PASSING ENGLISH OF THE VICTORIAN ERA B

 [-13-]

    B's. (Fenian, 1883). Patriotic Brotherhood. In questionable taste. The members of the Patriotic Brotherhood, or Irish Invincibles, thus styled themselves. It may have had some absurd association with the ' busy bee '.
     Patrick Duffy was sworn, and deposed — Finnegan and Devlin were at a meeting of the society held in the spring of 1881. I knew James Hauratty and Patrick Geogeghan, who were both 'B's'. Report of the Patriotic Brotherhood Conspiracy (Trial at Belfast, 26th March 1883).
     B.C. play (Theatrical, 1885). Classical drama ; Before Christ. Invented apropos to Claudian (Princess's Theatre).
     The authors are wise to eschew low comedy. There wasn't much of it in the time of Pericles. George cannot come in and talk about milking his hay and mowing his cows as he did in 'Claudian'. One of our best low comedians, he is not at home in a B.C. period. — Ref., 28th March 1886.
     B.H. (Peoples', 1880). Bank holiday.
     B. K. 's (Military). Barracks. Used by officers, non-coms., and privates, down to the drummer-boy. (See H. Q.)
     B.P. (Theatrical). British Public. (See Pub.)
     ' Have you read Leader's manifesto on taking possession of Her Majesty's Theatre?' 'We have, and feel sure there's a good time coming for the B.P.'—  Bird o' Freedom, 1883.
     Harvey writes and arranges, not to please me, who don't pay, but the B.P., who do. — Ref., 9th August 1885
     'My dear Wilfred, They tell me you are in a wax about the exceptions I took to your article. I am extremely sorry to touch any line of yours, but B.P. must be considered, you know!' Ouida, An Altruist, 1896.
     B. and P. (Lond.). Initials of two young men whose public proceedings resulted, about 1870, in a long police-court inquiry and trial. (See Beanpea.)
     B Flat (Peoples'). Proof of advance of education, being a sort of pun lying between si bemol or B flat, and an intimate insect (now rapidly being evicted by a survival of the fittest), which has been too fatally associated with the family of Norfolk Howard (q.v.).
     Baby (Tavern, 1875). The conviction amongst men given to creature comforts that the cheapest soda and spirits refresher rose to sixpence at least, led the serated water manufacturers to invent the half-bottle (2d. ), which from its small size was dubbed 'baby' by all men. ' Give me a baby lemonade' was understood by all barmaids, who never blushed. The term has lapsed.
     Baby and Nurse (Tavern, 1876). A small bottle of soda-water and twopenny- worth of spirit in it. This is the nurse. Accepted terms even by queens of the taps and handles. Where more than 'two' of spirits is required numerals come by their own again. The phrase has lapsed.
     Baby's public-house (Peoples'). Nature's fount.
     Among them is a six-year-old baby that is suckled at the breast when it asks for baby's public-house, and that fills up the intervals between refreshment by smoking cigarettes. Fact! — Ref., 5th October 1884.
     Bab'sky (Liverpool). Corruption of Bay o' Biscay.
     The place where the arch was erected is about the most exposed part of the town when the wind is high, and in consequence is generally styled the 'Bab'sky '.Newsp. Cutting, May 1886.
     Back answers (C. Eng., 19 cent.). Sharp retorts, quick-tongued replies, dorsal eructations, without any concession to the laws of etiquette.
     He went to the station and gave no 'cheek ' or 'back-answers' to any one. Cutting.
    [-14-] Back down (American). To yield.
     If we may we indicate an apologetic foreign policy by remarking that the Government 'backs down '.
     That is to say, 'makes a back ', as boys at leap-frog, to enable the other players to get over.
     Back-hairing (Street). Feminine fighting, in which the occipital locks suffer severely.
     His Honour said no doubt there had been a great deal of provocation, but the rule was when a woman had her back hair pulled down and her face scratched, she back-haired and scratched in return. Newsp. Cutting.
     Back-hair parts (Theatrical). Roles in which the agony of the performance at one point in the drama admits of the feminine tresses in question floating over the shoulders.
     Like the famous lady who never would undertake any but 'back-hair' parts, the Parisian comedienne could only with difficulty be prevailed upon to become a stage heroine whose garments have to express the depths of an unpicturesque poverty. — D. N., November 1884.
     Back o' the green (Theatre and Music-hall). This is a sort of rebus, the 'green ' being an imperfect rhyme for 'scenes', also referring to that historical 'green' curtain which has now almost passed away. It represents 'behind the scenes '.
     Back row hopper (Theatrical). Chiefly used in taverns affected by the commoner members of 'the profession '. 'He's a back row hopper ' is said of an impecunious man who enters one of these houses on the pretence of looking for somebody, and the certain hope of finding somebody ready and willing to pay for a drink.
     Back slang it ( Thieves' ). To go out the back way.
     Back-scene (Devonshire). Literal. The second word direct from the French 'seant,', and an interesting example of evasive French-English — found only in Devon.
     Backs, The (Cambridge). Literally the backs of several of the greater colleges, notably Trinity and John's —seen from the opposite side of the Cam.
     St Andrews boasts her links, Oban is proud of her bay, Cambridge has her 'backs', and whoever visited Liverpool without hearing of her docks ? D. N.
     Backsheesh (Anglo-Arabic). Bribe. The origin of this word is historical. When Mohamed Ali endeavoured, after his lights, to bring Egypt within the pale of civilization, he sought to abate the endless begging exercised by most of his subjects. To this end he assured his people that if they did not beg, foreigners would always make them a backsheesh, or 'present'. The natives accepted the theory, but only to apply it to their old practice. They begged, as they beg to this day, as much as ever ; but they made their entreaties elegant by asking for a backsheesh —the one word of Arabic that every Englishman in Egypt learns, even if he acquire no other.
     The people who talk of bribery and 'backsheesh' in such circumstances are imperfectly informed as to desert customs and slang. To give a Sheikh who gets for you a hundred camels, say £60, is not an act of bribery. It is merely paying him a commission. — D. N.  16th March 1883.
     Bad cess to ye ! (Irish). Cess —board and lodging. An amiable Celtic benediction. An Act of Parliament was passed during Strafford's viceroyalty 'for the better regulating of Ireland ', wherein we find these words: 'Whereas there are many young gentlemen of this kingdom (Ireland), that have little or nothing to live on of their own, and will not apply themselves to labour, but live coshering on the country, cessing themselves and their followers, their horses and their greyhounds, upon the poorer inhabitants,' etc., etc. This phrase is in common use in England where the two words are supposed to mean ill-luck, as indeed they do, e.g., ' Bad cess to you, Joe —wherever you go ! '
     Bad crowd (Californian). A man of indifferent character.
     She then went out to tell the feminine convention on the back stoop what a bad crowd Jabez used to be when he kept a chicken-ranch on the Stanislaus in '51. — San Francisco Mail.
     Bad egg (Peoples'). A person hopelessly beyond cure, perfectly disreputable. Originally American, though no longer used in the U.S. Colloquial in England.
     A man out West, by the name of Thomas Egg, having committed some crime, his neighbours gave him [-15-] the appellation of a 'bad Egg', which, in its application to vice, with man, woman, or child, they are invariably called bad eggs. It is also used to denote a good man, by calling him a good egg. And this is used either to denote his moral or pecuniary standing. — American Paper.
     Bad form (Soc., 1860 on). The opposite of Correct Fashion. Derived from the racing stable.
     The very low bodices of some seasons ago are now considered 'bad form' (a quite untranslatable phrase). — D. N., ' Dresses for dances ', 15th December 1885.
     This ingenious piece of tactics in taking cover was looked upon as ' bad form ', even by the other hill men, who appreciated the scruples of British humanity. — Newsp. Cutting.
     (See No class).
     Bad hat (Middle-class, 19 cent.). A queer chum, dissatisfactory mess-mate, disreputable person. Probably Irish, from the worst Hiberian characters always wearing bad high hats (caps are not recognised in kingly Ireland).
     What a shocking bad hat! is the next cry, with something of an historical flavour about it, that I can recollect. The observation is not yet wholly extinct, I should say, although its meaning has entirely vanished from the public ken ; but, according to Sir William Fraser, in his Words on Wellington, the origin of this derisive criticism on a gentleman's head-gear was as follows : 'When the first Reform Parliament met, the Duke went into the Peers' Gallery of the House of Commons Sir William Fraser says that it was the Bar, but this part of his statement is due, I should say, to a slip of the pen to survey the members. Expecting, of course to be questioned, and knowing that his words would be repeated, the Duke, prompt as usual, was ready for the inquisition ; and when asked, on walking back to the House of Lords, what he thought of the new Parliament, he evaded responsibility by saying, "I never saw so many shocking bad hats in my life." The catchword soon lost its political associations, and after a few years, was merged in the purely imbecile query, "Who's your hatter?'" G. A. Sala, in D. T., 28th July 1894.
     Bad Shilling (Common). The last, e.g., 'That's a bad shillin', that is, for there ain't another beyinde it, you know.'
     Bad young man (L. Peoples', 1881). Antithesis to Good Young Man (q.v.).
     That the fatted calf, who had never been a prodigal, should suffer death in honour of the bad young man has never seemed to me strict dramatic justice. — Ref., 18th January 1885.
     Badger, to (Peoples'). To worry. From worrying a badger in his hole until he comes out to show fight. (See Draw.) It forms a remarkable example of complete inversion of the original meaning, for it was the badger which was worried he was never the worrier. Nowadays he is the aggressor.
     Immediately after the explosion at the House of Commons on Saturday I went to see 'the scene'. Thanks to the courtesy of the officials in charge sorely badgered by M.P.'s, peers, and public persons, who had come out of idle curiosity I was able to make a thorough inspection both of the House and of Westminster Hall. —Ref., 1st February 1885. (See also G.O.M.)
     Badges and Bulls' eyes (Army, 1899). In the Boer Revolt (October 1899), the officers' medals and badges offered fatal bulls' eyes for the Bore rifles.
     The question has been much discussed whether, in view of the terrible gaps made in the roll of officers, they were not even yet too much marked out as Boer targets by what General Gatacre called badges and bulls' eyes. D. T., 21st December 1899.
     Bag o' Beer. (Lowest people's). Bacchanalian brevity for it means, and nothing else than a quart half of fourpenny porter and half of fourpenny ale. This once stood ' pot o' four 'arf an' 'arf, reduced to 'four 'arf, and thence to ' bag o' beer '.
     Bags o' Mystery. (Peoples'). A satirical term for sausages, because no man but the maker knows what is in them.
     'If they're going to keep running-in polony fencers for putting rotten gee-gee into the bags of mystery, I hope they won't leave fried-fish-pushers alone.'
     This term took its rise about 1850, long before the present system of market-inspection was organised. But this term remained long after sausages were fairly wholesome. The 'bag' refers to the gut which contained the chopped meat.
     Bag and Baggage. Thoroughly, completely. It once more became popular from a phrase in a speech by Gladstone in reference to the Turk in [-16-] Europe, whom he recommended should be turned out of Europe 'bag and baggage.'
     The truth of the matter is that all the petty States which won over the sympathies of sentimental politicians by their eternal whinings against that 'big bully, the Turk', have proved themselves past masters in the art of oppressing minorities, now that the tables have turned. They would like to carry into effect the 'bag and baggage' theory, and make a clean sweep of foreigners, to whatever race or religion these latter may belong.—  D. T., 13th August 1885.
     Bagger, Bag-thief. (Thieves'). A stealer of rings by seizing the hand. Possibly from the French 'bague', a ring.
     Baiard (Peoples'). A good fellow. Still now and again heard in the provinces ; of course from Bayard, the chevalier 'sans peur et sans reproche'.
     'Thou'rt a real baiard — thou art. How now, mates, what baiards have we here?' — Garrick, Abel Drugger.
     Bailiff of Marsham (Fens, 17 cent.). Ague.
     There was so much water constantly lying about Ely, that in olden times the Bishop of Ely was accustomed to go in his boat to Cambridge. When the outfalls of the Ouse became choked, the surrounding districts were subject to severe inundations ; and after a heavy fall of rain, or after a thaw in winter, when the river swelled suddenly, the alarm spread abroad 'The Bailiff of Bedford is coming' the Ouse passing through that town. But there was even a more terrible bailiff than he of Bedford, for when a man was stricken down by the ague, it was said of him, he is arrested by the Bailiff of Marsham, this disease extensively prevailing all over the district when the poisoned air of the marshes began to work. — Smiles, Lives of the Engineers.
     A fine example of passing English being helped by old phrases, for when the draining of the fens had been practically accomplished, ague ceased as an endemic disease. The term, however, is still heard now and again at any point between Boston in the north and Chelmsford in the south. It is metaphorically used to suggest approaching death.  
     Baked dinner (Jocose, Prison, 19 cent. ), Bread — which is baked. The phrase was habitually used at Bridewell, this prison having been utilized until quite recently as a place of detention rather than as a prison for the punishment of troublesome city apprentices bound to freed men of the City of London. They were taken before the City Chamberlain, who in extreme cases sent the youngsters to Bridewell, in Bridge Street, Blackfriars, where a painting or two of Hogarth's are still to be found. Here the offenders were kept in honourable durance for a fortnight or more without labour, their only punishment being the absence of liberty. It was upon these neophytes that the trick was played of telling them that they were to have 'Baked Dinner'. Their disappointment, and the explanation of the term afforded huge merriment, reiterated on every possible occasion.  
     Baker's Dozen. Thirteen — grimly used for a family of twelve and another. The 'baker's dozen ', meaning thirteen, dates back to the time of Edward I., when very rigid laws were enacted regarding the sale of bread by bakers. The punishment for falling short in the sale of loaves by the dozen was so severe that, in order to run no risk, the bakers were accustomed to give thirteen or fourteen loaves to the dozen, and thus arose this peculiar expression. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Balaclava (1856-60). A full beard, first seen upon the faces of the English army upon their return to England from Crimea. The new departure was instantly dubbed with the name of the most popular of the three great battles (Alma, Balaclava, Inkermann), the name probably being chosen by reason of the brilliancy of the charge of the Light Brigade. French writers who had visited the Great Exhibition of 1851, and who had been struck by the absolute absence of the moustache (except in the case of some military men), and the utter absence of the beard, without exception, were astonished upon return visits half-a-dozen years afterwards, to find Englishmen were bearded like the pard. Britons upon the principle of reaction always going the whole hog, grew all the hair they could, and the mere moustache of Frenchmen was nowhere in the fight. Interestingly enough, exactly as the wild, unkempt beard of 'The Terror ' dwindled into the moustache for the young, and the cotelette (mutton-chop) for the elderly, so the Balaclava (which [-17-] abated the razor, as a daily protesting sacrifice to anti-gallicanism) toned down by '70, into the various beards of to-day the Peaked, the Spade, the Square, and other varieties of Tudor beards. These remained until the Flange, or Dundreary (see 1872-73),came in and cleared the chin, to be followed by the Scraper. To-day the 'York' prevails the short, pointed beard still worn by the Prince of Wales.
     Bald-head (American). An old man.  
     The house-fly flies an average of three miles per day. He can't be biting babies and bald heads all the time, you know. —  Texas Siftings.  
     Byron used this term contemptuously in The Two Foscari, Act iii., sc. 1. MARINA. 'Held in the bondage of ten bald heads,' referring to the Council of Ten.  
     Bald-headed Butter (Com. London). Butter free from hairs. First publicly heard in a police-court case, where the satire had led an indignant cheesemonger to take law in his own hands.  
