enough. ‘I wonder you and Betty don’t die of the blues.’ 2. The police.—See Blue, sense 1. 3. (military.)—The Royal Horse Guards Blue are popularly so known from the blue facings on the scarlet uniform. The corps first obtained the name of ‘Oxford Blues’ in 1690, to distinguish it from a Dutch regiment of Horse Guards dressed in blue, commanded by the Earl of Portland, the former being commanded by the Earl of Oxford. Subsequently the regiment was, during the campaign in Flanders [1742–45], known as the ‘Blue Guards.’ Blue Skin, subs. (old).—1. Formerly a contemptuous term for a Presbyterian. Butler, in Hudibras [I., p. 26], says:— ‘’twas Presbyterian true blue, For he was of the stubborn crew Of errant saints, whom all men grant To be the true Church Militant.’ Blue is still the Presbyterian colour, and is used as an adjective by them in describing books and people. 2. (West Indian.)—A half-breed—the child of a black woman by a white man. Blue Squadron, subs. (colonial).—One of mixed blood; properly one with a Hindoo strain. Eurasians belong to the blue squadron. Cf., Touch of the tar brush. Blue Stocking, subs.—A literary lady: applied usually with the imputation of pedantry. The generally received explanation is that the term is derived from the name given to certain meetings held by ladies in the days of Dr. Johnson for conversation with distinguished literary men. One of the most eminent of these literati was a Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet, who always wore blue stockings, and whose conversation at these meetings was so much prized, that his absence at any time was felt to be a great loss, so that the remark became common, ‘We can do nothing without the blue stockings,’ hence these meetings were sportively called blue-stocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them blue-stockings. It is stated that the name specially arose in this way. A foreigner of rank refused to accompany a friend to one of these parties on the plea of being in his travelling costume, to which there was the reply, ‘Oh! we never mind dress on these occasions; you may come in bas bleus or blue stockings,’ with allusion to Stillingfleet’s stockings, when the foreigner, fancying that bas bleus were part of the necessary costume, called the meeting ever after the Bas-bleu Society. In modern slang the term blue-stocking is abbreviated into blue. Derivatives are blue-stockingism, blue-stockinger, etc. b. 1738, d. 1819. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Benevolent Epistle, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 125. I see the band of blue-stockings arise, Historic, critic, and poetic dames! 1780. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, i., 326. Who would not be a blue-stockinger at this rate? 1784. Walpole, Letters, iv., 381. [Walpole, writing to Hannah More, playfully makes it a verb = to put on blue stockings.] When will you blue-stocking yourself, and come amongst us? 1877. Macmillan’s Mag., May, p. 50. On the airs and graces of the gushing blue stockings who were in vogue in that day ... she had no mercy. 1877. Miss Martineau, Autob., vol. I., p. 100. Young ladies (at least in provincial towns) were expected to sit down in the parlour to sew,—during which reading aloud was permitted,—or to practice their music; but so as to fit to receive callers, without any signs of blue-stockingism which could be reported abroad. Blue Stone, subs. (common).—Gin or whiskey of so bad a quality that it can only be compared to vitriol, of which bluestone is also a nickname in the north of England and Scotland. For all synonyms, see Drinks. 1880. Blackwood’s Mag., June, p. 786. The bar was still thronged, and the effects of the mixture of spirits of wine, bluestone, and tobacco-juice, were to be seen on a miserable wretch who lay stretched in the courtyard. 1882. W. G. Black, in Notes and Queries, 6 S., v., p. 348. A witness was asked in the Northern Police Court, Glasgow, a few weeks ago, a question relative to the quality of certain whiskey said to have been supplied to him. ‘It wasn’t whiskey,’ he said, ‘it was nothing but bluestone.’ ‘But what?’ inquired the magistrate. ‘Bluestone, your honour,’ was the answer—‘poison.’ I heard the question and answer, and there can be no doubt that the word was used as a familiar one. Blue Tape, subs. (old).—One of the many cant terms for gin. For synonyms, see Drinks. Blue Whistler, subs. (American).—A bullet. For synonyms, see Pill. 1888. New York Herald, Nov. 4. It was Mr. Barbour’s rifle shot which had hit him in the head and caused him to stagger. The pellet of lead passed deep into the brain. The second shot was from the Atlanta drummer, and his thirteen blue whistlers tore the brute’s liver into shreds and made a great hole in his side. Ibid. After a few moments of reflection, being nearest to the quarry, I lifted my double-barrelled shotgun and let drive a volley of blue whistlers straight at bruin’s yawning jaws. Bluey, subs. (thieves’).—1. Lead.—See also Blue pigeon. [Supposed to be an allusion to the colour.] French Synonyms. Du doussin; du noir (noir = black); du saucisson. ‘To dispose of bluey at the fence,’ i.e., the receiver of stolen goods—porter du gras-double au moulin. 2. (Australian.)—A bushman’s bundle, the outside wrapper of which is generally a blue blanket—hence the name. This is also called his swag (q.v.); likewise a drum (q.v.). Bluey-Hunter, subs. (thieves’).—A thief who steals lead, as described under blue pigeon flyer (q.v.), of which bluey-hunter is a synonym. Cf., Billy-hunter. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 26. Bluey-hunters, or those who purloin lead from the tops of houses. 1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Bluey-hunters, who take lead from the tops of houses. Bluff, subs. (vagrants’ and common).—An excuse; a pretence; that which is intended to hoodwink or ‘to blind.’ Probably a transferred usage of the American sense. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. [List of patterer’s words.] Bluff, an excuse. 1879. Bret Harte, Gabriel Conroy, ch. xxxix. There is a strong suspicion among men whose heads are level that this Minstrel Variety Performance is a bluff of the ‘Messenger’ to keep from the public the real motives of the murder. 1884. Boston (U.S.) Journal, Sept. 25. The oiler was only a bluff. Verb (common).—To turn aside; to stop; to hoodwink; to blind as to one’s real intention. Properly, to brag; to conceal one’s weakness; from the American game of poker.—See subs. 1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 327. Like its near cousin, suggestively called bluff, poker is a mere hazard game, with which, however, is combined great skill in bragging to a purpose. One man offers a bet on his hand; another doubles the bet and ‘goes one better’; then the first tries to bluff him off by a still higher bet, and thus the stake rises rapidly to often enormous sums. 1883. Echo, April 20, p. 3, col. 5. Subsequently a prominent bookmaker attempted to bluff Captain Machell by laying him 2,000 to 1,000 on Goggles against Sweetbread—a merry little bit of financial diplomacy, which was promptly followed by Goggles being struck out. 1885. Bret Harte, Ship of ’49, ch. v. ‘Far from bluffing, Sleight, I am throwing my cards on the table. Consider that I’ve passed out. Let some other man take my hand.’ It may be remarked that Ray [1674–91] gives bluff as to blindfold, and Bailey [1721] as to hoodwink. The German has blüffen; the Dutch blaffen, ‘to bark at,’ and verblüffen, ‘to put out of countenance.’ So also bluffing in a similar sense. 1889. Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. 2. The youths evidently disagreed as to the nature of my business: one, as far as I could gather, assumed that I was a ‘nark,’ and that I was bluffing (making an excuse), and ‘flamming’ (lying). Bluffer, subs. (old).—An innkeeper.—Grose. Bailey [1721] also gives the term with the same meaning, and American thieves still retain the word in a similar sense. 2. (nautical).—A bo’sun. Blunderbuss, subs. (old).—A stupid blundering fellow.—Grose. Blunt, subs. (popular).—Money, especially ready money. For a long list of synonyms, see Actual. [There are several suggested derivations; (1) that it is from the French blond, sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in brown or browns, the slang for halfpence. Far-fetched as this etymology seems, say Hotten, it may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions. Cf., Blanquillo, a word used in Morocco and Southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The ‘asper’ (ἄσπρόν) of Constantinople is called by the Turks akcheh, i.e., ‘little white’; (2) that it received its name in allusion to the blunt rim of coins. A third is that it received the name from Mr. John Blunt, the chairman of South Sea Bubble.] 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. [List of cant words.] Blunt, money. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. (Holding out his right hand for the money, and keeping the porter away with the other.) Bob. That’s your sort; give us hold on it. (Takes Mace’s empty hand.) Vy, vhere? Mace. (Keeping the porter back.) Vy, here. Bob. Oh, you are afeard of the blunt, are you? Mace. No, it ain’t that; only I’m no schollard—so I alvays takes the blunt vith von hand, and gives the pot vith t’other. It saves chalk and prewents mistakes, you know. 1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xxxix. ‘It’s all very well,’ said Mr. Sikes; ‘but I must have some blunt from you to-night.’ ‘I haven’t a piece of coin about me,’ replied the Jew. 1878. Notes and Queries, 5 S., x., p. 315. Blunt ... is also a well-known slang term for money. 1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 147, col. 2. ‘The New Almacks.’ ‘It appears, my dear Jerry,’ said the Corinthian, ‘that anybody can enter here who chooses to “sport his blunt”’—that is, to pay. Blunted, ppl. adj. (old).—Possessed of money. 18(?). English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—the town-raff and the bargees—well-blunted or stiver-cramped—against dun or don—nob or big wig—so may you never want a bumper of bishop. Blush like a Black or Blue Dog, verbal phr. (old).—Not to blush at all. 1579. Gosson, Apologie of School of Abuse, p. 75. If it bee my fortune too meete with the learned woorkes of this London Sabinus, that can not playe the part without a prompter, nor utter a wise worde without a piper, you shall see we will make him to blush like a blacke dogge, when he is graveled. ed. 1634. Withal, Dictionary, p. 557. Faciem perfricuit. Hee blusheth like a blacke dogge, hee hath a brazen face. 1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i.). Lord Sp. (to the Maid). Mrs. Betty, how does your body politick? Col. Fye, my lord, you’ll make Mrs. Betty blush. Lady Sm. Blush! Ay, blush like a blue dog. 1828. C. K. Sharpe to a lady, in C. K. S.’s Correspondence (1888), II., 421. I send you a pair of blue stockings of my own knitting. I blush like a blue dog about the workmanship, for I fear they are too short. B.N.C., abbreviation (University).