     ' Waiter, I'll take a bit of bald-headed butter, if you please.'  
     Balley, To ( Com. Lond. ). To be off, e.g., 'I thought it was time to be off, so I balleyed.' (See Skip, Valse, Polka.)  
     Balloon (Tailors'). A week's enforced idleness from want of work. French, Ulan, officially a balance-sheet book, figuratively a sentence, condemnation.
     Balloon-juice (Public-house, 1883). Soda-water; presumably suggested by its gassy nature.
     It's as good as a bottle of balloon-juice after a night's hard boozing. — Newsp. Cutting.
     Balloon-juice Lowerer. A total abstainer, the 'lowerer' from the use of 'to lower' for 'to swallow'.
     To be a booze fencer now, is to be a mark for every balloon-juice lowerer who can't take a drop of beer or spirits without making a beast of himself. —  Newsp. Cutting.
     Bally (Sporting, 1884 on). Excessive, great. Perhaps an evasion of 'bloody'.
     ' Too bad, too bad! after getting fourteen days or forty bob, the bally rag don't even mention it. I shall turn teetotal '.... 'Has that bally Ptolemy won, d'ye know? What price did he start at ? ' . . . 'If you had been born an elephant instead of a bally jackass, you would have had your trunk on the end of your nose, when you could have seen to it yourself.' —  Sporting Times. 11th April 1885.
     Balmedest Balm (Low London). Balm in the extreme.
     ' It is just a little the balmedest balm you ever plastered on your love-stricken heart. Try it, Annetta ; and don't be afraid of it ; spread it on thick. ' —  Newsp. Cutting.
     Balsam (Sporting). Money. From both medicaments being of such an agreeable character. Originally confined to dispensing chemists.
     Ban (Com. Irish, 18 cent. on). Lord- Lieutenant. There is a supposed association between 'ban', curse or edict, and 'banshee ', the precursor of sorrow. Still in use, e.g., 'Bedad, one ban or anoder, 'tis the same man. '
     Banbury (London, 1894). One of the more recent shapes of 'jam', 'biscuit', 'cake', 'confectionery', 'tart' (qq.v.) a loose woman.
     Witness took several names and addresses, and some of the females described themselves as 'Banburys'; and said they got their living as best they could. —  Raid on the Gardenia Club, The People, 4th February 1894.
     Baned (Prov. ). Poisoned, e.g. , 'I'll have 'ee baned like a rat.' Abbreviation of henbane.
    What if my house is troubled with a rat,
    And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
    To have it baned ?
            —  Merchant of Venice, Act iv.
     Banded (Low London). Hungry. May be Romany, or literal, hunger pressing like a band on the stomach, e.g., 'I've been fair banded all the blooming week.'
     Bang (S. Exchange). To loudly and plentifully offer a certain stock with the intention of lowering its price.
     When any adventurers call them bears or bulls, or any other animals start to bang the shares, do not lend yourself to the game they are playing ; sit close on your shares. —   D. T., 2nd June 1898.
     Bang (To) (Fashion, 1870-95). Mode of dressing the hair in a line of fixed curls over the forehead. Chiefly used by women in England. Introduced by the then Princess of Wales. Commonly called to ' fringe ' the hair.
     An American lady has written : ' If for [-18-] a few brief hours of triumphant bang you are willing to undergo a long night of anguish, roll three rows of these wooden fire-crackers in your perfumed tresses.' —  D. N., 21st October 1886.
     The man who bangs his hair hasn't enough sense to blow out his brains, even if he possessed any. —   N. Y. Commerc. Advertiser.
     This fashion at last gave way (1895) to 'undulated bands ' covering the forehead, and, more fashionably, also the ears.
     Bang Mary (Kitchen). The English cook's translation of 'bain Marie', the small saucepans within another saucepan of boiling water, an apparatus devised by a French cook named Marie. This obvious simplification of French is a good example of the vulgar habit of fitting foreign words to well-known English ones of something like similar sound ('folk-etymology').
     Bang through the Elephant (Low London). A finished course of dissipation, as thus : drunk rhymed into elephant's trunk, abbrev. to elephant.
     'You're no fool, don't you know, you're up to slum ; been right bang through the elephant.'
     Bang Up (Low London). Firstclass, superior. 'Bang ' probably from the commanding cry of a cannon or gun, while 'up ' is always an aspiring adverb, or even verb. However, ' bang ' may be a vivid translation of 'bien', an exclamation certainly used at the court of Charles II.
     Bang up to the Elephant (London, 1882). Perfect, complete, unapproachable. The 'Elephant' ( ' Elephant and Castle Tavern,' South London), had for years been the centre of South London tavern-life when (1882) Jumbo, an exceptionally large elephant at the Zoological Gardens, became popular through certain articles in the D. T. The public were pleased to think Jumbo refused to leave England and the gardens for America. He, however, did ultimately, with no emotion, leave behind him this bit of passing English.  
     'The fly flat thinks himself so blooming sharp, so right bang up to the elephant, that he's got an idea that no sharper would ever try to take him on.'
     Banian Day. See Banyan Day.
     Banjoeys (Soc., 90's). Banjoists. A happy application of the comic joey —   comic since the time of Grimaldi. An evasion of the 'ist ' and invention of a friendly term at the same time. Said to be a trouvaille by the Prince of Wales, who brought banjo orchestras into fashion, being a banjoey himself.
     Bank Up, To (N. Country coal districts). To complete, to more than complete referring to building up a huge fire, e.g., 'Us sooped yell till niight, an' then us poot away room! Then we banked up with a jolly dance and the tykes did go it.'
     The Helston Flora Day —  or 'Furry Day' —  was a go-as-you-please sort of festivity, where people danced in the streets, waltzed in and out each other's doors, and hilariously 'banked up ' these entertainments by holding a bird show and running foot races.—    D. T., 20th August 1896.
     Banker Chapel Ho (E. London). Whitechapel, and, in another shape, vulgar language. The word got in this way. In the first place, it is a ludicrous Italian translation Bianca, white; cappella, chapel = White Chapel. Then Anglicization entering in, the first word got into 'Banker ' and the second back into Chapel, with the addition of the rousing and cheery 'Oh!' 'Ah, Mrs Dicks, but you know the force of the sweet Italian quotation "Giotto Cimabue di Fra Angelico in Sistine" ! ' To which Mrs D— , originally from the district, might reply : ' Now, Ned, there's a good feller, none o' your Banker Chapel Ho!'
     Bant, To (Soc., 1860 on). To reduce stoutness. From the name 'Banting ', that of a very fashionable funeral undertaker, who reduced himself many stones by the use of non-fat-producing food. He had a whale-bone frame made to fit his once large waistcoats and coats, and wore the whole over his reduced size removing this armour to produce a full effect.
     The Globe Dime under Meehan and Wilson has not been behind its neighbours in furnishing attractive novelties, leading off with John Craig, a champion of obesity, who has 'banted ' down to a net weight of 758 pounds avoirdupois. —   N. Y. Mercury, 13th January 1885.
     Banyan Day (Middle-class). No meat ; only 'bread and cheese and kisses ' through twenty-four hours. Of course from India and the Army, the [-19-] cooling banyan suggesting that all the rupees went yesterday.
     If the actor has been taking the M.P. unawares on banyan day, when there wasn't enough cold meat to go round, I certainly think he owes him an apology.—   Ref., 25th February 1882.
     In Devonshire the word is even applied to scrappy, tawdry dressing, e.g. , ' hat a banyan sight to be sure!' (The word must be pronounced as a spondee).
     Those were the halcyon days of British industries. The banyan days have been with the miners since then, and seem likely to stay.—  Ref., 2nd May 1886.
     They told me that on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the ship's company had no allowance for 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.—   Smollett, Roderick Random, ch. xxv.
     'Banyan' is sometimes used for the skin.
     The first hour found him beastly drunk ; the second, robbed and stripped to his banyan.—   Rattlin the Reefer, ch. xliii.
     Barbecue (Old English). Any animal, bird, or large fish cooked whole, without cutting, from beard (barbe) to tail (queue).
     The triumphal procession of a band of music, to welcome Mrs Langtry, was a comparatively ancient device smacking somewhat of both the circus and the institution known in America as a 'barbecue' (a festival where a bullock or sheep is roasted entire, set to music). — Newsp. Cutting.
     In the United States the word now represents a noisy political meeting.
     I see they announce a big, old-fashioned barbecue to be given next week by the Brooklyn Democrats, at which Cleveland and Hendricks, Presidential candidates, are to participate. This barbecue holdin' used to be a very popular form of political excitement in the olden time. — Newsp. Vutting.
     The barbecue was announced as a 'Monster Democratic Kally ', and 'A Grand Political Carnival and Ox-Roast '. — Newsp. Cutting.
     Barber's Cat (Peoples'). A skinny man. Perhaps a corruption of ' bare brisket ', also used for a thin fellow — the brisket being the thinnest part of beef.
     Barclay Perkins (Peoples'). Stout From the brewing firm Barclay, Perkins & Co.
     Barges (Peoples', c. 1884). Imitation breasts, which arrived from France, and prevailed for about four years. Named probably from their likeness to the wide prow of canal- barges.
     Bark up a wrong- Tree (American, e.g., 19 cent.). Mr Rees, an American etymologist, says :
     This is a very common expression at the West. It originated, as many of these vulgarisms do, from very simple causes. In hunting, a dog drives a racoon, as he imagines, up a certain tree, at the foot of which he keeps up a constant barking, by which he attracts the attention of his master, who vainly looks on the tree indicated. While endeavouring to find the animal he discovers it on another tree, from which it escapes and gets beyond his reach. Hence the phrase 'To bark up the wrong tree'. It has become general in its application, denoting that a person has mistaken his object, or pursuing the wrong cause to obtain it, etc.
     Barkis is Willin' (Peoples', 1850). Form of proposal of marriage, still very popular in lower-middle classes. From Dickens' David Copperfield, ch. v.
     'Ah,' he said, slowly turning his eyes towards me. 'Well, if you was writin' to her p'raps you'd recollect to say that Barkis was willin; : would you? '
     Characters hardly less distinguishable for truth as well as oddity are the kind old nurse and her husband, the carrier, whose vicissitudes alike of love and mortality are condensed into three words since become part of universal speech, Barkis is willin' . Foster, Life of Dickens, vol. in., p. 18.
     In cross-examination she said that the drinking fits usually occurred when Mr Dunn was from home. She did not think that the Walls were fit company for Mrs Dunn. Mr Wall did not pay the witness any attention. Mrs Wall wanted to force her son on the witness, but she resented it. — Sir C. Russell : 'Was "Barkis willing"? — The witness: 'No.' (Laughter.) — Dunn v. Dunn & Wall, 30th January 1888.
     Barmy (Peoples'). Generally 'a bit barmy', rather mad, 'cracked'. From St Bartholomew, the patron saint of mad people. The pronunciation of the saint's name was Barthelemy passing into Bartlemy (cf. Bartlemy Fair), and Barmy became the final [-20-] form, e.g., 'The family has always been a bit barmy in the crumpet.' (Why crumpet should stand for head is, so far, beyond discovery. )
     Barn. A public ball-room ; probably because one of the last of the London garden ball-rooms was Highbury Barn, North London. (See Barner.)
     Barn-stormers (Theatrical, 18 cent. on). Inferior actors who play in barns. Used, of course, in scorn by those comedians who have reached permanent footlights. The term has now almost passed away in consequence of the enormous increase in the number of theatres which now exist, even in the smallest towns. The 'barnstormers' hire a barn near a village, and there give their performance — frequently of Shakespeare.
     Miss Helen Bancroft, who recently played in this city, was announced as with a barn-storming company. N. Y. Mercury, 1883.
     Barner (North London, 1860-80). A ' roaring 'blade, a fast man of North London ; from Highbury Barn, one of those rustic London gardens which became common casinos. The term remained until the Barn was swept away for building purposes.
     Barneries (Strand, 1887). Last outcome of S. Kensington exhibitions ending in '-ries '.
     Considerable commotion ensued at the Adelphi Stores, Strand, on account of the new proprietress, Miss Barnes, being presented with a testimonial. Miss B. as already won favour in her new venture, and it is thought the 'Barneries' will be much affected by the profession. — Ref., 20th February 1887.
     Barney (L. Eng.). A quarrel, row, generally of an innocuous character.
     Then Selby runs out, and goes into the lodging-house to get another knife, but I stops him, and the barney was all over, but as we was agoing along to the hospital up comes a copper.—  People, 6th January 1895.
     Baron George (S. London, 1882). A portly man. This term was derived from the Christian name of a Mr George Parkes, a portly theatrical lessee in S. London, who came to be called Baron George; e.g., 'He's quite the Baron George!'
     Barrel of Salt, To take with a (American). To accept under reserve, with incredulity. From the Latin phrase cum grano salis.
     He is therefore to be taken with a barrel of salt. — Newsp. Cutting.
     Barrel of Treacle (Low London). The condition of love, suggested by the sweetness of this cloying synonym.
     'Pon our sivey, we don't want to poke fun at chaps who've fallen into that barrel of treacle called love, and make up to their little lumps of soap in the operpro sort of way, and no blooming kid. — Newsp. Cutting, 1883.
     Barrered (Low Life). A corruption of harrowed, from to barrow or put in a barrow, not that of the gardener but of the coster. Distinct from 'shettered' (q.v.), intimating that the drunken gentleman was removed by his friends and not by the police; e.g., 'Which mum, we 'ad to barrer 'im 'ome. He were too that 'eavy to carry.' In St Giles the highest shapes of involuntary locomotion is ' wheeled ' (in a cab) — then follows barrered — then the declension is reached in ' shettered ' (shuttered). This term is passing away with the shutters themselves.
     Barrikin (Com. London). Barking, chatter.
     Let 'em say what they like, and howl themselves dotty. Their barrikin only makes 'em thirsty, and when they've got hot coppers through chucking the barrikin out too blooming strong they go in for a little quiet booze themselves, make no error. — Newsp. Cutting.
     Barrister's (Thieves'). A thieves' coffee-house, derived from a celebrated host of this name.
     The witness remarked that he could not waste his time; and Richards said he could not make out where he was, and he would go to the 'barrister's ' and look for him. (The witness explained, amid a roar of laughter, that a 'barrister's' was a slang term for a coffeehouse frequented by thieves.) Cutting.
     Baseball (American, 1880 on). Small, insignificant. Sometimes heard in Liverpool. Suggested by the small size of the ball in question.
     Yesterday a Mercury reporter saw Heer within the prison walls. As he stepped into the corridor from his cell he evinced some nervousness, and stroked a 'baseball ' moustache faintly perceptible on his upper lip, with his cigarette-stained fingers. N. Y. Mercury, 1880.
     Bash (Thieves', 1870). To beat heavily with the fist only. Probably the most modern onomatope — the [-21-] Basher Bayreuth Hush word doubtless being an attempt to vocalize the sound made by a fist striking full in the face.
     This real lady said, ' I ain't any the wuss for being able to take my own part, and I should think myself very small beer, and no kid, if I couldn't bash any dona in our court.' — Newsp. Cutting.
     Women of susceptible and nervous temperaments are asked to come to theatres and see for themselves how they hocuss and 'bash ' people at low riverside houses. — Cutting.
     Mr Chaplin : 'Bless me, yes! Didn't you know that he had offered Greenwood, of The Telegraph, a Civil List pension if he would get Lord Randolph "bashed" and dropped into the Thames?' — Ref., 1882.
     Basher (Mod. Low. Lond.). A name applied to low fighting rowdies paid to bruise and damage.
     The villain of the piece and the 'bashers', or hireling assassins, are supposed to carry on their trade unchecked in Ratcliffe Highway and Wapping.
     Basket of Oranges (Australian, passing to England). Pretty woman. A metaphor founded on another metaphor the basket of oranges being a phrase for a discovery of nuggets of gold in the gold fields. One of the few flashes of new language from Australasia ; e.g., 'She's a basket of oranges fit for any man's table.'
     Bastile (Street, 18 cent. on). Any place of detention, but generally a prison or a workhouse. More commonly 'Steel'. The horror of the Bastile felt by all Frenchmen in the 18th century spread to England, and the name was associated with oppression. The word was particularly applied to Cold Bath Fields prison, Clerkenwell, which was called 'The Steel' until its final fall about 1890. The last new application of this word was (1870) to the Peabody Buildings for working men, erected in the Black Friars Road, London. It was the first of these buildings, which have long since been accepted and even battled for by working people. But at first the prejudice was very marked. The term has not been applied since 1880.
     Bath Oliver (W. Eng., 18 A cent. on). biscuit with a historical character.
     'Bobs' fights on 'Bath Olivers'. Shortly before leaving for the Cape he paid a visit to his sister, Mrs Sherston, 21 of Bath, and took away with him to the front a bountiful supply of Bath Olivers. He sent home for a further supply, which Lady Roberts took with her when she went to join him. It is not every one who has heard of the Oliver. It is a biscuit, and owes its name to the celebrated Dr Oliver, a Bath physician, and the friend of Pope, Warburton, and other eighteenth century notabilities. When on his death-bed, the doctor called for his coachman, and gave him the recipe for the biscuits, ten sacks of flour, and a hundred sovereigns. The lucky fellow started making and selling the biscuits in a small shop in Green Street, Bath. And there they are made and sold to this day. — M. A. P., 19th May 1900.
     Batter through (Peoples'). To struggle, beat thro', from French battre, to beat, probably used in the time of Charles II. ; e.g., ' He battered through the part somehow!'
     Batty-fang (Low London). To thrash thoroughly. Evidently battre a fin. But how it passed into English, or whence it came, unless from the heated court of Charles II., it would be difficult to say.
     Baub (Cockney, 19 cent.). One of the commonest modes of evasively referring to the Deity — modes in which some idea of the original word, either in length, syllable, or letters, or even rhyme, is to be traced ; e.g., 'S'elp me Baub, I didn't go for to do it.' However, the word really comes from Catholic England, and is 'babe' — meaning the infant Saviour.
     Baudinguet (Parisian). A nickname given to Prince Napoleon in 1848, from the name of the mason who aided the Prince to escape from Ham, where he was imprisoned. It stuck to Napoleon III. even to 1870, when a war correspondent at Sarbruck (July 1870) asked a soldier if he knew whether the emperor had arrived. The reply was : 'Oui ; Baudinguet est arrivé.'
     Bayreuth Hush (Soc., 1890). Intense silence. From the noiselessness of the opera house at Bayreuth (Bavaria) when a Wagner festival is about to commence.  
     If it cannot be said that the peculiar order of stillness known as the ' Bayreuth hush' made itself felt in the Covent Garden opera house last evening, yet there is no denying the spirit of expectation and attention in which a full audience brought itself to the opening performance of the long-expected Ring cycle. — D. T., 7th June 1898.  [-22-] Bazaar Rumour (Army, 1882 on). Doubtful news. Equivalent to ' Hamburg '. The result of the Egyptian occupation, referring to native news spread through the bazaars of Cairo.  
     I am able to contradict on official authority the statement published in London that there was a bazaar rumour that the Mahdi and his followers were marching on Dongola. —  D. N., 10th November 1884.  
     Bazaar'd (Soc., 1882). Robbed. From the extortion exercised by remorseless, smiling English ladies at bazaars. Applied everywhere. Replaced, 'rooked' in society; e.g., 'I was awfully bazaar'd at Sandown.'  
     A gentleman coming home from a bazaar met a highwayman, who accosted him with the professional formula of 'Your money or your life.' 'My dear sir,' said the gentleman, 'I should be most happy to give you my money if I had any, but I have just been to a bazaar. '< The highwayman at once acknowledged the force of this argument, and further was so touched by the circumstances that he offered the victim a small contribution. —  Newsp. Cutting.  
     Beach-comber (Nautical). A pirate, a beach-loafer, or a yachting tourist. In its earlier shape it referred to the pirate who made a landing and swept up all he could that is, he 'combed the beach '. The pirate being quite dead in the Western Seas, this sense of the term is now only applied in the East, and generally to the Chinese marin d'industrie. The use of the word in its earlier meaning is sometimes figurative, especially on the American coast, e.g., 'I was beachcombed out of every red cent.' In its later sense the word means a globetrotter, or rather a beach-trotter, who travels only on land within easy distance of his wandering yacht.  
     It would be better to enter the army from the ranks, or to go gold-mining in Chiapas, or try ivory and Central Africa, or even to be a beach-comber in some insular paradise of the Southern Seas, which, as Mr Stevenson is showing, is the best kind of lotus-eating life left to mankind. — D. N., 11th February 1891.  
     Probably Mr Stevenson would not be displeased at the title of a literary beachcomber. —  D. N., 27th December 1890.  
     Beadles (American). People of Virginia ; probably from their high, old-fashioned behaviour, which the Northerner associates with that expiring church functionary.  
     Beak (Low London, 18 and 19 cent.). A magistrate. Probably from lawyers, as Thackeray has somewhere remarked, being celebrated for a vast expanse of aquiline nose. Mr Gr. A. Sala (D. T., 28th July 1896), urges a different origin :  
     A contributor to Notes and Queries states that Hookey Walker was a magistrate of much-dreaded acuteness and incredulity, whose Roman nose gave the title of 'beak ' to all his successors. The term is derived from the Anglo- Saxon ' beag ', a necklace or collar worn as an emblem of authority. Sir John Fielding, half-brother of the novelist, was known as the 'blind beak', and he died in 1780, sixty years before the cry of ' Hookey Walker ' became popular.  
     Beak-hunter (Thieves'). Annexer of poultry.  
     Bean-eater (New York). A term of scorn for a citizen of Boston, referring to the former Sunday custom observed by some Bostonians of accepting for dinner on that day cold belly of pork, and colder beans. (See Stars and Stripes.)  
     Circus tricks! circus tricks! you beaneaters  Can't you tell when a feller's a-dying: —  Cutting.  
     Beanfeast (Peoples'). A treat. Used generally in reference to enjoyments, and derived from the yearly feast of employees in factories and shops, of which much of the expense is borne by the employer. Originally the treat consisted of broad beans and boiled bacon, which must have been a great delight when few green vegetables were obtainable throughout winter.  
     Oh, it was quite a beanfeast only one mouse [= black-eye]. —  Cutting.  
     Sometimes it is used satirically to denote a riot, e.g., 'What a beanfeast!' parallel with the American 'picnic '.  
     Beano (Peoples'). Great rejoicing. From bean-feast, reduced to bean, with the ever rejoicing o added. (See Boyno. ) It may be a connected coalition with 'bueno ' common in London Docks being Lingua Franca.  
     One day last week I said ' Good-bye ! '  
         To my kids, my wife, and home,  
     I met some pals, and away we went  
         For a ' beano ' by the foam.  
                                             —  Cutting, 1897.  
     Beaner (Peoples'). Chastisement. 'To give beans' is to inflict punishment, a phrase derived from boys [-23-]beating each other with a collection of horse-beans in the foot of a sock. The word 'beaner' is sometimes used ironically, calling something agreeable which is quite otherwise, e.g., 'That's a beaner — that is ! '  
     Beanpea (London Streets). A coalescing of B and P (q.v.) into one word, the d being dropped. Doubtless the outcome of time, and the droll idea of combining the two vegetables which come in almost at the same time. Still hastily, too hastily, applied to effeminate youths. The case was thrown out of Court when it came before Lord Chief-Justice Cockburn.  
     Beans. Sovereigns. Possibly a corruption of bien (a sovereign being certainly a 'bien'). But it may be a market-gardeners' trade phrase. But if so, why beans ? Why not strawberries, or asparagus, or some other of the more valuable products?  
     Be-argered (Peoples'). Drunk. The 'argered ' is 'argumentative', a drunken man being commonly full, not only of beer, but also of argument.  
     Beast (Youths', 1870). A bicycle — the first endearing metaphor bestowed upon this locomotive. Used in no way derogatively, but as though a horse a hunter. (See Bone-shaker, Craft, Crock.) But, as time went on and the ' byke ' became a power, it ceased to be associated with a mere animal ; by 1897 no term could be too distinguished by which to designate the all-conquering machine.  
     Beat-up (Soc., 19 cent.). To call upon unceremoniously ; from beating-up game, which is certainly not treated with politeness when wanted, e.g., 'I'll beat you up on Monday, or when I can.' (See Stir up, Have out.)  
     Beau (Peoples'). A man of fashion — early 18 century, of course direct from the French, and evidently from 'est il beau?' for before 'homme' it changes its formation: 'un bel homme!' Johnson says, 'A man whose great care is to deck his person.' Still used in country places. 'What a beau ye be, Tummis!' Earliest classic use by Dryden, 'What will not beaux attempt to please the fair?' Swift says, 'You will become the delight of nine ladies in ten, and the envy of ninety-nine beaux in a hundred.' Never now heard in towns. (See Spark.)  
     Beau-catcher (Peoples', 1854-60). 23 A flat hook-shaped curl, after the Spanish manner, gummed on each temple, and made of the short temple hair, spelt sometimes bow-catcher. It is synonymous with ' Kiss curl'. Now obsolete on this side of the Pyrenees.  
     Beaver-tail (Mid. -class, 1860). A feminine mode of wearing the backhair, turned up loose in a fine thread net (called 'invisible') which fell well on to the shoulders. When the net is now worn, generally by lazy girls of the people, it is fixed above the neck. Obviously from the shape of the netted hair to a beaver's flat and comparatively shapeless tail. The well-marked fashion in hair for the people's women folk which followed was the 'Piccadilly Fringe ' (q.v.).  
     Bedder (Oxford- 'er'). Bedroom.  
     Bedford Go (Tavern, 1835-60). A peculiar oily chuckle usually accompanied by the words, ' I b'lieve yer my bu-o-oy.' From the style of Paul Bedford, an actor for many years with Wright, at the old Adelphi. Bedford always was famous for his chuckle, but he raised it to fame in connection with the above credo, uttered in the celebrated melodrama, The Green Bushes. (See Joey O. Smith.)  
     Bee (American). An industrious meeting as quilting, or apple-gathering.  
     One day the boys over in the Bend had a hanging bee and invited us to come down and see a chap swing for his crimes. —Detroit Free Press, January 1883.  
     Beef (Theatrical, 1880). A bawl or yell. Probably the career of this word is — 'bull —bellow— beef,' the last word elegantly suggesting the declaration of a noisy bull.  
     At the back was the musical box, and an obliging hammer-wholloper beefed the names of the different squallers and bawlers as they slung on the boards.— Cutting.  
     Beef (Clare Market — extinct). Cat's meat, e.g., 'Give me my mouser's one d. of beef.'  
     Beef a Bravo (Music-hall). To bellow, bravo like a bull, in order to lead the applause for a friend who has just left the stage.  
     Beef-a-la-Mode (Com. London). Stewed beef called a-la-mode on the lucus a non lucendo principle for it is not a fashionable dish. It came from Paris, where, in the days of sign-[24-]boards, a restaurant where this dish was sold showed the sign of a bullock seated in clothes of fashion.  
     You can swill yourselves out with beef-a- la-mode, as toffs call it, for two d., or you can indulge in the aristocratic sausage and mashed and half-a-pint of pongelow all for four d. — Cutting.  
     Beef-heads or Cow-boys (American). People of Texas and the West of U.S.A. — from the general employment of the inhabitants being the harrying of cattle.  
     Beef-headed. Stupid. Cattle being heavy, stolid, and torpid.  
     Beef-tugging (City). Eating cookshop meat, not too tender, at lunchtime. Dinner is not clerkly known in the E.C. district as occurring between 1 and 2 P.M.  
     Been and gone and done it (Peoples'). Very general mode of saying that the speaker has got married, N.B. —  gone is in this relation generally pronounced 'gorne'.  
     Marius and Florence St John have 'been and gorne and done it' at last. The registrar of hatches, matches, and dispatches has tied what for them is the 'dissoluble' knot. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Been there (Amer.-Eng., 1870). Had experience; e.g., 'Thank 'ee no betting ; I've been there.'  
     Some reasons why I left off drinking whiskey, by one who has been there. Paper in Philadelphia, Sat. Ev. Post, 1877.  
     He wants a man who understands his case, who sympathises with him, who has been there himself, and who will give him a vent for his emotions at a reasonable rate per line. — N. York Puck, 14th September 1883.  
     Beer and Skittles (Peoples'). A synonym for pleasure; e.g., 'Ah, Joe, if a bloke's life was all beer and skittles we shouldn't be doing time.'  
     But life on a yacht is not all beer and skittles, nor is it always afternoon. There is the dreadful morning time, when the crew begin to stir on deck, and earthquake and chaos seem to have come. — D. N., 22nd August 1885.  
     Beerage (Soc. , 19 cent. ). A satirical rendering of peerage, referring to the brewery lords, chiefly of the great houses of Allsopp and of Guinness.  
     Dr Edwards as a temperance worker had some very strong things to say a few months ago on the subject of the ennoblement of rich brewers. Of course he opposed it on moral grounds, but some of the old nobility would be inclined to agree with his denunciation of the 'beerage' for other reasons — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Beer-bottle (Street). A stout, red-faced man.  
     Beer-eaters (19 cent.). A great consumer of beer, one who more than drinks it who lives on it.  
     The Norwaygians are a fine and a sturdy race, but not at all like I had imagined them, after all I had read about Sigurd and Sintram and Sea-egg-fried, and the Beerseekers, who must not be confounded with a race peculiar to London, found mainly upon licensed premises, and distinguished among their kind as the Beereaters.—  Ref., 21st August 1887.  
     Beer- juggers (Amer. Miner's). Bar-women.  
     The only busy people in the place were the wife of the pianist, who sat by him industriously sewing, and the women who sold drink. These latter are called beer-juggers, and fill a large place in the evening life of the miner. Journey Round the World: 'of LEADVILLE. ' — D. N., October 1883.  
     Beer O ! (Trades). The cry when an artisan does a something, or omits to do a something, the result of which in either case being a fine to be paid in pongelow. The exclamation is taken up by the whole shop, or rather was, as the custom is now obsolete.  
     Beetroot Mug (Street). A red face passed for many years into Ally Sloper, a character in comic fiction since 1870, invented by Charles Ross, a humorist of the more popular kind.  
     Before the War (Soc. , 1880). From America. A new shape of ' the good old times'. Whenever a ganache in the U.S.A. wants to condemn the present he compares it with the time 'before the War (1860-65)'.  
     'How beautiful the moon is to-night!' remarked an American belle to her lover, as they spooned in the open. 'Yes, ' was the reply ; ' but you should have seen it before the war!' — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Begorra, also By Jabers (Irish). Solemn Irish oaths. Both words have been adopted by common English folk. Spoken — Yes, by jabers ; he's the best boy that ever was. Sure he's shown such powers of discernment ever since the first day he was born, that begorra he knows more now than ever I've forgotten. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Behind Yourself (Peoples', 1896 on). Too far behind, quite in the rear, far [-25-] from absolutely up to date. Antithesis of Too previous; e.g., 'What you thought to-day was Thursday ? Why, it's Saturday afternoon. You're behind yourself, man, and a deal at that.'  