—For Brasenose; initials of Brasen Nose College. In spite of the nose over the gate, the probability is that the real name was Brasinium. It is still famous for its beer. 1885. Daily News, March 13, p. 5, col. 1. As when Corpus bumped b.n.c. years ago, and went head of the river, whereon a spirit of wrath entered into the b.n.c. men, and next night they bumped Corpus back again. Board, verb (military).—1. To borrow. 2. (nautical.)—To accost; ask of; make a demand; i.e., to come to close quarters. The allusion is to boarding a ship for a hand-to-hand conflict; originally in a forcible or hostile sense, but now used in a modified form for to ‘make up to,’ to ‘make advances to.’ The figure of speech is a very old one, as will be seen from the following examples. 1547. Earl Surrey, Æneid, IV., 395. At length her self bordeth Aeneas thus. [M.] 1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii., 2. [Enter Hamlet, reading.] Queen. But look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. ... I’ll board him presently:—O, give me leave. 1672–1726. Vanbrugh, False Friend, I., i., 97. What do you expect from boarding a woman ... already heart and soul engaged to another. 1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Board him, a colloquialism for I’ll ask, demand, or accost him. To board in the smoke, phr. (nautical).—To take one unawares, or by surprise. In the midst of a naval fight boarding operations were often successfully carried out under cover of the smoke from a broadside. On the board, phr. (tailors’).—Enjoying all the privileges and emoluments of a competent workman. When an apprentice becomes a regular journeyman he goes ‘on the board.’ Tailors usually work squatting on a low raised platform—hence possibly the expression. 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 146. During the term of his imprisonment he became an excellent working tailor, and was on the board, as it is termed, among those who are efficient hands. To keep one’s name on the board, phr. (Cambridge Univ.).—To remain a member of a College. Boarding House or School, subs. (old).—A nickname given by thieves in London to Newgate, but it is equally applicable to any gaol. New York thieves apply it to the Tombs. [From that sense of Boarding School = an establishment where persons are boarded and taught, convicts being likened to scholars.] French thieves call such an institution un collège. For synonyms, see Cage. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Boarding School. Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison or house of correction. Boardman, subs. (vagrants’).—A standing patterer; explained by quotation. Sometimes called a ‘sandwich man.’ 1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 251. I have no doubt that there are always at least twenty standing patterers—sometimes they are called boardmen—at work in London. Ibid, p. 248. They endeavour to attract attention to their papers, or, more commonly, pamphlets ... by means of a board with coloured pictures upon it, illustrative of the contents of what they sell.... (This) is what is usually denominated in street technology ‘board work.’ Board of Green Cloth, subs. (familiar).—A card or billiard table. [From board, a table, + green cloth, from the colour of the cloth with which the table is covered.] 1771. P. Parsons, New Newmarket, II., 24. That board of green cloth, the billiard table. 1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, p. 23. ‘I am going down to F——’ ‘As usual, the board of green cloth, eh? you will go there once too often, if you don’t mind, old fellow.’ ‘That’s my look out,’ replied Cumberland. 1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. vi. Often have I seen him rise from the board of green cloth, and turning his chair thrice, from right to left, reseat himself at the play-table, confident that success would follow the mystical manœuvre. 1886. Miss Braddon, Mohawks, ch. viii. The soft seductive sound of the dice sliding gently on to the board of green cloth. Boat, subs. (old).—Formerly applied to the hulks; latterly to any prison. [The derivation is obvious, old dismasted ships having long served as places of detention for convicts.] For synonyms, see Cage. 1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 82, note. [List of thieves’ names of prisons.] The Hulks, or any Public Works—The Boat. Verb (old).—1. Originally to transport; the term is now applied to penal servitude. To ‘get the boat,’ or to ‘be boated,’ is to be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, equivalent to transportation under the old system. Cf., Boat, subs., and for synonyms, see Cop. 2. (American thieves’.)—To join as partner; evidently a corruption of ‘to be in the same boat,’ i.e., to be in the same position or circumstances. To bail one’s own boat, phr. (American).—To be self-reliant. A variant is ‘to paddle one’s own canoe.’—See Canoe. Bob, subs. (popular).—1. A shilling. [The derivation is obscure, but there are several suggested explanations. Murray points out that there was an old French coin called a bobe, but he thinks its survival in English slang is very unlikely. Others think it a corruption of ‘baubee’ or ‘bawbee,’ a debased Scotch coin, issued in the reign of James VI. of Scotland, equal in value to a halfpenny. A more likely origin than either of the foregoing is from bob, a grub used as bait for fish, the allusion being to money as a bribe.] The old cant had bobstick (q.v.) as a synonym, and a spurious plural is sometimes formed of bob, thus bobber—two bobber = a two-shilling piece. Cf., Blow for synonyms. 1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bob or bobstick, a shilling. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Now then, what’s to pay, landlord? Mace. All out, vill be fourteen bob and a kick, your honour. Tom. Well, there’s a flimsy for you; serve the change out in max to the covies. (Gives money.) 1837. Barham, I. L. (Misadventures at Margate). I changed a shilling—(which in town the people call a bob). 1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 74, col. 1. Accommodation. Swell. ‘Haw—no small change about me.’ Minstrel. ‘Oh, don’t mention ’t sar. A bob will do sar, and if you’ll call at my club tomorrow, sar, the hall portar will give you sixpence back, sar. My kyard, sar, etc.!!’ 2. (old.)—A shoplifter’s assistant; one who receives and carries off stolen goods. In French he is called un nonne or un noune. 3. (old.)—Gin.—See quotations in Bobstick, and Drinks for synonyms. 1749. ‘Honours of the Fleet,’ quoted in Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 286. H’ had strain’d his credit for a Dram of Bob. 4. (military.)—An infantry soldier; generally light-bob, i.e., a soldier of the light infantry. [This is probably an allusion to their being enlisted with the Queen’s shilling or bob.] For synonyms, see Mudcrusher. 1844. W. H. Maxwell, Sports and Adventures in Scotland, xxxv., 282. Me, that never ... listened to a light-bob. 1848. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. xxiv. Mr. Stubble, as may be supposed from his size and slenderness, was of the light-bobs. 5. (Winchester College).—A large white jug containing about a gallon in measure, and used for beer. 1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 85. Each end and Præfect’s mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or ‘bob.’ The vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners’ was called a ‘Joram.’ 1888. T. A. Trollope, What I Remember. Only those ‘Juniors’ attended whose office it was to bring away the portions of bread and cheese and bobs of beer for consumption in the afternoon. Adj. (old).—Lively; nice; in good spirits. 1721. Cibber, Refusal, I., sp. 109. Yesterday at Marybone, they had me all Bob as a Robin. [M.] 1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, I., 113. ‘That’s a nice girl’.... ‘Bobber than bobtail.’ [M.] Verb (old).—To cheat; to trick; to disappoint. Also to bob out of. 1605. Tryall Chev., I., in Bullen’s O. Plays, iii., 273. I had rather dye in a ditch than be bobd of my fayre Thomasin. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bob (v.), to jog, touch, or give notice by some such like sign; also a cant word for to trick or cheat. Intj. (familiar).—Stop! That’s enough! 1889. Modern Society, June 6. ‘Say when,’ said Bonko, taking up a flagon of whiskey and commencing to pour out the spirit into my glass. ‘Bob!’ replied I. Dry bob, phr. (old).—Fruitless coition. Dry bob, Wet bob, subs. (Eton College).—The first-named is one who devotes himself to cricket or football and other land sports; the latter one who goes in for rowing and aquatics generally. The origin of the term is doubtful.—See Dry bob and Wet bob. 1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, p. 42. ‘It is settled, the match to-morrow shall be between Aquatics and Dry bobs,’ said a senior boy. 1874. Saturday Review, Aug., p. 212. The friendly rivalry between England and America led some while ago to a contest between the wet bobs, to use an Eton phrase, of either country, and it was only fair that the dry bobs should show what they could do. All is bob, phr. (old).—All’s safe; ‘serene’; ‘gay.’ For synonyms, see O.K. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [All’s bob is defined as foregoing.] 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 12. A moment afterwards, the street was illumined by a blaze of torchlight, and a tumultuous uproar announced the arrival of the first detachment of Minters. Mr. Wood rushed instantly to meet them. ‘Hurrah!’ shouted he, waving his hat triumphantly over his head. ‘Saved!’ ‘Ay, ay, it’s all bob, my covey! You’re safe enough, that’s certain!’ responded the Minters. Bear a bob! phr. (common).—Be brisk! look sharp! Bob a nod, phr. (common.)—A shilling a head. [From bob, slang for shilling, + nod, the head.] To give the bob, phr. (old).—To give the door. An old term used by Massinger—‘It can be no other but to give me the bob.’ S’help me bob, phr. (low).—A street oath, equivalent to ‘So help me God’; a corrupted form of the legal oath. ‘So help’ is pronounced swelp. There are several variants, such as s’help the cat—my greens—the taturs, etc. 1837. Barham, I. L. (Dead Drummer). For his jaw-work would never, I’m sure, s’elp me bob, Have come for to go for to do sich a job! 1880. Jas. Payn, Confid. Agent, ch. xix. ‘Not another word will I say, s’help me bob.’ And John rolled over in his bed like an indignant porpoise. To shift one’s bob, phr. (common).—To go away. Cf., Bobbing around, ‘to go expeditiously from place to place.’ Bobber, subs. (common).—1. A fellow-workman; mate; or ‘chum’ (q.v. for synonyms). 1860. W. White, Round Wrekin, 34. Bobber being the equivalent of chum. [M.] 1871. Daily News, May 19. As he sells these, the buyers or their bobbers carry them off. [M.] 2. A spurious plural of bob (q.v.) = a shilling. Bobbery, subs. (popular).—A noise; squabble; disturbance; or ‘racket.’ [An Anglo-Indian representation of Bāp re! O father! a common exclamation of surprise or grief.—Yule. Murray thinks the evidence for its origination in India is decisive, other plausible derivations to the contrary notwithstanding.] The first of the following quotations shows an earlier use by thirteen years than that given by the New English Dictionary. 1803. Kenney, Raising the Wind, II., i. If I don’t go back, and kick up such a bobbery— 1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. ii. I’ll bet a wager there’ll be a bobbery in the pigsty before long, for they are ripe for mischief. 1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xix. ‘I can do nothing but there’s a bobbery at the bottom of it.’ 1879. Punch, 17 May, 227. I might in quiet hold my own, And not go kicking up a bobbery. [M.] Bobbish, adj. (common).—Frequently pretty bobbish, i.e., hearty; in good health and spirits; clever; spruce. Cf., Bob, adj. So also bobbishly, adv. 1819. Scott, in Lockhart, xliv. (1842), 394. I trust you will find me pretty bobbish. [M.] 1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 247. ‘Halloa, Butcher! is that you?’ ‘Yes, it’s me, How do you find yourself?’ ‘Bobbish,’ he says. 1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. iv., p. 13. Every Christmas Day, he retorted, as he now retorted, ‘It’s no more than your merits. And now are you all bobbish, and how’s sixpennorth of halfpence?’ meaning me. 1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen’s Practice, ch. vii. ‘I didn’t know that I mustn’t look downcast. I didn’t suppose it would be very polite, under the circumstances, to go round looking as bobbish as I feel.’ Bobbles, subs. (common).—The testicles—a corrupted form of bawbells. For synonyms, see Cods. Bobby, subs. (popular).—A policeman. This nickname, though possibly not derived from, was certainly popularised by the fact that the Metropolitan Police Act of 1828 was mainly the work of Mr., afterwards Sir Robert Peel. Long before that statesman remodelled the police, however, the term ‘bobby the beadle’ was in use to signify a guardian of a public square or other open space. There seems, however, a lack of evidence, and examples of its literary use prior to 1851 have not been discovered. For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1. At the Universities the Proctors are or used to be called bobbies. 1851. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 16. It is often said in admiration of such a man that he could muzzle half a dozen bobbies before breakfast! 1880. Punch, No. 2038. Going round a corner and crying, Bobby! bobby! bobby! when he saw a Proctor. 1884. Punch, July 26, p. 41, col. 2. But oh, for the grip of the ‘Bobby’s’ hand Upon his neck that day. 1889. The Mirror, Aug. 26, p. 7, col. 2. On the back seat was perched the perfidious Amelia Ann, the lust of conquest clearly written upon her sinful and perspiring face. She had put her cat in the birdcage, its former occupant being, I presume, inside the cat.... In this order the ghastly procession moved off, to the evident amusement of a ‘bobby,’ whose beat seems to include nothing beyond the area-railings of the opposite house. Bobby-Twister, subs. (thieves’).—A burglar or thief, who, when resisting pursuit or capture, uses violence. Of obvious derivation.—See Thieves. Bob-Cull, subs. (thieves’).—A good fellow; a pleasant companion. [From bob (adj.) = nice, lively + cull, old cant for a man.] Bob My Pal, subs. (rhyming slang).—A girl, i.e., ‘gal.’ Bobstick, subs. (old).—A shilling’s worth. Cf., Bob, sense 1. 1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 162. Bobstick of rum slim. That is, a shilling’s worth of punch. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Tom. Allons donc—Waiter, bring some wine. Log. Hang cards! bring me a bobstick of rum slim, or a glass of Barsac—stay, on second thoughts, I’ll have a sniker of green tea punch. Bob Tail, subs. (old).—1. A lewd woman. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack. 2. An impotent man or eunuch. Tag, rag, and bobtail; a mob of all sorts of low people; the common herd; the rabble. 1659–60. Pepys, Diary, Mar. 6. The dining-room ... was full of tag, rag, and bobtail, dancing, singing, and drinking. [M.] 1785. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Ode to R. A.’s, ii., wks. (1812) I., 80. Tag-rags and Bobtails of the sacred Brush. [M.] 1820. Byron, Blues, ii., 23. The rag, tag, and bobtail of those they call ‘Blues.’ [M.] 1841. Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, xxxv. ‘We don’t take in no tagrag and bobtail at our house.’ [M.] Boco, subs. (originally pugilistic, now common).—1. The nose. [Probably from beak, sense 3.] The form employed by American thieves is boke. For synonyms, see Conk. 1880. Besant and Rice, Seamy Side, ch. i. ‘A common keeper, who was in the lot, got a heavy oner on the boko for his share.’ ‘Boys,’ said Mr. Hamblin, ‘who use slang come to the gallows. Boko is—’ ‘Conk or boko,’ said Nicolas the vulgar. ‘It’s all the same.’ 1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, July 6. Dear Old Blistered Boko,—I trust you will allow me to thank you and your Graphologist for my character I received this morning. My friends say it is correct. I am saving up my pocket-money for a bottle of nose bloomer. I can see your boko blushing at the prospect. 1889. Sporting Times, July 6. The Gnat, with the Cunning peculiar to the Wicked flew up the Lion’s boko and Stung him so Badly, that the Great Beast rent himself to Death with his Own Claws. 2. Nonsense; ‘bosh.’ [Of unknown derivation, and it seems to have no connection with sense 1.] 1886. Punch, 25 Sept., p. 145. Lop-sided Free Trade is all boko. Bodier, subs. (pugilistic).—A blow on the side of the body.—See Rib-roaster. Bodkin, subs. (sporting).—Amongst sporting men, a person who takes his turn between the sheets on alternate nights, when an hotel has twice as many visitors as it can comfortably lodge; as, for instance, during a race-week. A transferred sense from To ride or sit bodkin, phr. (common).—To take a place and be wedged in between other persons when the accommodation is intended for two only. 1638. Ford, Fancies, IV., i. (1811), 186. Where but two lie in a bed, you must be—bodkin, bitch-baby—must ye? [M.] 1798. Loves of the Triangles, 182. While the pressed bodkin, punched and squeezed to death, Sweats in the mid-most place. 1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xxxiv. The writer supposes Aubrey to come to town in post-chaise and pair, sitting bodkin probably between his wife and sister. Body-Cover, subs. (American thieves’).—A coat. One is almost tempted to ask whether this is the only garment known to the criminal classes. Cf., Wrap-rascal. Body of Divinity Bound in Black Calf, phr. (old).—A parson. So quoted in the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger. Body-Slangs, subs. (thieves’).—Fetters. [From slang (q.v.), a chain.]—See quot. and for synonyms, Darbies. 1819. Vaux, Memoirs. Body-slangs are of two kinds. Each consists of a heavy iron ring to go round the waist, to which are attached in one case two bars or heavy chains, connected with the fetters round the ankles, in the other case a link at each side attached to a handcuff. Into these the wrists are locked, and thus held down to the prisoner’s sides. The latter are now only to be found in museums. Body-Snatcher, subs. (old).—1. A bailiff or runner. [The snatch was the trick by which the bailiff captured the delinquent.] These terms are now obsolete, so far as the pursuits mentioned are concerned. They are mentioned by Parker [1781] in his View of Society, II., 70. 2. A policeman. For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1. 1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. i., p. 254. ‘Now, if you or I was to do such a dodge as that, we should have the body-snatchers (police officers) after us.’ 3. (American.)—A generally objectionable individual. This variety is especially known as a mean body-snatcher (q.v.). 4. (popular.)—A violator of graves; a ‘resurrectionist.’ 1833. Sir F. Head, Bubbles from the Brunnen, 126. Any one of our body-snatchers would have rubbed his rough hands. [M.] 1863. Reader, Aug. 22. At that time (1827–28) ... body-snatching became a trade. 5. (common.)—An undertaker. For synonyms, see Cold cook. Bog, subs. (prison).—1. The works at Dartmoor, on which convicts labour; during recent years a large quantity of land has been reclaimed in this way. 1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 158. These were the men destined for outdoor work, the bogs, as the places where the different outside gangs worked were called [at Dartmoor]. 2. (low.)—An abbreviated form of bog-house (q.v.), or bog-shop. Verb.—To ease oneself; to evacuate.—See Bury a Quaker. Bogey.—See Bogy. Boggle-De-Botch, Boggledy-Botch, subs. (colloquial).—A bungle; ‘mess’; ‘hash.’ [From boggle, ‘to fumble,’ ‘to bungle,’ + botch, ‘to bungle’ or ‘to construct clumsily.’] Boggle by itself is more frequently employed. 1834. Miss Edgeworth, Helen, ch. xxvi. A fine boggle-de-botch I have made of it.... I am aware it is not a canonical word,—classical, I mean; nor in nor out of any dictionary perhaps—but when people are warm, they cannot stand picking terms. Bog-House, Bog-Shop, subs. (low).—A privy; a necessary house. The term, as will be seen, is an old one. [The derivation is probably from bog, a morass of decaying matter; a soft, spongy place.] For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker and Mrs. Jones. 1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. xii., p. 123 (1874). Fearing I should catch cold, they out of pity covered me warm in a bogg-house. 1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. III., p. 47. Its walls being adorn’d with as many unsavoury Finger-dabs as an Inns of Court Bog-house. 1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Bog-house, a privy, or necessary-house. Boglander, subs. (old).—An Irishman. [From the boggy and marshy character of a considerable portion of the Emerald Isle.] Cf., Bog-trotter. 1698–1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. XVI., p. 383. [Boglander is the name applied to an Irishman in this work.] 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bog Lander, an Irishman. Ireland being famous for its large bogs which furnish the chief fuel in many parts of that kingdom. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. [The same definition given as in Grose.] Bog Latin, subs. (Irish).—A spurious mode of speech simulating the Latin in construction.—See Dog Latin. Bog-Oranges, subs. (popular).—Potatoes. The phrase is an allusion to the vegetable in question forming a very substantial food staple of the Irish peasantry, with whom, in the popular mind, potatoes are largely associated. Hence probably the nickname. Cf., Murphy. [Oranges, from the shape, + bog = Irish, Bogland being a humorous nick-name for the Emerald Isle.] Bog-trotter, subs. (familiar).