     Behindativeness (Soc., 1888). Referring to the dress pannier one of the shapes with which fashion is for ever varying the natural outline of the feminine frame; e.g., 'That lady has got a deal of behindativeness.'  
     Belcher (Sporting, 19 cent.). A handkerchief pattern, round spots, light or dark upon a dark or light ground. From a prize-fighter, Jim Belcher, who always carried into the ring a wiping handkerchief of this kind. After Belcher's time, the 'belcher' split up into colours, every prize-fighter having his own tints. Belcher's original was white spots on dark blue ground. Until quite recent years, a spotted neck-tie was called a Belcher : now called a ' moon-tie '.
    At one time ' belchers ' were made of that pattern which is affected in that spotty coat which Mr H. B. Conway sports in The Widow Hunt. — Entr'acte, June 1885.  
     Belittle, To. To make little of. An old word not found in most dictionaries, but brought into fresh use in 1898 by Mr Joseph Chamberlain, who about this time frequently used it.  
     Our whole policy has been belittled and ridiculed by the men who, when they were in office, kept our Colonies at arms' length. Mr J. Chamberlain, 8th December 1898.  
     The hard-won victories he gained in the old times are belittled and made nothing of. Sun, 6th December 1899.  
     Bell the Cat ( Peoples'). To risk the lead. Still used without any real knowledge of its origin, but with thorough comprehension of its application, e.g., 'Yes, but who'll tell him she's no good who'll bell the cat? Some of us know he's got a bunch of fives.'  
     The proverb is of Scottish origin, and was thus occasioned : The Scottish nobility entered into a combination against a person of the name of Spence, the favourite of King James III. It was proposed to go in a body to Stirling to seize Spence and hang him ; then to offer their services to the king, as his natural counsellors ; upon which the Lord Gray observed, 'It is well said, but who will bell the cat?' alluding to the fable of the mice, who proposed to put a bell round the cat's neck, that they might be apprized of her coming. The Earl of Angus replied that he would bell the cat : which he accordingly did, and was ever after called Archibald Bell-Cat.  
     Belle à croquer (Soc., 1860). Beautiful enough to command desire. Dating second French Empire, it lasted into 1883, in English Society, becoming in lower circles 'beller-croaker '.  
     It possesses the further advantage of being blue enough to make a blonde belle à croquer, and yet not too blue to make her darker sister look as delightful as Nature meant her. — Newsp. Cutting, 1883.  
     Bellering Cake (School). Cake in which the plums are so far apart that they have to beller (bellow) when they wish to converse.  
     Belly-washer (Amer. Saloon). Lemonade or aerated water. (See Rattle-belly-ppp.)  
     Bellywengins (E. Anglian, chiefly Suffolk). A violent corruption of ' belly-vengeance ', a cruel comment upon the sour village beer of those regions.  
     Belt (Anglo-American). To assault. From the army, where the belt was often used for aggressive purposes.  
     Mrs Tice, who saw her approaching, said : 'There comes that old maid ; belt her.' — Newsp. Cutting
     Belt Case, The (Soc.). A symbol for years of wearisome tardiness. From a celebrated libel case, Belt v. Lawes (1882), which lasted on and off for weeks.  
     It is more interminable than the Belt case. — D. N., 25th October 1883.  
     Ben (Theatrical, 19 cent.). Short for 'benefit' — 'benefit' never being used under any consideration by any self-respecting actor when speaking in the profession. 'Benefit' succeeded 'bespeak ', which was in use when Dickens wrote Nicholas Nickleby.  
     Ben (Soc., 1880). A fib, a tarradiddle. The history of this word is fortunately preserved. A well-known Italian proverb was converted into Se non e vero — e Benjamin trovato. The 'Ben' was too evident to be resisted. Hence a fib was described as a Benjamin Trovato, passing into Ben Trovato, then Ben Tro, and finally Ben, whence it has got fatally confounded with ' ben ', the abbrev. of 'benefit'.  
     The papers were rampant as to the [-26-] Czar's forty thousand dollar diamonds, and Modjeska's jewellery was one of the attractions of the season. Perhaps this story isn't true. Anyway, it will do to go into the Benjamin Trovato series.—  Ref., 29th March 1885.  
     Here is a little story which, if not true, ought to be, for it is at least of the Benjamin order. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Ben-cull (Thieves'). A friend. Ben is from the Hatton Garden Italian bene.  
     Bench Winner (Soc. ). A dog which has won many prizes at dog-shows from the exhibits being placed upon benches.  
     The result is a series of paintings very aptly termed ' A dog show on canvas and paper', for not only are all the Royal favourites represented, but there is scarcely a bench winner of note not included. — D. T., 11th February 1897.  
     The hounds are the property of Mr Edwin Brougb, who has devoted himself to bloodhound breeding. It has been Mr Brough's practice not only to breed for bench points, but to train his animals to exercise those peculiar faculties with which they have been endowed by nature. —  D. N., 10th October 1888.  
     Bench Points (London). Ascertained and classified physical advantages. From show animals, especially dogs, being exhibited on benches. Applied also to women, e.g., 'Her bench points were perfect, but I shouldn't like a wife of her build.'  
     Bend o' the Filbert (Low, 18 cent.). A bow or nod, filbert being elegantly substituted for the 'nob' or 'nut', both signifying head.  
     She gives him a bend o' the filbert as much as to crack 'ight-ri, its oper-pro for your nibs, you can take on '. — Cutting.  
     The above describes a serio-comic lady accepting by a nod, while acting or singing, the attentions of an admirer.  
     Bender (London). A sixpenny piece; so called from the rapidity with which this coin wears thin, and thereupon easily bends. This was especially the case thirty years since.  
     Bender (Anglo-Amer.). E.g., 'Three sailors on a bender,' i.e., ' on a drunken spree.' Possibly a conception of a 'Bon Dieu' used exclamatorily = 'My eye!' or ' Good heavens!' or it may be from some Spanish word adopted by Texas cow-boys after that State was wrested from Mexico (1845), creeping up north. It is common to sailors 'over the ditch '.  
     There was a distant rumbling and groaning, as if old Vesuvius was on a bender. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     In England the Bender is the elbow. (See Over the Bender. )  
     Bengal Blanket (Anglo-Ind., 19 cent.). Used by soldiers who have been in India to describe the sun ; e.g., 'Yere's a London May — fifteen days, and I ain't seen a corner o' Bengal Blanket — what a climate ! ' (See Blue Blanket.)  
     Benjamin (Maritime, 19 cent.). A sailor's blue jacket, larger than the 'monkey ' jacket which barely passes the hip-bones. It was the merciful invention of a Hebrew sailors'-tailor on Portsmouth Hard. The grateful tars appear to have given the name of this watcher of their winter comforts to the garment he invented. The word is now in general use for a jacket of dark-blue or black cloth made long and fitting to the figure. Generally called an 'Upper Benjamin '. Sailors also call the rare nautical waistcoat a 'Benjy'. Probably this was another invention, used in the diminutive form of the beneficent Benjamin.  
     Benjo (Sailors', 19 cent. ). A riotous holiday, a noisy day in the streets, probably from 'ben', or buen giorno; e.g., ' Jim's out on a benjo.'  
     Beong (Thieves'). A shilling probably a form of the French 'bien' ; for indeed a shilling is very well when coppers only are, as a rule, ours.  
     Bermondsey Banger (London). A society-leader among the South London tanneries. He must frequent 'The Star', be prepared to hold his own, and fight at all times for his social belt.  
     Bespeak (Theatrical, 1830-50). A performance for the benefit of an actor or actress. The name took its rise from the patrons called upon by the beneficiare at the country theatre, giving a comparative consensus of opinion as to the piece in which the applicant should appear. It was superseded by 'benefit', which yielded to 'ben'. A good deal concerning bespeaks may be found in Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby.  
     Best Eye Peeled (Amer.). A figure of speech for extreme alacrity.  
     I tell you a driver on one of those vane has got to keep his best eye peeled every minute. — Newsp. Cutting.
[-27-] Bet yer sweet life (Amer.-Engl). Perfect assurance, complete conviction.  
     'Oh, no, certainly not,' said Mr Jones, smiling blandly. 'There are ups and downs in theatrical life; can't always make money — unless you have the right kind of a show. We've got a daisy, haven't we, Lunk?' 'Bechersweetlife,' said Mr Lunk emphatically. —1884.  
     Bet you a million to a bit of dirt (Sporting, 19 cent.). ' The thing is so sure that there can be no uncertainty. The betting man's Ultima Thule of confidence.  
     Bet your boots ( W. Amer). Absolutely safe betting the boots being the most serious item of expense in the Wild West uniform.  
     'You bet', or 'you bet yer life', or ' you bet yer bones ', while to ' bet yer boots ' is confirmation strong as holy writ — in the mines, at least.—  All the Year Round, October 1868.  
     Betty Martin : v. All my eye and Betty Martin.  
     Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Scylla on the one side, Charybdis on the other — between two equal menaces. The phrase has no meaning as it reads — the devil and the deep blue sea have no relation. May this not be one of the frequent perversions of proper names to words well understood of the people? For instance, may it not refer to a couple of French admirals or generals 'Deville' and ' Duplessy ' — 'Between Deville and Duplessy' — inferring disaster for the middle party. The phrase is quite historical.  
     ' I had to pay up — there was Hook on one side, and Crook on the other — I was between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.'  
     He may indeed be said to be between the devil and the deep sea — victims alike of Kurd and Turk. — Joseph Hatton, 6th February 1898.  
     Bever (E. Anglian). A four o'clock halt on the road for a drink. An interesting word, evidently from the Norman conjugation of boire. (See Levenses.)  
     Bexandebs (E. London, 18 cent. on). A young easy-go Jewess in the Wentworth Street district. A combination of Becks (Rebeccas) and Debs (Deborahs), used satirically, e.g., 'The bexandebs are in full feather it's Pentecost Shobboth ! '  
     Beyond, The (Amer. 1878). Heaven.  
     To this, one venerable old gentleman in the circle responded that he could now see around him daily his friends who had gone to the beyond, and that if he is riding in a street car and it is not crowded, they enter and sit beside and opposite him. — N. Y. Mercury, April 1885.
    Beweep (1898). A new form of 'weep' brought in by the Tzar of Russia (20th May 1898) in a telegram referring to the death of W. E. Gladstone. It took the fashion at once.  
     The whole of the civilised world will beweep the loss of the great statesman whose political views were so widely humane and peaceful. — (Signed) Nicholas.  
     Bianca Capellas (E. London). An elegant evasion in describing White Chapellers — cigars understood ; a very bad brand.  
     There was adjoining this a smoking-room or salle d'attente, in which were some stale English papers and the odour of equally stale cigars, also English — veritable Bianca Capellas — but of the sort of thing that we wanted there was no sign whatever.—  Ref., 6th June 1886.  
     Bible Mill (Com. London, 19 cent.). A public-house. An attack upon Bible classes : said of noisy talking in a tavern.  
     Bible Class, Been to a (Printers' Satire). A gentleman with two black eyes, got in a fight.  
     Bi-cameral (Polit., 1885). Two chambers, Lords and Commons. First heard in 1885 — used satirically by the opponents of a second chamber.  
     Mr Labouchere complained that of the sixteen members of the Cabinet — thirteen are peers, or the near kinsmen of peers. This fact is an evil resulting from several causes. The first is the bi-cameral system, to adopt the convenient pedantry of Continental writers. —D. N., 9th September 1885.  
     Bi-cennoctury (Theatrical, 1870). The two hundredth night of a run, with which explanation we leave this marvellous bit of etymology to the mercy of a critical world.  
     Big Beck (Kent). A local oath, e.g., 'By the big beck' heard only in remote places. Probably refers to Thos. à Becket, and has come down from his canonized bones. Sometimes (still in Kent) ' By the Blessed Beck '. (See More blue).  
[-28-] Big Bird (Theatrical). A hissing figurative reference to the goose (q.v.) a figure in itself for hissing; e.g., ' Tom had the big bird last night, and he is in bed this morning.' However, this phrase sometimes has another meaning. At the Britannia Theatre the audiences began (about 1860) to compliment the accomplished villainy of the stage-villain by politely hissing him at the end of one act, to prove how well he had played the scoundrel. This thoroughly indigenous E. London fashion came West about 1878 where it was heard, perhaps at the Princess' for the first time. It has since spread, notoriously to the Adelphi (when still a dramatic house) and Drury Lane ; but it has never become a W. London institution. In the E., if the villain did not get the 'big bird', he would consider that he was not on a par with Titus, and that he had lost his day, or rather evening, and he might fear for the renewal of his engagement.  
     Big end of a month (Anglo- American).  
     'The "big end of a month" is three weeks. I heard a market man- speak of the "big end of a dozen" chickens.'  
     Big Heap (Amer. — old mining districts). A large sum of money — now current also in England.  
     Sam Adams had a ben. at the Pav. on Thursday night, and I hope he's made a big heap out of it. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Big Numbers (Anglo-French; old). Bagnios. From the huge size of the number on the swinging door, never shut, never more than two or three inches open. The English grooms, stable-men, and their like in France often use this phrase : ' Joe's fond o' the big numbers.' 'Tom Four can't run over to the old home for Christmas — he's left too many of Nap's likenesses in the big numbers.' So extensively known throughout Europe was the association of big numbers and shady houses that, when about 1880, people began to place the numbers of their houses on their fanlights, for night observation, their neighbours were often quite unhappy (for a time); while even now many people shrink from the convenient custom.  
     Big Pot (Music-hall, 1878-82). A leader, supreme personage, the ' don '. This phrase is probably one of the few that filter down in the world from Oxford, where, in the 50's it was the abbreviation of potentate. It referred to a college don, or a social magnate. It has remained permanently a peoples' phrase the pot being associated with the noblest pewter in a public-house.  
     ' Some of the failures you meet at the "York" will try to impress you with the fact that the comic singers in receipt of big salaries have made their reputation by means of "smut", and that if they (the unsuccessful ones) were to resort to a similar method of gaining the applause of audiences, the "big pots would not be in it".' — Newsp. Cutting.  
     The 'York' is an hotel in the Waterloo Road, S. London, where music-hall people still meet.  
     Billy born drunk (L. London). A drunkard beyond the memory of his neighbours.  
     He did not have 30 or 40 pots of beer that day. He could do a good many, but he was not going by the name of 'Billy born drunk '. — People, 6th January 1895.  
     Billy-cock (Provincial). A brimmed low, felt hat ; a modern amelioration of bully-cock, a term now having little or no meaning, e.g., 'Do you cock your hat at me, sir?' was the reply to this challenge the cocking of the hat. Other authorities hold the word to refer to William III., and his mode of wearing the hat.  
     Billygoat in Stays (Navy, 1870-85). A term of contempt : probably the outcome of the astonishing use, by young naval officers, of waist-stays, during or about these years. Introduced by a young naval officer of the highest, who afterwards, on shore, came to be called 'cuffs'.  
     Billy-ho (Peoples', Hist.). In excelsis ; suggests extreme vigour. May be from a proper name, ' Hough ' for instance, confounded with the big 'O' so commonly used as a suffix to words of congratulation — as 'What cheer ho!'  'What ho! ' etc.  