—A satirical name for an Irishman. Camden, however [c. 1605], speaking of the ‘debateable land’ on the borders of England and Scotland, says, ‘both these dales breed notable bog-trotters.’ From this the original sense would appear to have been one accustomed to walk across bogs. As a nickname for an Irishman, it dates at least from 1671. 1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. xxvii. (Repr. 1874), p. 232. [Irishmen are spoken of as bog-trotters in this work.] 1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxix. Gaunt reapers and bog-trotters in those traditional blue body-coats, leathern smalls, and bell-crowned hats, that seem to be manufactured nowhere save in Ireland. Bog-trotting, adj. (familiar).—A contemptuous epithet applied to one living among bogs; e.g., a bog-trotting Irishman. 1758–65. Goldsmith, On Quack Doctors (Essays and Poems, 1836), p. 127. Rock advises the world to beware of bog-trotting quacks. 1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 169. The impudent, bog-trotting scamp dare not threaten me! 1876. C. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 191. ‘What do you mean by calling me Irish? it is you that are Irish, you——.’ ‘Ha! ha! ha! ha!’ jerked out Fagan. ‘There, I tould you so. He can’t stand to be called by his true name; the bog-trotting rascal denies his Ould Ireland for a mother.’ Bogus, adj. (American, now common).—Spurious: fictitious; a term applied to anything sham, or to that which is not what it professes to be. Various accounts, some of them of a circumstantial character, are given as to the genesis of this word. One thing only seems certain; and that is its American origin. The generally received derivation, hitherto, has been that given by the Boston Courier (12 June, 1857) to the effect that the word is a vile corruption of the Italian name Borghese, a notorious swindler, who about the year 1837 literally flooded the Western and South-western States with fictitious cheques, notes, and bills of exchange and similar securities to an enormous amount. It is said that the name was gradually corrupted first to borges and then to bogus, and the man Borghese being associated in the popular mind with doubtful money transactions, his name so corrupted into bogus became applied to fraudulent papers and practices, and latterly to any spurious or counterfeit object, as bogus money, hair, diamonds, accusations, etc. Yet another suggestion is one put forward by Mr. Jas. Russell Lowell. He thinks it has descended in a corrupted form from the French Bagasse, the refuse of the sugar cane after the juice has been expressed. This worthless product has, it is suggested, given the name to other worthless things having travelled from Louisiana up the Mississippi, and thence throughout the Union, finally spreading itself over the English speaking world. A few, however, affect to regard it as a corruption of [hocus] pocus, and say that it refers to the German ‘Hocus Pocus Imperatus, wer nicht sieht ist blind.’ The latest light upon the history of the word is thrown, as usual, by the indefatigable Dr. Murray, who, while slily satirising the ‘bogus derivations circumstantially given,’ makes another attempt to solve the riddle. He says: ‘Dr. S. Willard, of Chicago, in a letter to the editor of this Dictionary, quotes from the Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph of July 6 and Nov. 2, 1827, the word bogus as a subs., applied to an apparatus for coining false money. Mr. Eber D. Howe, who was then editor of that paper, describes in his Autobiography (1878) the discovery of such a piece of mechanism in the hands of a gang of coiners at Painesville, in May, 1827; it was a mysterious looking object, and some one in the crowd styled it a bogus, a designation adopted in the succeeding numbers of the paper. Dr. Willard considers this to have been short for tantrabogus, a word familiar to him from his childhood, and which in his father’s time was commonly applied in Vermont to any ill-looking object; he points out that tantarabobs is given in Halliwell as a Devonshire word for the devil.’ [Bogus seems thus to be related to bogy, etc.] 1825. Hughes, in J. Ludlow’s Hist. U.S., 338. This precious house of representatives—the bogus legislature as it was at once called. 1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’) Innocents at Home, ch. xvii. Nobody had ever received his bogus history as gospel before; its genuineness had always been called in question either by words or looks; but here was a man that not only swallowed it all down, but was grateful for the dose. 1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxxv. ‘They’ve got some good money, as well as bogus notes.’ 1883. Saturday Review, March 31, p. 399, col. 2. M. Soleirol had probably a number of forged autographs of Molière; his whole collection was a bogus assortment of frauds. Bogy, Bogey, subs. (common).—A landlord. An attributive usage of the more familiar meanings—(1) the devil; (2) a person much dreaded. The transition from sense 2 to that which signifies a landlord is easy. A French equivalent is Monsieur Vautour; vautour = a vulture; and the term is applied to a hard-hearted landlord. In passing, it may perhaps be mentioned (having in view the uncertainty which Murray confesses hangs round the history of this word in its primary meanings) that ask Bogy, as a reply to a question, occurs in Grose [1785]. It is true it is there associated with a vulgarism which, however, on the face of it, appears to have had little to do with the expression, except perhaps in the not over clean mind of the burly bon-vivant who compiled the dictionary in question. It seems to have been used much as the modern ‘God knows’! or ‘Bramah knows’ under similar circumstances. This, at any rate, would carry it back, in very much its present form, much earlier than 1825, Murray’s earliest trace of it. Grose says it was ‘sea wit,’ whatever that may mean. Adj. (studios’).—Sombre, or dark in tint. Said of a painting exhibiting these characteristics. Bohn, subs. (American College).—A translation; a pony (q.v.). The volumes of Bohn’s Classical Library are in such general use among undergraduates in American Colleges, that Bohn has come to be a common name for a translation. 1855. Songs, Biennial Jubilee, Yale College. ’Twas plenty of skin with a good deal of bohn. Boil, verb (old).—To betray; ‘to Peach,’ which see for synonyms. 1602. Rowlands, Greene’s Coney Catchers, 16. His cloyer or follower fortwith boyles him, that is, bewrayes him. [M.] 1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girle, wks., 1873, III., 220. Wee are smoakt ... wee are boyl’d, pox on her! [M.] Boil Down, verb (popular).—To reduce in bulk by condensing or epitomizing. When a literary work is reduced to smaller compass by the presentation only of the main or salient features, it is said to be boiled down. [The expression is a figurative use (quite recent by-the-bye) of boiling down in the sense of lessening the bulk by boiling.] 1880. Sat. Review, No. 1288, 28. It is surprising to see how much research Mr. S. has sometimes contrived to boil down into a single line. [M.] 1885. G. Dolly, Dickens as I Knew Him, p. 125. The newspaper and political elements having been consulted, and their opinions having been boiled down. 1887. H. Frederic, in Scribn. Mag., I., 479. ‘To boil down’ columns of narrative into a few lines of bald, cold statement. 1888. Polytechnic Mag., 25 Oct., p. 258. Whatever you have to say, my friend, Whether witty, or grave, or gay— Condense as much as ever you can, And say in the readiest way; And whether you write on rural affairs, Or particular things in town, Just a word of friendly advice—boil it down. Boiled Shirt, Biled Shirt or Boiled Rag, subs. (American).—In the West, biled shirt is the odd name given to a shirt of white linen, and it is not difficult to see the line of reasoning from which the term derives its significance. In the active stirring life of the West little count is taken of the convenances of civilization, and only on Sundays and festive occasions would the woollen undergarment be discarded for the white linen article. Indeed, in many cases, the former would be worn until it literally dropped to pieces. Now white shirts are facetiously known as biled shirts all over the States, and only recently (May, 1888) a question in dispute between the employés of the Chicago Tramway Companies and the managers of the same was whether the former should wear, when on duty, coloured or biled shirts. Cf., Bald-faced shirt. 1854. McClure, Rocky Mountains, p. 412. In order to attend the Governor’s reception, I borrowed a boiled shirt, and plunged in with a Byron collar, and polished boots, and also the other necessary apparel. 1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, ch. xii. But they were rough in those times! ... if a man wanted a fight on his hands without any annoying delay, all he had to do was to appear in public in a white shirt or a stove-pipe hat, and he would be accommodated. For those people hated aristocrats. They had a particular and malignant animosity toward what they called a biled shirt. 1872. Dublin Univ. Mag., Feb., p. 219. Every man arrays himself in ‘store-clothes’ and boiled shirts. 1888. New York World, 13 May. Is it possible that the Chicagoans never heard of white shirts before this spring? May be the street-railway presidents never saw a starched shirt (I must deplore the use of the word biled as applied to shirts) until this year. Boiler, subs. (Winchester College).—1. A plain coffee-pot used for heating water. Called fourpenny and sixpenny boilers, not from their price, but from the quantity of milk they will hold: τὸ παν boilers were large tin saucepan-like vessels in which water for hot bidets (q.v.) was heated. 2. See Pot boiler. Boiler-Plated, adj. (American).—Imperturbable; stolid; stoical. [The simile is akin to that contained in expressions like iron-clad, copper-bottomed, etc., drawn mainly from marine phraseology.] Boilers or Brompton Boilers, subs. (popular).—1. A name originally given to the new Kensington Museum and School of Art, in allusion to the peculiar form of the buildings, and the fact of their being mainly composed of, and covered with, sheet iron. This has been changed since the extensive alterations in the building, or rather pile of buildings, and the term boilers is now applied to the Bethnal Green Museum.—See Pepper-boxes. 1885. Daily News, July 9, p. 5, col. 1. The building is merely a fragment of the old ‘Brompton boilers,’ set up originally for the South Kensington Museum. 2. (Royal Military Academy.)—Boiled potatoes. Fried potatoes are called greasers. Boiling or Biling. Whole boiling or biling, subs. phr. (common).—The whole lot; entire quantity. [A figurative usage, from a quantity boiled at one time.] Variants are the whole gridiron (q.v.) and all the shoot. 1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. The last mile, he said, tho’ the shortest one of the whole bilin’, took the longest [time] to do it by a jug full. 1837. Marryat, Dog Fiend, xiii. [He] may ... whip the whole boiling of us off to the Ingees. 1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lix., p. 496. ‘And the whole bileing of people was mixed up in the same business, and no other.’ 1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xxii. ‘He have Dora? No, not if he licked my foot for her, and I broke the whole boiling of them—as I will!’ Boil One’s Lobster, verbal phr. (old).—To enter the army after having been in the church. [From lobster, a slang term for a soldier, the allusion being to the change in colour which lobsters undergo in the process of boiling, turning from a bluish black to red.] Cf., Black coat and Red coat. Boke, subs. (American thieves’).—The nose. [This may either be derived directly from beak, sense 3, or indirectly from boko (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Conk. Bold as Brass, adv. phr. (popular).—Audaciously forward; presumptuous; without shame. The simile, or at least the general idea, seems to be an old one. Shakspeare (see quot.) uses the expression ‘a face of brass,’ and even to this day brass, sense 1 (q.v.), is synonymous with impudence or ‘cheek.’ 1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour Lost, v., 2. Biron. Thus pour the stars down plagues for perjury. Can any face of brass hold longer out?—— 1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, II., p. 12. He came in as bold as brass. 1854. Thackeray, Lovel the Widower, p. 195. ‘A nursery governess at the wages of a housemaid’ I continued, bold as Corinthian brass. c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ‘Timothy Titus.’ The name belongs to brave men, and I’m as bold as brass, I do not wear the lion’s skin and show myself an ass; I’m full of pluck and can defy, like Ajax, anything, And if you put me to the test, a proof I soon can bring. Boler, also Bowler, subs. (popular).—A stiff felt hat. For synonyms, see Cady. 1861. Sat. Review, Sept. 21, 297. We are informed that he ... wore, or rather carried in his hand, a white bowler hat. 1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxi., 158. The ministers, in bowlers and pea-jackets, are to be found upon the shore of highland locks. 1889. Answers, June 8, p. 24. Most of the men were clothed in loud and greasy suits of tweed, and wore what are known as bowler hats, many of them much the worse for wear. The ladies affected fine and smart costumes, but as the greater part of their dresses had seen long months of service, the smartness was somewhat of the bedraggled order. Bolly, subs. (Marlborough College).—Pudding. Bolt, subs. (old).—The throat. [This curious term would seem to be derived from bolt = to gulp down.] 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Here, Dusty, my prince, now then, sluice your bolt. (Gives Bob gin.) Bob. Vell, your honours, here’s luck. (Bolts gin.) That’s a regular kwortern, I knows by my mouth. Verb (at one period slang, now recognised).—1. To escape; to leave suddenly. Bolt is an instance of a word which once orthodox, subsequently fell into disrepute, but which, after having for generations served as a mere slang term, is now nearly as respectable as when Dryden wrote: ‘I have reflected on those who, from time to time, have shot into the world, some bolting out on the stage with vast applause, and others hissed off.’ The following are a few examples of its use. For synonyms, see Amputate. 1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, I., i. (1704), p. 94. Is he gone? Court. Ay, ay! you may venture to bolt now. 1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. vi. Then, of a sudden, bolting into the room, he began to tell.... 1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. XI., ch. vii. In his way home, Booth was met by a lady in a chair, who immediately upon seeing him ... bolted out of it. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc, 7. Log. Come along, then. Now, Jerry, chivey! Jerry. Chivey? Log. Mizzle? Jerry. Mizzle? Log. Tip your rags a gallop! Jerry. Tip my rags a gallop? Log. Walk your trotters! Jerry. Walk my trotters? Log. Bolt! Jerry. Bolt? oh, aye! I’m fly now. You mean go. 1837. Barham, I. L. (M. of Venice). Jessy ransack’d the house, popp’d her breeks on, and when so Disguis’d, bolted off with her beau—one Lorenzo. 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. ix., p. 90. He was more strongly tempted ... to make excursive bolts into the neighbouring alleys when he answered the door. 2. (American).—The usage in the United States indicates the right of the independently minded to revolt against partisan rule, as ‘He bolted the party nominations.’ Also substantively, as ‘He has organized a bolt.’ The word derived this meaning from its sporting application to a horse when it becomes unmanageable on the race-course. Cf., Bolter. It is rarely used with its dictionary meaning in political connections; and, when so used, is generally misunderstood by the average reader. 1871. St. Louis Democrat, 3 April. ‘Several of our contemporaries have announced it as a well-established fact, that Carl Schurz has bolted from the Republican party. We have the very best authority for denying the report.’ 1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 3 Feb. What the Register does object to are the fellows who bolt the ticket and support the opposition candidate when they can not control nominations. 3. (colloquial.)—To eat hurriedly without chewing; to swallow whole; to gulp down. Wolcot in a note to the first quotation hereunder appended, explains bolt as a Hampshire word. ‘A rapid deglutition of bacon, without the sober ceremony of mastication.’ 1794. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Ode to Tyrants, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 527. Bold push’d the Emp’ror on, with stride so noble, Bolting his subjects with majestic gobble. 1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xvi., p. 171. Dyspeptic individuals bolted their food in wedges. 1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. xiii., 101. ‘Give me as short a time as you like to bolt my meals in, and keep me at it.’ 1883. Daily Telegraph, Jan. 10, p. 5, col. 3. The dangerous habit of bolting a light luncheon in two or three minutes. Getting the bolt, phr. (thieves’).—Being sentenced to penal servitude. Cf., Boat. To turn the corner of Bolt Street, phr. (popular).—A humorous expression for running away. Cf., Bolt, sense 1, also Queer Street, and for synonyms, see Amputate. Bolter, subs. (old).—1. Explained by quotation. The privileged places referred to were such as Whitefriars, the Mint, Higher and Lower Alsatia, etc. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bolter (s.), a cant name for one who hides himself in his own house, or some privileged place, and dares only peep, but not go out of his retreat. 2. One who ‘bolts’; especially applied to horses, but figuratively to persons in the sense of one given to throwing off restraint; in American parlance one who ‘kicks’ (q.v.). 1840. Thackeray, Paris Sk. Bk. (1872), 244. The engine may explode ... or be a bolter. [M.] 1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. xiii. ‘Three of the horses had never been in harness before, and the fourth was a bolter.’ 1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lviii., p. 483. This sparkling sally is to the effect that, although he always knew she was the best-groomed woman in the stud, he had no idea she was a bolter. It is immensely received in turf-circles. 1881. C. J. Dunphie, The Chameleon, p. 17. It is better to ride a steady old plodder than to trust your neck to a bolter. 3. (American.)—One who exercises the right of abstention in regard to his political party. See Bolt, verb, sense 2. 1883. Atlantic Monthly, LII., 327. To whom a ‘scratcher’ or a bolter is more hateful than the Beast. [M.] 1884. American, VIII., 100. To denounce the twenty-seven as bolters from their party. Bolt-in-Tun, phr. (London thieves’).—Bolted; run away. 1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs. A term founded on the cant word ‘bolt,’ and merely a fanciful variation very common among flash persons, there being in London a famous inn so called. It is customary when a man has run away from his lodgings, broken out of jail, or made any other sudden movement, to say ‘the Bolt-in-tun is concerned,’ or ‘he’s gone to the Bolt-in-tun’ instead of simply saying, ‘he has bolted,’ etc. Boltsprit, Boltspreet, Bowsprit, subs. (common).—An old and humorous term for the nose. [The analogy is between the spar or boom extending beyond the stem of a vessel and the nose as a prominent and projecting feature of the face.] For synonyms, see Conk. 1690. Shadwell, Amorous Bigot, Act v. As thou lovest thy ears, or nose, that bolt-sprit of thy face. [M.] 1691. Shadwell, Scowerers, Act v. They do not consider the tenderness of my bolt-sprit. [M.] 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Boltsprit (s.), a cant name for the nose. Bolt the Moon, verbal phr.—To remove one’s goods and chattels under cover of night with a view of evading the payment of rent. A variant of shoot the moon (q.v.); the act itself is called a moonlight flitting (q.v.). Bolus, subs. (common).—An apothecary; a doctor. [From bolus, a large pill frequently prescribed by physicians.] 1878. Hatton, Cruel London, bk. VI., ch. ii. ‘The doctor, up from the Indian bar, came and said I was wanted in London’ ... ‘good for old Bolus,’ said Kernan; ‘and I believe him.’ Boman, subs. (old).—A gallant fellow. This is mentioned by Nares, who, however, could find no example illustrating its use. Bombay Ducks, subs. (old).—1. The Bombay regiments of the East India Company’s army were so called. 2. A well known delicacy, the exact nature of which is explained by G. A. Sala in the second quotation. 1865. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, 14 August, 5, 4. His cuisine was, with the occasional interpolation of a not entirely objectionable curry, accompanied by Bombay ducks, exclusively old-fashioned English. 1886. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 7 August, 138, 2. The Bombay duck is the Anglo-Indian relation of the Digby chick. Alive, it is a fish called the bummelo; dead and dried, it becomes a duck. Bombo, Bumbo, subs. (common).—A nickname given to various mixtures, but chiefly to cold punch. Smollett, in a note in Roderick Random, speaks of it as ‘a liquor composed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg.’ 1748. Smollett, Roderick Random, ch. xxxiv. A table well stored with bumbo and wine. 1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Bombo, weak cold punch. a. 1886. Northumb. Song, in N. and Q., 6 March, 195. The pitmen and the keelman ... drink bumbo made of gin. Bona, subs. (popular).