     The Marquis of Salisbury and Mr Biggar were having a cigar together. Said the Marquis : ' Weather keeps very dry ; we want rain badly. I think Canterbury ought to issue a prayer for it.'  'Arrah! be asy wid yer Canterbury,' exclaimed Mr Biggar; 'it's just a new hat I'll be afther buying, and it's [-29-] my umbrella I'll be lavin' at home, and shure it'll rain like billy-ho!' — Ref., 9th August 1885.  
     Billy Turniptop (1890 sqq). An agricultural labourer. Probably an outgrowth of Tommy Atkins.  
     'Billy Turniptop' does not seem a very respectful description of the agricultural labourer, especially during election times, and the Unionist candidate for Doncaster has been sharply pulled up for using that cognomen. His explanation was that he was only quoting the speech of a representative of the opposite party. —D. T., 10th July 1895.
     Bin (Harrogate). A mineral spring. Satire based upon the wine-cellar.  
     It is considered high treason at Harrogate to drink from the Old Sulphur, or any other 'bin', as a Scottish robust invalid calls it, without first consulting medical authority. — D. N. (Harrogate), 31st August 1883.  
     Binder (Lower Class). An egg. Pint o' wash, two steps, an' a binder' — 'a pint of tea, two slices of bread-and-butter, and an egg.' Alludes to its constipating action.  
     Bindery (Amer.-Eng., 1879). A bookbinder's workshop.  
     The word 'bindery', a new-comer in England, though in common use in Canada and the United States, has recently been welcomed with something like a bonneting by correspondents of Notes and Queries. — Newsp. Cutting, 1879.  
     Binned (Lond., 1883). Hanged; a ghastly word, referring to Bartholomew Binns, a hangman appointed in 1883.  
     Bird (Theatrical). Hissing  —  the bird being the goose (q.v.), whose general statements are of a depreciatory character.  
     Professor Grant, Q.C., had both 'the bird ' and ' the needle ' at the Royal on Monday. — Age, January 1884.  
     Pantomimes and Blackmailers. Threats of ' the bird '. Already three or four of the most prominent artistes engaged at one house have been molested after leaving the theatre at night, and threatened with 'the bird' that is, hissing unless their tormentors are well paid to remain quiet. —  People, 6th January 1895.  
     Bird ( Theatrical, 1840). A figurative name of The Eagle, which was the title of the tavern and pleasure-grounds out of which grew the Grecian Theatre, an elegant name never accepted by its patrons, except a few who called it 29 the Greek. 'Bird' it remained until General Booth of the Salvation Army bought it up (1882). To this day an effigy of the 'bird' surmounts the main building. (See Brit., Vic., Eff., Delphy, Lane.)  
     Birdlime (Low Class, 19 cent.). Nonsense-rhyme for 'time '.  
     We have been awfully stoney in our birdlime, and didn't know where to turn for a yannep, so we've had to fill up our insides on something less than two quid a week.  
     Birdofreedomsaurin (Amer.). Birdof- freedom soaring. A jocular mode of describing the altitude of the American eagle. Used mildly in England to deprecate any chance American extreme expression of patriotism.  
     I think that Prince Louis Napoleon was over-dressed. I know that in his green or purple stock (I forget which) he wore an immense breastpin representing an eagle in diamonds not the eagle with displayed wings, that is, the American ' birdofreedomsaurin ' —  but an aquiline presentment with the wings closed — the eagle of Imperial sway.—   G. A. Sala, in D. T., 16th June 1894.  
     Birds may roost in my bonnet, Any (Devonshire). Self-praise. Speaker so little given to slander that the most Aristophanic birds could carry no disparagement of hers between heaven and earth; e.g., 'Don't 'ee b'lieve it, Mrs Mog — any bird may a-roost in my bonnet.'  'A little bird told me ' is in close relation with this phrase. The origin is to be found in Ecclesiastes, x. 20. 'For a bird of the air shall carry thee voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.' The belief that birds carry messages between earth and heaven is common to all countries and times. In Europe the dove and the robin are the birds most associated with this charming superstition.  
     Birmingham School (Soc.). A polite evasion of radical ; e.g., ' We do not like his politics at the Duke's he belongs too thoroughly to the Birmingham School' about 1885. Since then Birmingham has climbed down or up ; and the centre of radicalism is supposed to be Newcastle. 'The Newcastle Programme should be backed by the Marquis de Carabas ! ' (See Newcastle Programme. )  
    [-30-]  Biscuit and Beer Bet (Street, 19 cent. ). A swindle because the biscuit backer invariably loses, it being intended that he should lose to the extent of glasses round, for instance. The bet is as follows : that one youth (the victim) shall not eat a penny biscuit before his antagonist has swallowed a glass of beer by the aid of a teaspoon without spilling any of the beer. The biscuit is so dry, and the anxious bettor so fills his mouth in the desire to win that he generally loses ; e.g., ' Yere's a mug — let's biscuit an' beer 'un.'  
     Bismarck (Political ; South German and French, 1866). A term of contempt.  
     A good story is told of a Bavarian who, quarrelling the other day with one of his fellow-countrymen, abused him in the most violent language, and, after exhausting a very extensive vocabulary of invectives, at last called him 'Bismarck!' The phlegmatic German had borne all previous insults with praiseworthy patience; but, on hearing himself thus apostrophised, he flew into a tremendous passion, and cited his enemy before the courts. He was nonsuited on the plea that ' Bismarck ' is a name, and does not necessarily imply an insult at least, no such interpretation was to be found in any of the Bavarian law precedents. This is not the first time that the name of a Prime Minister has thus been popularly applied as a term of contempt. Under the Restoration it was a common incident to hear a cabby apostrophising a sulky or restive horse, 'Va done, hé, Polignac!' and during the early part of the reign of the Grand Monarque, ' Mazarin ' was equivalent to the refined exclamation, 'You pig!' which an attentive listener may be edified by hearing exchanged by the gamins of Paris in the present year of grace. Morning Star, 1867.  
     After 1870, Bismarck was 'accepted' by Bavaria.  
     Bit-faker (Thieves'). Counterfeit money - maker from 'bit ', money, and 'fake', to make, or rather cunningly to imitate.  
     Bit o' Beef (Vulg. 19 cent.). A quid of tobacco; less than a pipeful. A playful, or possibly a grim, reference to tobacco-chewing staying hunger. (See City sherry ; Pound o' bacca.)  
     Bit o' blink (Tavern). Drink — rhyming slang.  
     Bit o' crumb (C. L., 1882). A pretty plump girl one of the series of words designating woman immediately following the introduction of 'jam ' as the fashionable term (in unfashionable quarters) for lovely woman.  
     Then Joe fell in love with a dona oh, what a bit of crumb. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bit of fat from the eye, Have a (L. Class). Suggestive of compliment this phrase being seriously used at a spread, or dinner of sheep's head, the orbits of the eyes being lined with a fat supposed by the accustomed consumer to be exceptionally delicate.  
     Bit o' grease (Anglo-Ind. Army). A Hindoo stout woman of a smiling character, e.g. , ' She's a nice bit o' grease she is.'  
     Bit of haw-haw (London Tavern, 1860 on). A fop. Possibly suggested by the hesitating commencing syllable used by many well-bred men more frequently from modesty or caution than from any sense of impressing the idea of superiority.  
     When these young bits of haw-haw borrow a swallow tail coat and a crook stick, and a bit of window to shove into their weak peepers, and then go into the Gaiety with an order, strike us purple if they're not at their best then. They know all the actresses of course, and the way they talk about some of 'em would make a red stinker turn blue. —Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bit o' jam (1879). A pretty girl — good or bad.  
     He kisses me, he hugs me, and calls me his bit o' jam, and then chucks me down stairs just to show me there's no ill feeling ; yet I love him like anything. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Everything you see you just feel you would like to buy and take it home to the bit of jam. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bit o' pooh ( Workmen's). Flattery — generally said of courtship — obtained very oddly. The exclamation 'pooh ' generally expressing nonsense, the phrase suggests flattering courtship or blarny.  
     Bit o' prairie (Strand, 1850 on). A momentary lull in the traffic at any point in the Strand, so that the traveller can cross the road. From the bareness of the road for a mere moment, e.g., 'A bit o' prairie — go.'  
     Bit o' raspberry (Street, 1883). An attractive girl. When ' jam ' came to be used to describe a girl, the original double intendre suggested by a comic [-31-] song having become known raspberry, as the most flavoursome of conserves, was used to describe a very pretty creature. Then the jam was dropped, and the 'bit o ' affixed, and this phrase became classic.   
     'So,' said Bill, ' you're the bloke who's spliced my bit o' raspberry'. — Cutting.  
     Bit o' red (Historical, 18 and 19 cent.). A soldier, e.g., 'A bit of red so lights up the landscape.'  
     Bit o' stuff (Street, 19 cent.). A lovely woman not perhaps of a Penelope-like nature rarely at home.  
     He waited for a bit of stuff near the stage door of the Comedy Theatre. He was an elderly cove and he had great patience. — Cutting.  
     Bit o' tripe (L. Class). One of the endearing names given to the wife probably a weak rhyme.  
     This paper always comes useful, if it's only to wrap a Billingsgate pheasant in to take home to the bit of tripe. — Cutting.  
     Bit on, To have a (Sporting). To have a bet on a ' bit ' of money on a race.  
     I hear that all the shining lights of the music hall who are accustomed to have a little 'bit on ' were on the right side. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bit to go with (Amer. - Eng.). Generosity —as the result of self-satisfied superiority.  
     An American railway train can give most things in this world a bit to go with in the way of noise. — Ref., 20th February 1887.  
     Bitch the pot ( University, down to 1850). Amongst a tea-drinking party of men it was asked, 'Who'll bitch the pot ? ' — meaning who will pour out the tea.  
     Bitched (Printers'). Spoilt, ruined, in reference to type.  
     Bite the tooth. To (Thieves'). To be successful. Origin unknown.  
     Bite-etite, perhaps Bitytite (Peoples', E. London). Grotesque substitution of bite for the first four letters of 'appetite '. (See Drinkitite. )  
     Bite off more than one can chew (American - English). Referring to plug tobacco, and meaning that the person spoken of has undertaken more than he can accomplish.  
     Bits of Grey (Soc., 1880). Elderly victims of both sexes present at balls and marriages, especially the latter, to give an air of staid dignity to the chief performers. 'Don't tell me we had a small and early, all young most miserable, growling, towering failure I ever endured. No stir-up for me without my bits of grey. They give tone to the whole thing.' — Society Novel, 1883.  
     Bits o' soap (Com. Land., 1883). Charming girls —of a kind.  
     I can imagine General Booth jumping in his boots when he piped that article in his paper. I wonder what all the converted bits o' soap thought about it. — Cutting, 1883.  
     (Booth became the self-appointed general of the Salvation Army, 1882-83.)  
     Bitter oath (Peoples', 19 cent.). Emphatic intensification of oath ; e.g., 'I'll take my bitter oath.' Oaths may be divided into two classes — those which appeal to heaven, as 'By God', and those which relate to an antithesis, as ' By hell ', the former being the better oath. The masses, incapable of discriminating one kind from the other, simplified 'better oath ' into 'bitter oath ', as possessing more emphasis.  
     Bitties (Thieves'). Evasive term for skeleton-keys.  
     Bivvy (London). Beer ; evidently from the French 'buvez' (Italian ' bevere ') —  the imperative mood of the verb being applied to the beer itself. The difficulty is to find the descent. It may have come from French prisoners very early in the nineteenth century, or from the French colonies in Soho, or (more likely) from the Italian organ-grinding regiment in the neighbourhood of Hatton Garden.  
     Black and white (Thieves' rhyming). Night. It would mean, when used, 'to-night '.  
     Black-bagging (1884). Dynamitarding — from the fact that where dynamite proceedings had failed at certain railway-terminuses the explosive charges were found in black bags.
    Five thousand pounds reward for the discovery of the perpetrators of the outrage at London Bridge is too much. It is an encouragement to others to go black-bagging. — Ref., 4th January 1885.  
     Black-ball ( Club, 19 cent. ). To reject by ballot. The word is now absolutely inappropriate, though still used by [-32-] 'correct ' clubmen. It had meaning when club elections were effected by each elector being given one white and one black ball, so that upon opening the ballot-box the colours decided, black naturally being a negative. So far as the declaration of the election was concerned, nothing could be better than this mode ; but unfortunately every elector was troubled by the possession of the second ball, which he might drop and thereby betray his vote. This ball the voter certainly would have some inconvenience in depositing, apart from the watchfulness of neighbouring eyes. Hence the new mode of club-balloting with a box, having a hole in front large enough for the entrance of the hand, the bottom of the box being divided by a high partition, while the outside is marked 'Yes' (or 'Ay') and 'No' — referring to the two boxes formed by the partition. Only one ball is given to each voter, and thus he gets rid of his responsibility by depositing the ball either on one side or the other. Unfortunately nervous voters are frequently fogged the moment they lose sight of the right hand, while the ballot-box-carrier (where it is carried, instead of being placed on a table for the approach of the voter) has a frequent habit of tilting up the 'No' side of the box, so that if the ball is not firmly manipulated when inside the palladium, it may have a better chance of favouring the 'Ay '. Even this word itself is a difficulty, for its complication between 'ay' and 'ayes', together with its infrequency except as an interjection, helps to confuse timid voters. More recently the ballot boxes have been bearing the legends 'yes', 'no' the affirmative always preceding the negative.  
     Black-bottle Scene (Dublin, 1822 on). Black beer-bottle throwing at . obnoxious persons.  
     On the 14th of December 1822, on the occasion of the Marquis Wellesley, visiting the Theatre Eoyal, Dublin, an organized disturbance on the part of the Orangemen took place, in resentment of his Excellency's sympathy with Catholic Emancipation. The affray is always referied to as the 'black-bottle' riot ; a black bottle having been flung at the Viceroy by an Orangeman in the top gallery. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     On any other occasion the incident might have passed unnoticed, but now the rumour of a ' black bottle ' scene was in every one's mind. — A. M. Sullivan, 1877.  
     Black Eye (American, political and social). A reverse, especially political.
    A black eye for Platt. — An Albany jury has decided that Governor Hill was right, and Quarantine Commissioner Platt wrong, and that the latter has all along been a resident of Owega, while holding office in New York. — N. Y. Mercury. 15th January 1888.  
     Often used to designate theatrical failure.  
     This inheritance proved a black eye to all concerned, because the new company lacked all the vocal and comedy requisites for a successful interpretation of this very popular work.  
     Black Ivory (Slave-dealers). A disguised way of referring to negro slaves.  
     Mr Steyn, a former Landdrost of Potchefstroom, in both letters and speeches, complained that 'loads of "black ivory" were being constantly hawked about the country'. — F. W. Chesson, in D. N., 5th November 1883.  
     Black Jack ( 19 cent.). A black portmanteau of peculiar make.  
     William Wall deposed that he repaired the portmanteau produced, and recognised Burton as the man who brought it. Burton also brought another second-hand portmanteau called in the trade 'Black Jack '. — Dynamite Case Report, 4th March 1885.  
     Blackleg (Labour, 1889-90). A non-striker in industry. Blackleg had long been used for a swindler, but at this date it was first applied to non- Union men or non-strikers. Directly used in relation to the dock-strikes. Common to the labouring classes by June 1890.  
     It will be seen from the full report of the situation, which we print elsewhere, that the present stage of the conflict turns on the presence of the ' blackleg ', to use the designation which the Dock labourers first popularised. —  Chaos in the Post Office, in D. N., 10th July 1890.  
     Black Maria (Thieves', 19 cent.). The prison van, probably Anglicizing 'Black V.R.', this public conveyance being ink-coloured, and bearing V.R. on each side of it. To the ignorant V.R. would have no meaning; while Maria would ; or it may be a rhyming effort. The New York prison van, [-33-] though of course very different from the English carriage, bears the same name.  
     He 'protested' against entering the Black Maria, and on the way up ' would not admit' that he was going to the Workhouse, but by this time he probably feels at home up there. — N. Y. Police Report, 1883.  
     Upon the death of Queen Victoria, necessarily the initials on the prison van were changed to E.R. — the term for the vehicle, however, still remaining. A phrase was immediately found for E.R. — Energy Rewarded —  a term accepted by even the nation, with applause. (See V. R. , Virtue Rewarded, Vagabonds Removed, Sardine Box.)  
     Black-silk Barges (Ball-room). Stout women who ought to avoid dances. They dress in black silk to moderate in appearance their amplitude.  
     'It's time I sounded a retreat from dancing I've had to dance with seventeen black-silk barges this blessed evening. Never again — never again.'  
     Black Strap (Peoples', Old English). Port wine. A corruption of 'black stirrup' cup. Sherry or sack (the first a corruption of Xeres, the second, an abbreviation, was always white wine ; clarets and burgundies red ; port black). The stirrup cup was always potent. The passage from black stirrup to black strap is too evident when port came amongst the people more accustomed to strap than the stirrup. To this day strap is used for port.  
     Blank please (American). A negative euphemism for the unending 'damned ' — with a polite request added.  
     . . . that matter-of-fact business manager of ours says that, although we may put what we blank please in the editorial columns, he won't put a six-inch display in the advertising end of the paper for less than several hundred dollars cash, quarterly in advance. —Texas Siftings.  
     Blarney (Irish). Flattery. The Blarney stone is a protruding one, standing out from below a ruined window of ruined Blarney Castle (near Cork). Whoever kisses this stone, a very difficult feat, and one which requires help and strong holding hands while the aspirant leans over and down into space, is supposed to possess for ever after the gift of successful flattery.  
     The traditions respecting the kissing of the Blarney stone, to impart to the devotee a peculiar suavity of speech, is about three hundred years old. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Blasé (Fr., 1840). Wearied, bored. Brought to England with a farce called L'Homme Blast, subsequently produced for Wright (Princess Theatre), in which version this actor was called Blasé. Succeeded by 'bored' about 1860.  
     Bleed (Peoples'). A perversion of the word 'blood', as She'll have his bleed' — usually said of a woman who is rating her husband.  
     Blenheim Cloud (Polit.). The influence of the Dukes of Marlborough over Woodstock, which lies in the shadow of Blenheim.  
     Against this the more sanguine point to the advantage of being free from what they call 'the Blenheim cloud', the Duke having formally declared that he takes no part in this election, and that all his people are free to vote as they choose. —D. N., 1st July 1885.  
     Blenheim Pippin, The (Polit., 1883). An application of the name of a known variety of pippins, always a small apple, to describe Lord Randolph Churchill, a diminutive man, who, as a son of a Duke of Marlborough, was associated with Blenheim, the family seat in Oxfordshire.  
     . . . the Tories are, as a rule, followers of the strongest ; and after the Blenheim Pippin's latest manifesto they will hardly know whether to throw in their lot with Tweedledum or Tweedledee. — Entr'acte, 7th April 1883.  
     Bless me soul (Peoples'). Bless me — Saul. Probably one of the few Puritanic exclamations — all of which were Biblical, 'Bless me, or my, soul ' is nonsense, as it stands for who blesses ? Hence probably arose 'God bless my soul'. But this phrase is also meaningless, for the soul needs no blessing. 'God bless me ' is reasonable. But here, 'soul' is the important word. In this conversation it should be remembered that Saul was held in high Puritanic esteem as a patriarch of much power.  
     Blessing (Irish). Gratuity. Poetic way of putting it ; will contrast with 'backsheesh' (q.v.) 'Sure, he's a man gives me a blessing every time he [-34-] passes without pretending not to see me, he does.' In Devonshire a 'blessing' is a handful thrown in, e.g., 'Plase to give' us a half-peck o' pays, and give us a blessing.'  
     Blew, To (Com. Lond.). To dissipate. This word is by no means to 'blow', but is suggested by 'blue '. 'I blewed ' (or 'blew') means 'I spent', and probably is suggested by the dismal blue appearance of a man, penniless and recovering from a drunken fit. The word was turned to very droll account by a comic-singer, Herbert Campbell, in 1881. A medicinal pad to be worn over the liver was very much advertised ; and a half life-size cut of a masculine and healthy patient with the 'liver pad' in situ created a great deal of comment. The singer put both together and came out with a ballad. 'Herbert Campbell's favourite song now is called "Clara blued her Liver Pad" ', meaning that she had sold her specimen and spent the proceeds in drink for you only 'blew' money when you do spend it in drink.  
     In about an hour he reached the Strand, and in less than another hour he had blewed his half-a-dollar, so he sat on a doorstep and wept as only boys who have run away from home and have got the stomach-ache can weep. — Cutting.  
     Blewed his red 'un (Peoples'). 'Red 'un' is an anglicization of 'redding ' (a thieves') word for a watch, probably the name of a watchreceiver. The phrase therefore means 'Spent in drink the money raised on his watch.' Here brevity is indeed triumphant.  
     Blighter (Theat., 1898). An actor of evil omen : it took the place of Jonah (q.v.).  
     'I never care about acting in a play which is likely to fail. Look at Jones. Splendid actor, but he has been connected with so many failures that he has got to be known, as a blighter, and no one will engage him.' — Cutting.  
     Blind Hookey (Peoples'). A leap in the dark; e.g., 'Oh, it's Blind Hookey to attempt it.' From a card game. The centre card is the banker's — the players put money against either of the four other cards. If the dealer's centre card is the highest of the five he takes all the bets. If his card is the lowest, he pays all four.  
     Blink. See Bit o' blink.  
     Blister, To (Peoples', 1890 on). To punish with moderation : a modification of 'to pound'; e.g., 'I'll blister 'im when I ketch 'im' a promise of listing. Used chiefly by cabmen in relation to magisterial fines, e.g., 'I was blistered at Bow Street to-day for twenty hog.'  
     Blizzard Collar (Soc., 1897). A high stand-up collar to women's jackets, coats. Suggestive of cold weather.  
     I must mention the very pretty Russian vests of fur that our élégantes have now adopted. They are tightly fitting, and fasten on the side ; they have a short basque all round, a blizzard collar, and a fancy belting of jewelled enamelled plaques. — D. T., 16th January 1897.  
     Bloater (Peoples'). An abbreviation of Yarmouth bloater : a fat person. From the fact that the first smoking process applied to the herring results in a remarkable swelling, which afterwards abates.  
     If intended for immediate eating, the herring is taken down after one firing, when it is swelled and puffed out like a roasted apple. It is then known to the true East Anglian as a blowen-herring the word bloater is rejected by philologists at a foreign corruption and here you probably have the true etymology of the familiar word. — Yarmouth, by W. Norman (Yarmouth, 1883).  
     Blob (Cricket, 1898). No runs. ' Blob ' has taken the place of 'duck ', or 'duck's egg '.  
     Block (Scotch Thieves', 1868). A policeman in one syllable.  
     I think it would be a good idea for my mother to get the block privately and make an appeal to him ; he would have a little feeling for her, I think. —Dundee garotter's letter, 1868.  
     Block (Linen Drapers'). A name applied curiously to the young lady of fine shape who in the mantle department tries on for the judgment of the lady customer.  
     Block a quiet pub. (Peoples'). To stop a long time in a tavern; e.g., 'I don't care for theayters or sing-songs ; but I like to block a quiet pub. ', said the commercial ; i.e., to remain quietly drinking in an out-of-the-way public house. Generally said of a sot.  
     Bloke (Lower Classes, 19 cent). A friendly soul, inclined to be charitable.
    [-35-] This word has not the objectionable meaning it is often supposed to possess. On the contrary, it is mighty affectionate ; e.g., 'Got a bit o' bacca, bloke?' if asked you in the streets is by no means offensively said. It is less than 'gentleman', more than ' mate '. ' He's a proper bloke ' is simply a paean.  
     Bloke is also a lover, or even an acquaintance.  
     Master Edward Graham, aged eight, and Miss Sarah King, aged nine, appeared at Bow Street as inseparable and incorrigible beggars in the Strand. 'Sally and her bloke ' is said to be the unpoetical designation of the pair in the Strand. —D. N., 1882.  
     In universities, an outsider, a mere book-grubber, e.g. , 'Balliol mere blokes. But they carry off everything.' (See Old Put, Muff.)  
     Blood (Old). By our Lord one of the old Catholic exclamations.  
     Blood it is almost enough to make my daughter undervalue my sense. — Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. vii., ch. 4.  
     The extended form is ' bloody ' — by our lady — an asseveration referring to the Virgin, which becomes an apostrophe in the shape 'What the bloody hell' — 'By our lady, hail.'  'What' thus appears to be a Protestant addition. About 1875, when the London School Board had influenced the metropolis for some half dozen years — this word and phrase were superseded by 'blooming', a sheer evasion which has survived the nineteenth century, and has quite passed into the lower layers of the language. In 18th century literature may be found the form 'blady hell ', which suggests the origin very forcibly.  
     Some actors have been known to mutilate the speech in Macbeth, 'Be bloody, bold, and resolute', lest it should suggest the inconceivably wicked thought, 'Be bloody-bold, and resolute '. Now this extremely shocking word is nothing more nor less than a corruption of 'By'r lady '. How little do the dregs of our population, who, when they hurl out the word, imagine that it contains some frightful explosive, dream that they are appealing to the Virgin. — D. T.  
     Blood and 'ounds (Irish). Blood and wounds (Christ's) — an old pronunciation rhyming with ' pounds ' ; e.g., 'Blood an' 'ounds how the blood runs out uv 'un thin.' This phrase is a good example of the anglicization of words whose original meanings are from various causes lost. Probably most of the Catholic adjurations have been applied in the same such manner as this.  
     Blood Ball (London Tr.). The butchers' annual hopser, a very lusty and fierce-eyed function. The female contingent never wear crimson — as being too trady. (See Bung Ball. )  
     Blood Hole (E. London, 1880). A theatre in Poplar.  
     The irreverent ones of the district, whenever they mentioned the place, called it 'The Blood Hole 'in allusion, I presume, to the style of drama presented. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Blood or Beer (Street). A challenge to fight or stand, i.e., 'pay for' malt refreshment. A jocular phrase bordering on bullying. Real fighting is inducted by the phrase ' Take off your coat ' ! This is serious. ' Come on, ruffian. It's blood or beer ' —is simply friendly suggestion.  
     Bloods (Lowest Glasses) Wallflowers, from a not too clear association of colours. A higher figure of speech than Bugs (q.v.), but still painfully disgusting in association with this fresh - breathed blossom. ' Bloods, bloods penny a bunch, bloods.'  
     Bloods (Navy). Sailor boys' title for 'Penny Dreadfuls'.  
     They expect lots of blood, wonderful adventures, gruesome illustrations, and a good deal of cheap sentiment', and they get it. As they get older, their tastes change. Rev. G. Goodenough, Navy Chaplain.  
     Blood-worms (London, 19 cent.). Sausages in general, but a black-pudding of boiled hog's blood in particular. 'S 'elp me sivvy, I've come down to blood-worms.' (See Sharp's Alley.)  
     Bloody carpet rags (Amer., imported to Liverpool). A mutilated man.  
     All of a sudden the burly coloured man drew a razor from his pocket and started for the light-weight with the remark that he'd make bloody carpet rags of him. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     It should be added that the razor is the American negro's favourite weapon, carried as a rule in a high boot something after the manner of a Scotch dirk in a Scotch sark.
[-36-]
     Blooming Emag (Street, 1870). Back spelling : 'Emag' is 'game'. Selfishness in its perfect degree.  
     There nothing like cheek, yobs, whatever you're blooming emag may be. But be honest, even if you have to go out nailing to be honest. — Cutting.  
     Bloomeration (London, 1891). Illumination. First heard 9th November at Prince of Wales' illuminations.  
     Blooming little holiday (Lowest Peoples'). Saturnalia —  liberty to be free, to be perfectly tyrannical.  
     An English defeat and panic, on English soil, would seem to the English rough the very beginning of the millennium, or, in his own language, 'a blooming little holiday.' —  Newsp. Cutting 1879.  
     Blouser (obscure). To cover up, to hide, to render nugatory, e.g., 'Joe you won't blouser me!" From the French, evidently. Probably used in an anti-Gallican spirit, when the blouse first appeared to cover over an honest Englishman's waistcoat ; or it may be from the court of Charles II.  
     The Army is warned that the clergy will try to 'blouser' or mislead them, and to persuade people to refuse the use of halls, while all the time professing interest in the Army's holy labours. — Newsp. Cutting (about 1881).  
     Blow (Peoples'). To boast from the noise made when a whale blows water through and up from the nostrils, with much noise. Introduced by sailors in the whale trade, common to England and America, and still surviving amongst the lower classes. A good example of a word arising from a new industry and passing away with it.  
     About the veracity of big game shooters, one is sometimes obliged to feel now and then a lingering doubt. They might remind an Australian reader of 'him who tried to blow', in a well-known line of a modern poet. 'Blow', it may be necessary to explain, is the Australian equivalent for 'brag' or 'boast'. Thus Othello 'blew' in the account of his adventures with which he obliged Desdemona. —  D. N., 25th February 1885.  
     ' Blow ' and ' blow upon ' are sometimes still used in their old form, in the sense of to expose or betray.  
     All he asks is to pass him along his plate with whatever happens to be handy round the pantry, and he won't go away and blow how poor the steak is. He just eats whatever is set before him, and asks no questions. — Cutting.  
     Blow me tight (Peoples'). Below me with a firm hand —  that is, sent to Hades. Used generally as a protest on the part of the speaker, and an assurance of truth. Generally followed by 'if,' and sometimes 'but'. He means that he is willing to be damned if he lies.  
     It was reckoned out we'd get to Brighton at six o'clock last Saturday, blow me tight. — Cutting.  
     Blow-out (Peoples'). Dissipation literally stretching the digestive apparatus.  
     At the end of a month a miner finds himself in possession of from £25 to £30, and, as a corollary, has what he calls 'a blow-out'. —  Newsp. Cutting, 1883.  
     Blowing (Thieves'). 'A pickpocket's trull ', quotes Byron in a note to the line 'Who on a lark with black-eyed Sal (his blowing)' (Don Juan, ca. xi. st. 19). Sometimes 'blowen '.  
     Blowsa-bella (Theat. 18 cent.). A vulgar, self-assertative woman, generally stout. Blowsa is probably from the French 'blouser', a verb got from 'blouse', meaning to attract by gutter arguments. Bella is of course an abbreviation of Isabella, and the whole phrase probably would mean a vulgar woman of the people giving herself false airs of grandeur. The Daily News (22nd Feb. 1883) throws perhaps some light on the word in reference to the Salvation Army.  
     Bluchers (Mid. Class; 1815 on). Plural of blucher, referring to the commonest of boots. From General von Blucher, the Prussian general-in-chief at the battle of Waterloo. When some clever bootmaker invented the now extinct Wellington boots, a humble imitator followed with the handy Blucher, and made quite a large fortune out of this idea and the boots the most frequent name for workmen's boots known to Britons, who have found this manufacture a handy weapon. (See Wellingtons.)  