—A girl; young woman; a belle. c. 18(?). Broadside Ballad, ‘Oh, Fred, don’t be so frivolous.’ Girls are in vulgar called donas, Some are called Miss and some Mrs., The best of them all are called bonas, The whole jolly lot’s fond of kisses. I kiss pretty lips, and I squeeze finger tips, No matter what I have to pay, If I meet a dear maid who is somewhat afraid, She’ll blush like a virgin and say, ‘Oh my.’ Chorus. Adj. (theatrical).—Good. [From the Latin.]—See Rumbo. Bonanza, subs. (American).—A happy hit; a stroke of fortune; success. [From the Spanish, a fair wind, fine weather, prosperous voyage.] Bonanza was originally the name of a mine in Nevada, which once, quite unexpectedly, turned out to be a big thing, and of enormous value; now applied to any lucky hit or successful enterprise. 1875. Scribner’s Mag., July, p. 272. But a bonanza with millions in it is not struck every week. 1888. San Francisco News Letter, 4 Feb. The mines along the veins running north and south, of which North Belle Isle is the center, are all stayers, and in the east and west ledge Grand Prize has entered a body of ore which may develop into a bonanza as big as the one which paid millions in dividends in years gone by. Bona-Roba, subs. (old).—A courtesan; a showy prostitute. [From Italian buona, good, + roba = a robe or dress.] The term was much in use among the older dramatists. Ben Jonson speaks of a bouncing bona-roba; and Cowley seems to have considered it as implying a fine, tall figure. Bona in modern times is frequently employed to signify a girl or young woman, without reference to morals. 1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., iii., 2. We knew where the bona-robas were; and had the best of them all at commandment. b. 1618, d. 1667. Cowley, Essay on Greatness (quoted by Nares). I would neither wish that my mistress nor my fortune should be a bona-roba;—but as Lucretius says, Parvula, pumilio, tota merum sal. 1822. Scott, Nigel, xvi. Your lordship is for a frolic into Alsatia? ... there are bona-robas to be found there. [M.] 1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 69. The other bona-roba, known amongst her companions as Mistress Poll Maggot, was a beauty on a much larger scale—in fact, a perfect Amazon. Bonce, subs. (popular).—1. The head; [probably a derivative of sense 2, from the analogy between them.] For synonyms, see Crumpet. 2. A large marble [origin unknown, but see Alley]. Bone, subs. (American).—When a traveller, in passing his luggage through the Custom House, tips the officer in the expectation that the latter’s examination of his impedimenta will be more or less superficial, the fee thus given is termed a bone. The practice, is, of course, contrary to all regulations; but, human nature being human nature all the world over, it is believed that similar expedients for evading the law are not altogether unknown in England. Adj. (thieves’).—Good; excellent; ◇ is the vagabonds’ hieroglyphic for bone, or good, chalked by them on houses and street corners as a hint to succeeding beggars. [Probably from French bon, good. Cf., Boon.] 1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. He [beggar] mostly chalks a signal on or near the door. I give one or two instances. ◇ ‘Bone,’ meaning good. 1883. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. L. News, Nov. 10, p. 451, col. 3. It is well known that the lozenge-shaped diagram chalked by beggars and tramps on doors and walls in ‘promising’ neighbourhoods stands for ‘bone,’ a corruption of the French ‘bon,’ as a hint to succeeding vagabonds that they will find the happiest of hunting-grounds in the locality. Verb (popular).—1. To filch; to steal; to make off with; to take into custody. [There are two suggested derivations:—(1) that the figure of speech is drawn from the manner in which a dog makes off with a bone; (2) that bone is a corruption of ‘bonnet’ (a gambling cheat who ‘sharks’ one’s money slyly).] For synonyms in sense of to steal, see Prig; in sense of to apprehend, see Nab. 1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Bone (v.), a cant word to seize or arrest; also to cheat or strip a person of his money or goods. 1819. J. H. Vaux, Memoirs, II., 157. Tell us how you was boned, signifies tell us the story of your apprehension, a common request among fellow-prisoners in a jail, which is readily complied with as a rule; and the various circumstances therein related afford present amusement, and also useful hints for regulating their future operations, so as to avoid the like misfortune. 1838. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. lvii., p. 467. ‘And why you were living so quiet here, and what you had boned, and who you had boned it from, wasn’t it?’ 1861. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. II., ch. ii. ‘I’m blest if he hasn’t been and boned my mug. I hope it’ll do him more good than it’s done me.’ 1871. Chambers’ Journal, Dec. 9, A Double Event, p. 774. It would be a breach of confidence to tell you how it was arranged, but, after some haggling, it was arranged that, on the understanding that I gave up the securities, I was to bone the reward which the detectives had missed. 2. (American.)—To bribe; to ‘grease the palm.’—See Bone, subs. 3.(American cadets’.)—To study hard. [From bohn (q.v.).] To have a bone in the leg—arm—throat, etc., phr. (common).—A humorous reason for declining to use the member spoken of; a feigned obstacle. 1542. Nicholas Udall, Erasmus’s Apophthegmes (1877, Reprint of ed. 1562). p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that he had a bone in his throte, and he could not speake. 1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can’t go, for I have a bone in my leg. Bone-Ache, subs. (old).—The lues venerea. [The allusion is obvious.] 1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse. But cucullus non facit monachum—’tis not their newe bonnets will keepe them from the old boan-ack. 1606. Shakspeare, Tro. and C., ii., 3. After this the vengeance on the whole camp! or rather the bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curse dependent on those that war for a placket. Bone-Box, subs. (common).—The mouth. [The teeth are here represented as the ‘bones.’ The latter are now more commonly called ‘ivories.’] For synonyms, see Potato-trap, and compare with Bone-house. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Shut your bone-box; shut your mouth. Bone-Crusher, subs. (sporting).—A heavy bore rifle used for killing big game. [Literally that which crushes or breaks bones by force. Cf., Bone-shaker.] 1872. H. M. Stanley, How I Found Livingstone (2 ed.), p. 63. African game require bone-crushers; for any ordinary carbine possesses sufficient penetrative qualities, yet has not the disabling qualities which a gun must possess to be useful in the hands of an African explorer. Ibid, p. 342. What is wanted for this country is a heavy bore—No. 10 or 12 is the real bone-crusher, that will drop every animal shot. Boned.—See Bone, verb, sense 1. Bone-Grubber, subs. (common).—One who lives by collecting bones from heaps of refuse, selling his spoils at the marine stores or to bone grinders. [From bone + grub, to seek by burrowing, + er.] Also called bone-picker (q.v.), and tot-pickers (q.v.). See first quotation and cf. bone-picker form. The French term is un biffin, which also signifies a foot-soldier, his knapsack being compared to a rag or bone-picker’s basket; also un chifferton or un chiffortin; un cupidon (an ironical allusion to his hook and basket); un graffin. For other synonyms, see Tot-picker. c. 1750. ‘The Hunter’s Wedding,’ quoted in J. Ashton’s The Fleet, 1888, p. 366. Sam the grubber, he having had warning, His wallet and broom down did lay. 1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 155. The bone-grubber generally seeks out the narrow back streets, where dust and refuse are cast, or where any dust-bins are accessible. The articles for which he chiefly searches are rags and bones,—rags he prefers,—but waste metal, such as bits of lead, pewter, copper, brass, or old iron, he prizes above all. 1862. Mayhew, Crim. Prisons, 40. A black-chinned and lanthorn-jawed bone-grubber. 2. A resurrectionist; a violator of graves. Cobbett was therefore called ‘a bone-grubber,’ because he brought the remains of Tom Paine from America. Cf., Bone-house. Latterly, from the quotation which follows, the term seems to have been extended to all having to do with funerals. 1863. G. A. Sala, Breakfast in Bed, essay vii., p. 181 (1864). The crowd in Cheapside declared that I was a mute. They called me bone-grubber. Bone-House, subs. (familiar).—1. The human body—an obvious allusion. 1870. Emerson, Soc. and Sol., vi., 119. This wonderful bone-house which is called man. [M.] 2. A coffin. The term is also used to signify a charnel-house, and Americans generally call a cemetery a ‘bone-yard.’ 1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, II., p. 207. Nothing soon—lie in bed—starve—die—Inquest—little bone-house—poor prisoner. 1846. Walbran, Guide Ripon. The celebrated bone-house no longer exists. 1848. Forster, Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, II., p. 165 (bk. IV., ch. viii.). The body [of a man who had poisoned himself] was taken to the bone-house of St. Andrew’s, but no one came to claim it. Bone Muscle, verbal phr. (American college).—To practice gymnastics. Cf., Bone, verb, sense 3. Bone-Picker, subs. (common).—1. A footman. [Evidently a contemptuous allusion to sense 2, a footman’s duties being to pick up and set in order after his employer.] The French term is un larbin. 2. (common.)—A collector of bones, rags, and other refuse from the streets and places where rubbish is placed, for the purpose of sale to marine dealers and bone crushers. The same as bone-grubber, sense 1 (q.v.). 1866. Ruskin, Crown of Wild Olives, p. 25. The deceased was a bone-picker. he was in the lowest stage of poverty, etc. Boner, subs. (Winchester College).—A sharp blow on the spine. Bones, subs. (common).—1. Dice, which are also called St. Hugh’s bones (q.v.). [So called because made of bone or ivory.] ‘To rattle the bones,’ i.e., ‘to play at dice.’ The term is a very old one, as also seem to be games played with the little cubes in question. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 328. This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two, fforsweryng, Ire, falsnesse, Homycide. a. 1529. Skelton, wks. (ed. Dyce) I., 52. On the borde he whyrled a payre of bones. 1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 123. Who being left by his parents rich in money and possessions, hath to the musicke of square ratling bones danced so long, that hee hath danced himselfe into the company of beggers. 