     Blue (Old English). Dismal — evidently from the appearance of the countenance when showing anxiety or mistrust —  as distinct from red anger. In this sense it is used in U.S.A. to [-37-] this day ; e.g., 'This news will make our return to Yonkers rather blue', i.e., melancholy. It will be found temp. George III. in a ballad, published in Dublin by Trojanus Laocoon, called The All -devouring Monster ; or New Five per C—t, a satirical work which attacked a project, dating from England, of course, to put a duty of 5 per cent, upon all imports. Here is a triplet from the ballad in question:  
     The effects of the Tax will soon make us look Blue,  
     Its nature, its drift being known but to few ;  
     Reverse of the Glass Act this all men saw through.  
     In England, 19th century, 'blue' has been abandoned as describing melancholy, owing to its new meaning — one of vulgar, coarse, double entendre, e.g., 'Have you got any new blue?' may be asked by one who is athirst for erotic entertainment. Perhaps comes in some obscure way from the French, where a bluette certainly means a short song, which skirts the wind of impropriety. The earlier meaning of blue is however still sometimes applied.
     And yet, though things are all so blue, it's funny,  
     My missus never lets me blue the money.  —   Elephant and Castle pantomime, 1882.  
     Blue Blanket (Peoples', 19 cent.). The sky. 'I slept under the blue blanket last night. (See Bengal Blanket.)  
     Blue Caps (Indian Mutiny, 1857). Dublin Fusiliers.  
     The Dublin Fusiliers are 'The Blue Caps'. A despatch of Nana Sahib was intercepted, in which he referred to ' those blue-capped English soldiers who fight like devils '. The name stuck. At the Siege of Lucknow the bridge of Char Bagh was raked by four guns and defended on the flanks by four others. 'Who is to carry it?' asked Outram. 'My Blue Caps', replied Havelock ; and they did. — Rev. E. J. Hardy.  
     Blue Damn. Evasive swearing. Celestial curse — the blue referring to the sacred purple blood of the Crucified.  
     Blue Funk (Pub. Sch.). Absolute panic — from the leaden colour of the skin when the owner is beyond question afraid.  
     Of Mr Weedon Grossmith's assumption it may be further said that it is calculated to develop his most approved strain of humour, which in schoolboy parlance is known as blue funk. — People, 28th February 1897.  
     He will, no doubt, tell people at home that he left the Soudan because he was invalided. That is not the case. He left us because he was in a blue funk. — D. T., 6th July 1897.  
     Blue Grass (Amer.). People of Kentucky — from the peculiar tint of the grass.  
     The Kentucky correspondent of the Cincinnati News - Journal is evidently hard hit. This is what he writes : When the Bona Dea, out of her bounteousness, makes a Bluegrass woman, she takes care never to spoil the job. A soft, white, warm body, translucent with divine light, and curving to lines of beauty as naturally as the tendrils of a vine, is the groundwork upon which nature limits the human angel. . . . The brow of Juno and the bust of Hebe ; the sea-nymph's pearly ear, the wood-nymph's springy step these are a few of the charms nature gives the maiden of the Bluegrass.—  Newsp. Cutting.  
     Even accepted as the title of a paper.  
     Blasphemous Libel. —  Louisville (Ky.), 21st April. —  Mr C. E. Moore, Editor of a newspaper, published here, known as The Blue Grass Blade, and who has been in prison for the last fortnight. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Blue Grass Belle. A Kentuckian beauty.  
     While down in Kentucky last Fall, buying horses, he tipped a wink at a blue grass belle.—  Newsp. Cutting.  
     Blue-handled Rake. The railing and steps leading to the platform of a fair-booth stage.  
     Blue Hen's Chick (Devonshire). A clever soul, e.g., 'You're a blue hen's chick hatched behind the door ' said satirically.  
     Blue Jack (Nautical). Cholera morbus —  from the colour of the skin in this disease. (See Yellow Jack.)  
     Blue-jacket (Peoples', 19 cent.). A sailor —  given from the colour of jacket. (See Lobster, Robin Redbreast.)  
     Blue Moon (General, in all classes). Absolutely lost in mystery, but probably an Anglicism of a word or words with which neither 'blue' nor 'moon' has anything to do. It imports indefinite futurity. Possibly meaning

[-38-]

'never ', because a blue moon is never seen.  
     ' I ain't a going to make a speech ', said he, in a voice husky with emotion, ' because if I was to jaw till a blue moon I couldn't tell you more about her we've been and buried than you know already.' 'Cadgers in Mourning', D. T., 8th February 1863.  
     Blue Noses (American). Canadians obviously from the force of sharp weather on the Canadian nose. Probably contemptuous.  
     In Nova Scotia, has died a centenarian who had fought under Nelson and under Wellington. Did a grateful people follow the hero to the grave with proud tears? Not much. John Aberton was buried in a rough box on the day he died. There were no prayers, no funeral procession, no formalities, but the old patriot received the burial of a dog. This ought to make recruiting brisk in Canada and incite the blue noses to volunteer in a mass to defend Queen Victoria's codfish. N. Y. Mercury, 1st January 1895.  
     Blue o'clock in the morning (Street). Pre-dawn, when black sky gives way to purple. Rhyming fancy, suggested by two o'clock in the morn. Suggestive of rollicking late hours.  
     The birdcatcher has often to be up f at blue o'clock in the morning '. The rime is on the grass when he lays his nets. It is bitterly cold standing about in the fields. D. N. t 12th October 1886.  
     Blue Pencil (To) (Theat., 1885 on). Cutting down literature first applied to dramatic pieces. From the colour of the pencil used. c More blue pencil ', said Mr Tree it is the only way of writing a successful piece.  
     The actor will have a better chance after the blue pencil has eliminated the unnecessary verbiage in the dialogue. D. N. y 17th February 1899.  
     Blue Pig (Maine, U.S.A. ). Whisky. Maine is a temperance state, therefore liquor has to be asked for under various strange names, which have generally been satirically distinguished by a strange contradiction in their component parts, as in this instance. The phrase common in Liverpool.  
     There have been remarkable animals discovered in Maine before now to wit, striped and blue pigs and Japanese dogs of scarlet hue. These creatures, however, have usually been found to be of the genus stalking - horse that is, they merely served as screens for the sale of prohibited intoxicating fluids. D. N.  
     Blue Ribbonite (M. Class, 1880). A sort of pun between 'nite' and 'knight', and one which gave the phrase rapid popularity. Outcome of the custom of wearing a blue ribbon on left breast of coat to demonstrate that the wearer was an abstainer.  
     With respect to the inconsistencies in the man who married Miss Dash drinking champagne and port, it should be remembered that he had not taken the pledge, and that he was concealing his identity. Besides, he said before the wedding breakfast that he was almost a blue-ribbonite Brighton Bigamy Case, 20th and 24th October 1885.  
     Blue Ribbon Fakers (London, 1882). The progress of abstinence principles, practically started by Father Mathews (1815-71), is very interesting. The original abstainers made no daily public parade of their principles, and were not forbidden to associate with men who drank fermented liquors, or to have * drinks ' in the house, or to pay for drinks. Then followed the Good Templars (1860), who prohibited their followers from paying for others' alcoholic drinks, from having liquor in the house, or entering a tavern, even to buy a biscuit, but they showed no visible signs of their temperance. Then came the Blue Ribbon Army who (1882) instituted the daily assertion of their principles by wearing a scrap of bright blue ribbon in the left breast buttonhole of the coat. Street satirists dubbed them Blue Ribbon fakers.  
     The Blue Ribbon fakers may say what they fair like, but there are times when good brandy is new life ask the squirts. About 1896 these blue ribbons became in some degree unpopular with abstainers, and were discarded. But so far no abstinence supporters had tabooed tobacco. It remained for the Salvation Army to add to all the abstinence principles hitherto adopted that of the rejection of tobacco in all its forms. As they operated chiefly amongst youths, their success as antitobacconalians was considerable. So far moderation or abstinence in relation to animal food has not yet been advanced but it must follow in due course.  
     Blue Roses (Literary). Unattainable sometimes blue dahlias, or tortoise-shell Tom cat, equal to squaring the circle. Blue roses is the most poetical of these phrases.  
     The blue cloud of a fame beyond Core's reach floated ever before him ; he was eternally allured by the blue roses of an impossible success. D. N., 25th June 1885.  
     Blue 'un (Sporting). A journal named Winning Post so named from its tint, no doubt given to enter the ranks with the * Pink 'un ' and ' Brown 'un' (see) all three fine examples of language produced by the habitually obvious, and of the tendency to shorten frequent phrases. Technically, blue 'un is a learned woman.  
     The application of the term to women, originated with Miss Hannah Moore's admirable description of a ' Blue Stocking Club' in her 'Bas Bleu'. Mill.  
     Bluchers (London). Outsider cabs, not allowed, except upon emergency, to enter railway termini probably in contradistinction to Wellingtons, just aa the Wellington boot was the aristocratic foot-covering the Blucher that of the general. The Blucher boot survives ; the Wellington is a fossil.  
     It appears that when there is a deficiency of cabs at any station, outside or non-registered vehicles are called in on payment of a penny for the right of taking stand in the yard. With a nice regard for history, the drivers of these ' understudy ' cabs are, in the vernacular of the fraternity, dubbed 'Bluchers'. D. T., 'Cab Strike', 23rd May 1894.  
     Bluff (Californian, 1849 on). To humbug, hector, bully, from an American card-game wherein the player sheerly seeks to domineer over his opponent, and gain by sheer audacity, without absolute reference to the cards he (the bluffer) holds. Probably from 'bluff', Californian for cliff; the word suggesting tall boasting.  
     'I bluffed 'im for a hour, but 'e wouldn't 'ave it at not no price. Mr Newton, the magistrate at Maryborough Street observed : This is a case of bluff. Sir George Lewis : If you have made up your mind, I will retire from the case. Mr Newton: Can you contradict the constables ? People, 3rd October 1895.  
     Tom Gossage afforded in his own character and habits an amusing example of how a man could get imbued with the peculiar vice of the time and that was the game of brag brag and the hard old vices of its kindred bluff and poker. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bluffer (Californian, 1849 on). The noun followed the verb very rapidly. The stranger went away and returned with the bluffer. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bobby (Scottish). A faithful person abbreviation of Greyfriars Bobby, who has become a household word in the Canongate, Edinburgh. He was a devoted little terrier who kept watch and ward for a dozen years over the grave of his unknown master, buried in the strangers' corner of Greyfriars Cemetery, Edinburgh. Lady, then Miss Burdett Coutts, was so touched by this fidelity that she erected a little monument to his memory. ' Hey, mon, nae mair thanks, or maybe ye'll be getting the name o' Bobbie.'  
     Bobby Atkins. See Tommy Atkins.  
     Bobby's Labourers ( Volunteers, 1868). Name given to special constables, chiefly volunteers, during this year one of Fenian alarm upon the principle that the s.c's did the work of the policemen that is ' bobby'.  
     Bob, Harry and Dick (Rhyming, 1868). Sick disguised way of admitting a crushed condition, the morn following a heavy drink. (See Micky.)  
     Bobolink (American). A talkative person, from being like a bird of this name. Abbreviation of Bob o' Lincoln.  
     This is the way somebody translates the bobolink's libretto : ' Chink a link, chink a link, tink tink, tinkle tootle, Tom Denny, Tom Denny, come pay me, with your chink a link, tinkle linkle, toodle loodle, popsidoodle, see, see, see ! ' making not the slightest pause from beginning to end.  
     Bobs (Soc., passing to People, 1900). Plural of Bob, exactly as Roberts is the plural of Robert hence the genesis of the familiar name for General Roberts. Bobs was much applied in this year, especially to smart Irish terriers. B.P. (passing to Bups), was also in great vogue of course the initials of General Baden Powell. This pluralising of nicknames had been growing for years. Mr Ernest Wells, one of the founders and managers of the Pelican Club, and familiarly known in sporting, dramatic, and literary circles by his journalistic pseudonym of ' Swears ', has, etc. D. T., 25th July 1900.  
     Tales, old Chestnuts, Hairs, Pots, 39 Bobtail Boko Pumps, were some of the plural nicknames in use about this period.  
     If a limber's slipped a trace,  
     'Ook on Bobs ;  
     If a marker's lost 'is place,  
     Dress by Bobs ;  
     For 'e's eyes all up 'is coat,  
     An' a bugle in 'is throat,  
     An' you will not play the goat,  
     Under Bobs.  
     Rudyard Kipling.  
     Bobtail (Peoples'). Name given early in the 19th century to the dandies who wore the pointed tailcoats which followed the wide skirts of the 18th century, tails which must have been very striking. Name still given to a waiter by common classes. (See Claw-hammer.)  
     Bobtail (Irish). Appealing to the masses, to the passing penny. Irish, and probably dating from the introduction of the swallow-tail coat from England doubtless despised at first, but still retained by the peasantry.  
     Boucicault said ' I introduced The Poor of Liverpool a bobtail piece with local scenery and Mr Cowper in the principal part (Badger). I share after 30 a night, and I am making 100 a week on the damned thing. I localise it for each town, and hit the public between the eyes ; so they see nothing but fire. I can spin out these rough-and-tumble dramas as easily as a hen lays eggs. It's a degrading occupation, but more money has been made out of guano than out of poetry.'  
     Body Lining (Drapers'). Bread very opposite, lining in this trade being what goes inside the bodice (or body) of a dress. 'Pass me half a yard of body -lining.' Body -lining itself is a strong twill.  
     Body Snatcher (Street, London, 1840-1860). A cabman from the habit, before higher civilization amongst cabmen prevailed, of snatching their victim-patrons. Suggested by that other body-snatcher the resurrection - man, who was but a memory in 1840.  
     Bohemian Bungery (Strand District). Public-house patronized by struggling authors. Bohemian having been introduced by Murger for a fighting author, artist, or musician, and the tea-pot brigade having dubbed a licensed victualler a bung, from that adjunct to the beer barrel this phrase 40 became one of the results of time. The Nell Gwynne was once a Bohemian Bungery.  
     Bohemian down to his boots (Art and Lit.). Bohemian in excelsis. ' He is a . . . such as they are ' that is ' the boots '.  
     At that time a young man, Nelson Kneass, a scion of an old and proud family, was horrifying ' society ' by going round blacking his face as a negro minstrel. He was a brother of District Attorney Kneass, of this city, was highly educated, but was a 'Bohemian down to his boots '. N. Y. Mercury, 15th January 1888.  
     Boiled Owl (People's). Drunk as a boiled owl. Here there is no common sense whatever, nor fun, wit, nor anything but absurdity. Probably another instance of a proper name being changed to a common or even uncommon word. May be drunk as Abel Doyle which would suggest an Irish origin like many incomprehensible proverbs too completely Anglicised.  
     It is a well-known fact in natural history that a parrot is the only bird which can sing after partaking of wines, spirits, or beer ; for it is now universally agreed by all scientific men who have investigated the subject that the expression, ' Drunk as a boiled owl ' is a gross libel upon a highly respectable teetotal bird which, even in its unboiled state, drinks nothing stronger than rain-water. D. T., 12th December 1892.  
     Also whitish, washed-out countenance, with staring sleepy eyes.  
     Both were admirably made up, and Twiss had just the boiled-owlish appearance that is gained by working all night in a printing-office. Ref., 31st May 1885.  