1698. Dryden, Persius, III., 96. But then my study was to cog the dice, And dexterously to throw the lucky sice: To shun ames-ace, that swept my stakes away; And watch the box, for fear they should convey False bones, and put upon me in the play. 1772. Foote, Nabob, Act ii. When your chance is low, as tray, ace, or two deuces, the best method is to dribble out the bones from the box. 1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xviii. ‘I saw you sit down to écarté last week at Trumpington’s, and taking your turn with the bones after Ringwood’s supper.’ 1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. xxviii. ‘What with speculations failing, and consols dropping all at once, not to mention a continual run of ill-luck with the bones, I saw no way out of it but to bolt.’ 2. (common.)—Pieces of bones held between the fingers and played Spanish castanet fashion. Generally used as an accompaniment to banjo and other ‘negro’ minstrel music. 1592. Shakspeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream, iv., 1, line 27. Tita. What, wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love? Bot. I have a reasonable good ear in music: let us have the tongs and the bones. 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III., p. 195. Peter rolling about in his chair like a serenader playing the bones, and the young Othello laughing as if he was being tickled. Ibid, p. 201. The bones, we’ve real bones, rib-of-beef bones, but some have ebony bones, which sound better than rib-bones—they tell best, etc. 1865. Times, 17 July. Amateur negro melodists ... thumped the banjo and rattled the bones. [M.] 3. (common.)—A member of a ‘negro’ minstrel troupe; generally applied to one of the ‘end’ men who plays the bones (sense 2). 1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, III. First of all we formed a school of three—two banjos and a tambourine, and after that we added a bones and a fiddle. 1867. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, p. 236. The band clashes out; big fiddle and little fiddle, harp and bones, off they go. 1884. Sat. Review, June 7,740, col. 1. A single row of negro minstrels seated on chairs ... while at the end are Bones and Sambo. [M.] 4. (general.)—The bones of the human body, but more generally applied to the teeth. French thieves call these les piloches (f); and les osselots (m). Cf., Bone-box and Bone-house, and for synonyms, see Grinders. 5. (common.)—A surgeon; generally sawbones (q.v.). A list of curious nicknames for the medical profession will also be found under Squirt. 1887. Chamb. Journal, Jan. 8, p. 30. ‘I have sent for the village bones, and if he can but patch me up, it may not yet be too late.’ 6. (Stock Exchange.)—(1) The shares of Wickens, Pease and Co.; (2) North British 4% 1st Preference Shares, the 4% 2nd Preference Stock being nicknamed Bonettas. As dry or hard as a bone, phr. (common), i.e., as free from moisture as a bone after it has been picked and cleaned, as by a dog. 1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, i. It’s as dry as a bone. 1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 83. Dubs were hard as ony bane. One end is pretty sure to be bone, phr. (American).—An old time saying equivalent to an admission that ‘all is not gold that glitters’; that the realization of one’s hopes never comes up to the ideal formed of them. 1888. The World, 13 May. People here (in the west) have to get up and get in order to make both ends meet, and even then one end is pretty sure to be bone. To be upon the bones, phr. (vulgar).—To attack. b. 1616, d. 1704. Sir R. L’Estrange (in Annandale). Puss had a month’s mind to be upon the bones of him, but was not willing to pick a quarrel. To feel a thing in one’s bones.—A simile signifying assurance; conviction. 1887. Scribner’s Magazine. I ain’t a-goin’ to mention no names but I kin feel it in my bones that things ain’t on the square here, there’s a nigger in the fence. 1888. Missouri Republican, 22 Feb. Nat. M. Shelton, of Lancaster, said: ‘I am in the race of attorney-general, and I feel it in my bones that I will get the nomination.’ To make no bones, phr. (familiar).—To make no scruple; to show no hesitation; to commence and finish a work without difficulty—now restricted to colloquial use; it was formerly current literary coin, and is frequently to be met with in our older literature. Its earlier form was, ‘to find bones in,’ which clearly shows the phrase to have originated in a reference to bones in soup, or similar food, regarded as obstacles to swallowing. In this sense it is found as early as the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Paston Letters. It does not occur in its present shape to make bones until a century later; but, from this period on to the end of the seventeenth century it was in constant use. 1459. Paston Lett., 331, I., 444. And fond that tyme no bonys in the matere. [M.] 1542. Udall, Apoph. of Erasmus, p. 133 (1877). Yea, and rather then faill, both whole mainor places, and also whole Lordships, the ‘make no bones, ne sticke not, quite and cleue to swallow doune the narrow lane, and the same to spue up again.’ 1565. Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies. And instede of that whiche he saide, This is my body, they haue made no bones at it, to say, this is my brede. 1590. Greene, Francesco’s Fortune, in wks. VIII., 189. Tricke thy selfe vp in thy best reparrell, and make no bones at it but on a woing [wooing]. 1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 112. He ... would make no bones to take the wall of Sir Philip Sidney. 1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act iii. Man. How could I refrain? A lawyer talked peremptorily and saucily to me, and as good as gave me the lie. Free. They do it so often to one another at the bar, that they make no bones on’t elsewhere. 1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxiv. Do you think that the Government or the Opposition would make any bones about accepting the seat if it be offered to them? To pick a bone or bones with one, phr. (colloquial).—To have an unpleasant matter to settle with one; also, a difficulty to solve; ‘a nut to crack.’ 1565. Colfhill, Answ. Treat. Cron. (1846), 277. A bone for you to pick on. [M.] 1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), 1, s.v. Pick, To give one a bone to pick, scrupulum alicui injicere. 1850–68. H. Rogers, Ess., II., ii. (1874), 103. Many a bone in these lectures which a keen metaphysician would be disposed to pick with the author. Bonesetter, subs. (old).—A hard riding horse; a ricketty conveyance; properly one whose occupation is to set broken and dislocated bones. The sarcastic, punning reference is of course to the dire effects which naturally follow the use of an animal of such a description. The odd way in which slang is often derived, strikes one at times as very curious. Not only are words frequently coined which resemble genuine words, such as ‘solemncholy’ for ‘melancholy,’ and ‘it don’t much magnify’ for ‘it don’t much signify,’ but the meaning of such factitious words is, in many cases, either subtly reversed or endowed with an extremely cynical tinge of humour and sarcasm. The present instance is a case in point. A more modern term is boneshaker (q.v.), which is less subtle in its meaning, bone-setter being certainly far more brutally cynical in its suggestiveness. See second quotation for some curious synonyms formerly in use. 1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bone Setter, a hard trotting horse. 1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act i., Sc. 7. Jerry. I long to be there,—let’s hasten to dress at once. Log. Aye; call a rattler. Jerry. A rattler! I’m at fault again. Log. A rattler is a rumbler, otherwise a jarvy! better known perhaps by the name of a hack; handy enough in a wet day, or a hurry. Jerry. A hack! If it’s the thing we rattled over the stones in to-day, It might more properly be called a bone-setter. Tom. Or bone-breaker.—But if you dislike going in a hack, we’ll get you a mab. Jerry. A mab! I’m at fault again—never shall get properly broken in. Tom. A mab is a jingling jarvy!—a cabriolet, Jerry.—But we must mind our flash doesn’t peep out at Almack’s. ’Tis classic ground there. Bone-Shake, verb (popular).—To ride a bone-shaker (q.v.), i.e., a heavy bicycle of a very old type. 1889. Answers, Feb. 23, p. 195, col. 1. Among those who learnt to boneshake was Charles Dickens, who, had he lived, would have been a devoted cyclist. Bone-Shaker, subs. (old).—1. A hard trotting horse.—See Bone-setter. 2. (popular.)—An old type of bicycle in use prior to the introduction of india-rubber tires and other manifold improvements. The first bicycle propelled by cranks and pedals was ridden in Paris in 1864. It created enormous excitement. On being introduced into England people went bicycle mad, and the number of persons who suffered in consequence of riding the old bone-shakers was considerable. Among those who learnt to ‘bone-shake’ was Charles Dickens, who, had he lived, would have been a devoted cyclist, for he regarded the sport as a grand one, and prophesied a big future for it. In 1868 Mr. Charles Spencer rode to Brighton on a bone-shaker in 14 hours from London. The papers were full of what was then considered an extraordinary feat, but on Aug. 10, 1889, four riders of the Polytechnic Cycling Club covered the distance to Brighton and back, 108 miles, in 7 hours 50 minutes, which is better time than a most perfectly-appointed modern four-in-hand can be driven over the same course by the aid of unlimited relays of horses kept in readiness to be changed at a moment’s notice. Only one machine was used throughout the trial, viz., a safety roadster, weighing 36 lbs. 1874. A. Howard, Bicycle, 10. In 1870 and 1871, the low, long bone-shaker began to fall in public esteem. [M.] 1884. G. L. Hillier, in Longman’s Mag., March, p. 487. The bone-shaker, as the ribald cyclist of the present day designates the ancestor of his present bicycle. 1885. Nineteenth Century, Jan., p. 92. In the Field’s report of the performance of the Cambridge Town Bicycle Club we find this entry: ‘Half Mile Race on bone-shakers, not exceeding 36 in.’ Bone Standing, verbal phr. (American college).—To study hard. [Evidently an allusion to the alertness implied by a standing position.] Bonettas, subs. (Stock Exchange.)—The 4% 2nd North British 2nd Preference Stock.—See Bones, subs., sense 6, § 2. Bong.—See Boung. Boniface, subs. (popular).—The landlord of a tavern or inn. [Derived from Farquhar’s play.] 1707. Farquhar, Beaux Stratagem. [Boniface is here given as the name of landlord of the inn.] 1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I., 120. To give the characteristic features and to stamp the peculiar traits of honest Boniface. 1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xvi. The landlord either could not, or would not, give them any actual information as to his guests.... So the blue-coated myrmidons of Scotland Yard got but little information from Boniface. Boning Adjutant, verbal phr. (American cadets’).—Aping a military bearing. [From bone, to study, to imitate.] So also boning muscle (q.v.) is going in largely for gymnastics. To bone standing, to study hard. Boning demerit, giving no cause for complaint as regards one’s conduct. All West Point cadet slang. Bonk, subs. (travelling showmens’).—A short, steep hill. [Possibly only a provincialism, or an obsolete form of ‘bank.’] 1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 302. In Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, the approaches to some of the large works are either up or down some steep, short hill, usually termed bonk, and the drivers of heavily laden carts with two horses have the breeching on the leading chain-horse, as well as the horse in the shafts, so that when they are going down one of these steep bonks, the horse is as useful as a help in drawing up. Bonnet, subs. (old).—1. A gambling cheat; a decoy at auctions. [So-called because they bonnet or blind the eyes of the victims.—See Bonnet, verb, sense 1.] Hotten says sometimes called a bearer-up. The bonnet plays as though he were a member of the general public, and by his good luck, or by the force of his example, induces others to venture their stakes. Bonneting is often done in much better society than that to be found in the ordinary gaming-rooms. A man who persuades another to buy an article on which he receives commission or percentage, is said to bonnet or bear-up for the seller. Also called a bonneter. The French has bonneteur for one profuse in compliments and bows. 1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Bonnet, a concealment. 1841. Comic Almanack, October. Or a man at a hell, Playing the part of a bonnetter well. 1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. xxi. I began to think my military friend was ‘a bonnet,’—one of those harpies employed by gambling-house keepers to enhance temptation by the influence of example, and generally selected for their respectable and innocent appearance. (?) 1868. Times (quoted by Brewer, Phrase and Fable, p. 104). A man who sits at a gaming-table, and appears to be playing against the table; when a stranger appears, the bonnet generally wins. 1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 217. We bid or praised up his goods: in fact, often acted as ‘puffers’ or bonnets, to give him a leg up. 1885. Morning Post, Sept. 5, p. 7, col. 3. There was no distinct evidence to connect him with a conspiracy to defraud.... He might have been used as a sort of bonnet to conceal the utter worthlessness of propositions made by the others. 2. (old.)—A pretext; pretence; or ‘make believe.’ 3. A woman. [This sense is analogous to ‘petticoat,’ the names of articles of feminine attire being transferred to the wearer.] 1880. Punch’s Almanac, p. 3. Then comes Easter, Got some coin in hand, Trot a bonnet out and do the grand. Verb (common).—1. To act as a bonnet (q.v.); to cheat; to puff; to ‘bear up’ (q.v.). 1871. ‘Hawk’s-Eye,’ Budget of Turf Notes, p. 2. I could point out now what horses he is bonneting for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby of this year, and the horses whose pretensions he is trying to discredit. 1887. Referee, 15 May, p. 1, col. 3. Nobody can suppose that I am anxious to bonnet for the Times newspaper. 2. (popular.)—To crush a man’s hat down over his eyes. 1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 229. Two young men, who, now and then, varied their amusements by bonneting the proprietor of this itinerant coffee-house. 1836. Dickens, Pickwick, II., p. 216. You are a dutiful and affectionate little boy to come a bonnetin’ your father in his old age. 1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol in Prose, p. 22. Scrooge reverently disclaimed ... any knowledge of having wilfully bonneted the Spirit at any period of his life. 1882. Saturday Review, LIV., p. 629. The students hustled and ‘bonnetted’ a new professor. To have a green bonnet, phr. (common).—To fail in business. [From the green cloth cap formerly worn by bankrupts.] Bonnet-Builder, subs. (popular).—A milliner. [The derivation is clear.]—See Build. 1839. Song in The Little Melodist, quoted in J. Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 93. Will you go to Bagnigge Wells, Bonnet builder, O! 1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. ‘Build.’ A milliner is jestingly called a ‘bonnet-builder.’ Bonneter.—1. See Bonnet, subs., sense 1. 2. (common.)—A crushing blow on the hat.—See Bonnet, verb, sense 2. Bonnets So Blue, subs. (rhyming slang).—Irish stew.—See Rhyming slang. Bono, adj. (circus and thieves’).—Good. [From the Latin.] Booby Hutch, subs. (thieves’).—A police station; so called no doubt from the light in which the criminal classes regard those who are foolish enough or unfortunate enough to get ‘landed’ in such places. [Booby = a fool + hutch, a box or confined space.] Booby-Trap, subs. (schoolboys’).—An arrangement of books, wet sponges, vessels of water, etc., so arranged on the top of a door set ajar that when the intended victim enters the room, the whole falls upon him. 1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, ch. iii., p. 28. He had devoted it to the construction of what he called a ‘booby-trap,’ which ingenious piece of mechanism was arranged in the following manner: The victim’s room-door was placed ajar, and upon the top thereof a Greek Lexicon, or any other equally ponderous volume, was carefully balanced, and upon this was set in its turn a jug of water. If all these were properly adjusted, the catastrophe above described was certain to ensue when the door was opened. 1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. xiv. ‘I made a first-rate booby-trap, though, one day for an old yellow buffer who came in to see you.’ 1883. Sat. Review, Nov. 3, p. 566, col. 2. On his way down to dinner he is suddenly drenched from head to foot by a booby-trap—a sponge soaked in water placed above a half-open door. Boodle, subs. (American).—1. A crowd; a company; the ‘whole boiling’ (q.v.). With this meaning the form often appears as caboodle (q.v.). [As regards derivation, which is obscure, Murray, speaking of both senses as here treated, says the U.S. boodle, in sense 1, must be the same as Markham’s ‘buddle’ (see quotation given below from New English Dictionary); sense 2 (also only in U.S.) may be a different word. Boodle suggests a Dutch origin from boedel pronounced boodle, and in its primary sense means ‘household stuff,’ and refers to property left by a testator. It is curious to note that bodle was a Scotch coin of the value of one-sixth of a penny.] 1625. F. Markham, Bk. Honour, IV., ii. Men curiously and carefully chosen out (from all the buddle and masse of great ones) for their approoued wisedome. [M.] 1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat, p. 139. He would like to have the whole boodle of them (I remonstrated against this word, but the professor said it was a diabolish good word ...) with their wives and children shipwrecked on a remote island. 1865. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 361. Boodle, ‘the whole boodle of them,’ i.e., all, the whole. [List of Americanisms.] 1884. E. E. Hale, Xmas. in Narragansett, ch. ix., p. 272. At eleven o’clock the ‘whole boodle of them,’ as Uncle Nahum called the caravan ... had to boot and spur for church. [M.] 2. (American.)—In its second signification this curious word seems to have come into prominent use in politics during the past five years. Its meaning and usage is thus explained in Americanisms—Old and New. Some elections cannot be conducted without boodle first and last. Boodle does not mean the capital or stock-in-trade, except the business or trade be something secret, peculiar and illegal. Boodle always means money; but money has not always been boodle (see sense 4). Money honestly received and spent, money that circulates in regular and honest channels, that appears in cash-book and ledger and expense account, is never boodle; but when a sum—a thousand dollars, more or less—is given to some one to use in influencing a third party, given perhaps in silence and certainly without requiring any writing of acknowledgment or obligation—that is boodle. Boodle is money used for purposes of bribery and corruption; and the same word is employed to indicate the money that comes as spoils, the result of some secret deal, the profits of which are silently divided. The term is likewise used to cover the ill-gotten gains of the bank robber, or the absconding cashier. ‘He carried away so much boodle.’ In elections the primaries have to be ‘fixed,’ a great many men have to be ‘seen’; in short, the amount of money that it seems necessary in some cases to use to elect a few honest public servants is a thing to wonder at. And when these men are elected, it appears that they often lose the power of distinguishing between ‘straight money’ and boodle. The word seems destined to take its permanent place in the language.—See also Boodlers. 1884. Boston (Mass.) Globe, Oct. 7. ‘Sinews of war,’ and ‘living issues,’ ‘soap,’ and other synonyms for campaign boodle are familiar. [M.] 1888. Philadelphia Bulletin, 24 Feb. The best man in the world cannot make an honest living by being a City Councilman. The office is an unsalaried one, and any money that is made out of it is boodle. This is the new term for plunder, fraud and every form of stealing that can be practised by office-holders, who, in the practice, add the crime of perjury. It is an easy business for men of easy virtue. 1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 3. In the evening, up the street, As you see him passing by, You’re convinced his mind’s replete With the legal science high; That he ponders of divorce, Or, of boodle cases great; That he spends all day, of course, Fighting counsel for the State. 3. (American thieves’.)—Amongst the thieving fraternity boodle is used to denote money that is actually spurious or counterfeit, and not merely money used for nefarious purposes, but which as currency is genuine enough. 4. (American general.)—Money. This is the latest sense imported into the word. The transition by which it has come to be synonymous with ‘dust,’ ‘pieces,’ ‘rhino,’ ‘oof,’ etc., is an easy one.—See Actual. 1888. Puck’s Library, Jan., p. 4. Shakey, take a fader’s plessing, Take it, for you ket it sheap; Go in hot for making money, Go in for to make a heap. Don’ you do no dings vot’s grooked, Don’ you do no dings vot’s mean— Aber rake right in dot boodle, Qviet, calm, and all serene. To carry boodle is to utter base coinage.—See Boodler. Fake-boodle, subs. (American thieves’).—A roll of paper over which, after folding, a dollar bill is pasted, and another bill being loosely wrapped round this it looks as if the whole roll is made up of a large sum of money in bills. Boodler, subs. (American political).—1. One who bribes or corrupts.—See Boodle, sense 2. 1888. Omaha World. American. ‘As you are a native of Canada I suppose you think that country is all right, but for my