     (See Dead as O'Donnel, Smithereens.)  
     Boiled Shirt (Middle Class). Clean, white from the fact that if the shirt is not boiled it remains dull grey. W. America, but common in England.  
     ' Waal now, say, you with the boiled shirt. What did Miss Maslam reply when you put the question?' Newsp. Gutting, 1897.  
     Boko (Common). A huge nose. Corruption of ' beaucoup ', the ' o' being national and preferred to the French ' ou '. Said to be descended from the time of Grimaldi, who would observe while 'joey-ing' (g.v.) 'C'est beaucoup', and tapping his nose. The Boko-smasher Bono Johnny phrase still remains, Anglicised, for a rough observing to another rough of a third gentleman's nose, will make the statement, ' I say boko ! ' When one Espinosa, a French dancer, came to London (1858), the size of his wonderful nose drew so much gallery observation of 'boko' that Mr J. Oxenford, in the Times, especially referred to the organ and assumed it was art. Thereupon, Espinosa wrote explaining that the nose in question was un don de la nature.  
     He was as thin and pale as a coffee palace bit of roast beef, and his boko was as high and red as the sun on a foggy morning.  
     If he thought he had a black spot on his boko he'd go into convulsions.  
     Boko-smasher (Street). For elucidation of this elegant occupation see Boko.  
     Bolt -upright (Peoples'). A good example of graphic application. From the rigidity of a bolt, e.g., 'he was bolt-upright, mum and were so all the time, as 'is dear father was a-thrashin' of him.'  
     Bolted to the Bran (Polit.). Thoroughly sifted one of the few puns or jocular phrases of which Gladstone could ever be accused.  
     Now the great questions are initiated, discussed, sifted, ' bolted to the bran ', to use an expression more than once adopted by Mr Gladstone, before they come formally under the notice of the House of Commons. D.N.. 12th August 1885.  
     Bombast (Hist.). Windy words from Bumbast the word, with a double entendre used for the material for stuffing out trunk hose, 16th and 17th centuries.  
     When I came to unrip and unbumbast this Gargantuan bag-pudding, I found nothing in it but dog's tripes. Gabriel Harvey.  
     I. Disraeli says 'Bombast was the tailors' term in the Elizabethan era for the stuffing of horse-hair or wool used for the large breeches then in fashion hence the term was applied to high-sounding phrases "all sound and fury, signifying nothing".'  
     Bone (London, 1882). A thin man. Hence 'The bone has made a remark.' (Surrey Pantomime, London, 1882.)  
     Bone-clother (Medical). Port wine which is popularly supposed to induce muscle.  
     Bone Idle (Scottish). Could not be more so. Probably the one atom of slang, if this can be called slang, which Carlyle exercised ; may be found in a letter to his mother (15th Feb. 1847). ' I have gone bone idle these four weeks and more, and have been well done to every way.'  
     Bone-shaker (Youths^ 1870 on). The earliest bicycle which tried to break bones incessantly.  
     Bone-shop (Lower Classes). Workhouse another of the more figurative and satirical names for this establishment. Here it refers presumably and untruly to the nature of the nourishment as producing nothing visible over the pauper bones.  
     ' Two of 'em lives in the blooming boneshop and the other little devil is in the small-pox hospital.'  
     Boner Nochy (Clerkenwell ; Italian quarter). Good-night imitated by the Clerkenwellians, from the bona notte of the Italians in Eyre Street Hill, Little Bath Street, and Hatton Garden ; or it may be from the Spanish 'noche' through the U.S.A.  
     'In any case', said Don Miguel, rising and preparing to retire for the night, ' in any case, can you wonder that I hate the Argentine, and everything connected with it ? Buenas noches, senor ! ' Ev. News, 9th December 1898.  
     Bonner (Oxford f er'). Bonfire. This specimen of 'er' shows a spice of satirical wit, for it is suggestive of Bishop Bonner, who certainly lit up many bonfires Smithfield way.  
     Bonnet (Lower Class). To smash another's hat over the eyes. From French (bonnet - a cap), and time Charles II. Bonnet passed into hat, but 'to bonnet' went sliding down until now it is in the gutter. (See Cloak, In his sleeve, Shawl.)  
     Bonny Robby (Provincial). Pretty but frail girl, probably from ' buona roba ' common in the time and court of Charles II.  
     DRUG : There visits me a rich young widow ? FACE : A bona roba ? Garrick's Alel Drugger.  
     Bono Johnny (Pigeon Chinese). A good fellow. A Chinese invention ; used by English sailors as warrant of good intentions. 41  
     Bonse (School). Head. 'Lookout, or I'll fetch you a whack across the bonse '.  
     Boo; Boo-ers (Theatrical, 1900). First-night gallery critics who replaced the goose (hissing) by ' booing ' probably because it was easier and more secretive.  
     Who would have thought, when an illmannered gallery ' booed ' Mr Kerker's sparkling entertainment more than twelve months ago that it would achieve an unparalleled success at the Shaftesbury? D. T., 9th May 1899.  
     (See Wreckers.)  
     Boobies' Hutch (Military, 19 cent. ). A drinking point in barracks, which, under certain circumstances, is open after canteen is closed. Satire probably upon the fools who have never had enough.  
     Boodle (Liverpool). One of the New York terms for money. Probably from the Dutch.  
     Hangman ain't such a bad fellow. He always treats the boys after he receives 'the boodle' from the Sheriff for sending an unfortunate to the other side ; although some folks are really afraid to go near him, and wouldn't even pass his house, I'd just as leave drink with him as I would with you. N. Y. Mercury, 3rd May 1885.  
     In vain did one of the American comic journals some time ago depict, with becoming scorn, a hoard of needy European nobles struggling for the possession of a dermire American beauty who bears a bag of what is locally known as ' boodle ', and in polite society as lucre, in her shapely arms. D. N., 15th September 1890.  
     Book-maker (Racing, 19 cent.). A professional betting man who makes a betting book upon every race, or about every race in a season. He lays against all horses. A bookmaker of position must make immense profits, under the two conditions of betting with men who can pay and with men who will accept all the conditions offered by the bookmaker. In fact, under these 'circs', he rarely loses, while the money he may make is almost limitless. Sometimes, however, when a favoiirite wins, the ' ring ' (that is the mass of betting men), is hit heavily.  
     Bookie (Sporting, 1881). The endearing 'ie', common in Johnnie and chappie, adapted to bookmaker. The ' maker ' dropped the suffix added.  
     Booking (Public School). Anything but for it is casting volumes from you as missiles at the enemy for the time being, e.g., 'Jannery split book him together ! '
     It would be a pity to deprive them of the chance of such ' glorious fun ' as the ' mobbing ' and ' booking ' (that is pelting with books) of the model school tyrant. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Boomerang (American, 1882). A vain folly, the consequence of which returns upon the perpetrator. This phrase is of course based upon the peculiar trajectory of the Australian boomerang, which, properly thrown, returns to the feet of the missilethrower. In 1883 a play was produced by Mr Daly in New York, with the title c 728 or Casting the Boomerang'. A New York dramatic critic in the course of an article upon this play, wrote: 'the various follies or boomerangs of the principal characters return in the course of the play to plague them '.  
     Boomlet (City, 1896). A small ' boom '. Satirical invention used to attack the prosperous enemy.  
     Without troubling you with details, I may mention that during the recent West Australian boom or, as some of my Stock Exchange friends prefer to call it, 'boomlet' we succeeded in realising, etc. Mr H. Bottomley, 10th December 1897.  
     Boomster (City, 1898). One who booms.  
     Boost (Liverpool - American). A hoist, toss, elevation from the mode of raising one in the world hurriedly, exercised by an angry bull or even cow.  
     The cowcumber kin be made an ornament, will stand in any climate, and the placques and chromos will encourage art and give a fresh boost to decoration.  
     Boot (Tailors' and Bootmakers', 19 cent. ). Money one of the trade applications to describe money just exactly as the grocer calls coin ' sugar ' or the milkman ' cream '. 'We've had the boot for that job.' Probably an abbreviation of 'beautiful', this being an obviously likely, vulgar, poetical naine for money. (See Booth Star Born Days Needful. ) Sometimes only a shilling. 'Can I have the boot?' asked for at the end of a day's work. Indeed ' boot ' in its most ordinary form is an advance on the weekly wages but one never under a shilling. The lower advance, sixpence, is called a slipper. Also used in the tailoring trade. A worker will say at closing time, ' Please, sir, could you oblige me with the boot', while a more retiring soul would ask * Could I have a slipper, sir?'  
     Booth Star (Minor Stage). Leading actor or actress in a 'booth'. ' Let me tell you a booth star is a good thing. You often get four parts a night. It is great experience and it is the first step to Drury Lane.'  
     Booze (Low London). Intoxicants of all kinds, but particularly beer. May be from a name, but probably is an onomatope of quite modern date, from the boozing noise made by drunkards when falling off to sleep. Booze is drink in general boozy, the result of drinking slowly and tandem, also to sleep.  
     At the hearing of the Southampton election petition, witness describing a procession of costermongers said : ' I heard some men shout that they wanted some more booze '. Mr Justice Wright : ' What ? ' Mr Willis : < Booze, my lord, drink '. Mr Justice Wright : ' Ah ! '  
     Booze plausibly claims a sort of corrupt descent from the genuine, if low, English word to ' bouse, ' which occurs in our literature as early as 1567. D. T., 2nd December 1895.  
     Mr O'Donovan, the Eastern traveller, said to a press - interviewer ( World, 31st January 1885), 'this word is Persian for * ' beer " '. Was he indulging in one of his ordinary jokes ? If not, then the coalescing of these words and meanings is a very remarkable etymological fact.  
     Boozer (Street, 19 cent.). The public - house, as well as the publichouse frequenter.  
     Big Tim goes with him, while I pops around the boozer. People, 6th January 1895.  
     Booze-fencers (Com. Lon., 1880). Licensed victuallers from ' booze ' drink, and fencers sellers probably a wilful corruption of * dispensers '.  
     You may run down booze fencers as much as you like, but you take my tip that there are more real gentlemen among them than among any other class, upper ten included. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Booze-pushers (Low London, 19 cent.). Variant of booze-fencer. When a bloke is flatch kennurd the booze pushers will give him any rot in the house, and that's very hard lines. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Booze-shunters (P. House, 1870). Beer-drinkers.  
     They have never robbed a man of a hard day's work, and are the best booze shunters in the world without ever getting slewed.  
     To 'shunt' in railway life is to move from place to place. The boozeshunter moves the beer, or 'booze,' from the pot into his visceral arrangements. The term was started by the S.W.R. porters and guards, who use the larger public-houses in the neighbourhood of the terminus in the Waterloo Koad (London).  
     Bo-peep (Nursery). Exclamation of fun. Johnson does not comprehensively elucidate this word when he gravely says it is from 'bo' and 'peep'. 'The art', he says, 'of looking out, and drawing back, as if frighted, or with the purpose to fright one another.' SHAKESPEARE, who has everything, has this phrase once  
     ' Then they for sudden joy did weep  
     And I for sorrow sung,  
     That such a king should play bo-peep  
     And go the fools among.'  
     DRYJDEN has : ' There devil plays at bo-peep, puts out his horns, etc.'  
     Bor (E. Anglian). May be a shortening of neighbour, but is probably a corruption of boy politely applied even to the oldest male inhabitant.  
     Bore (Soc. t 19 cent.). Weary. From tunnelling operations steady, deadly, incisive 'jaw'. One of the trade metaphors which has passed into society and still stops there. Never has come down in ' the social scale. 'Lord Tom bores one to death with Tel-el-Kebir.'  
     To bore in the hills, is it? Well don't bore me about it. Miss M. EDGEWORTH, The Absentee (1809).  
     Born Days (Peoples'). Intensifies Days that are born in an individual life. ' In all my born days I was never so insulted.' Other authorities maintain it should be 'borne,' or Born a Bit Tired Bouguereau Quality burdened, days while still more recondite etymologists maintain it is 'bourn' from our progress daily to that bourn whence no traveller returns. Fine example of three different words with the same sound offering as many meanings. Almost as good or as bad as * mala '.  
     Born a bit tired (Soc., 1870 on). Sarcastic excuse for a chronically lazy man. 'You can't reasonably expect him to work a couple of hours per day he was born a bit tired'.  
     According to Mr Alderman Taylor, of the London County Council, there exists the man who is 'born a bit tired'. D. T., 13th February 1897.  
     Born with a sneer (Literary, 1850 on). Said of an implacable critic, attributed to Douglas Jerrold, who was good at sneering himself.  
     ' Lord X would laugh at the Holy Sepulchre he was, etc.'.  
     Light opera has familiarised the public with the man who was 'born with a sneer'. D. T., 13th February 1897.  
     Bosh (Lower Official English). A term applied by market inspectors to butterine, oleomargarine and other preparations practically too long - windedly named to please the official mind. Now extended to all adulterants or adulterated food. Mr O'Donovan declared this word to be Persian, and that it means 'empty'. Certainly the word used as an exclamation is replete with the idea of emptiness. (See World, 31st January 1883.)  
     Boss Time (Anglo-Amer.). Great pleasure, a supreme holiday ; e.g., ' Eve had a boss time last winter hunting deer up in Michigan.'  
     Now used in England.  
     Botany Beer Party (Soc., 1882). A meeting where no intoxicants are drunk. In this year temperance, which had been growing in society for years, became drunk on affectation. Botany Beer, it has recently been decided on judicial authority, is not beer at all. G. A. Sala, in III. Lond. News, 10th March 1883.  
     Botherums (Agricultural). Yellow marigolds.  
     Among the turnips the yellow marigolds flourish mightily, so mightily that they are called locally ' botherums ' by the farmers, for they are most difficult to get rid of. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bottle Nose (Amer. Boys). Scornful designation of the aged nose an organ which so frequently derogates from the promise of youth. Applied without mercy to those no longer young. Heard in Liverpool. (See Bald-head, Scare-crow.)  
     Bottle up (People's). To refrain, restrain oneself; in another sense, to hem in the enemy, literally or figuratively.  
     The old story of Spanish lack of preparation was repeated ; vessels were foul from long absence from dock, coal was deficient, ammunition ran short, and instead of commanding a fleet ' in being ', Admiral Cervara was glad to bottle himself up in the harbour of Santiago. D. T., 17th June 1898.  
     Bottled (People's, 1898). Arrested, stopped, glued in one place re-introduced during the American-Spanish war, immediately after the U.S.A. squadron had bottled the Spanish fleet in Santiago by closing the narrow opening to the harbour of that city ; e.g., 'My wife's come to town I'm bottled. Next week, Jane.'  
     Bottle o' Spruce (Peoples', 18 cent.). Zero, nothing, abbreviation of Bottle of Spruce Beer, which was cheap, commonplace, almost valueless; e.g., 'Of course, you say I don't care a bottle of spruce. '  
     It also implies twopence ; this sum, early in the 19th century being the price of a bottle of spruce beer. A man now seeking twopence asks for the price of a pint. His grandfather would have asked for a bottle of spruce.  
     Boughten or Bought (Provincial). Adj ective of disparagement. Bought as distinct from superior home-madegoods. No longer heard. Very pleasant, as illustrating a time when every countryhouse, large and small, had its spinsters, weavers, stocking-knitters, and strawplaiters. This word is the more interesting from a modern instance in Ireland, where vanned bread that is carted from the baker's is a term of disparagement as compared with homemade bread.  
     Bouguereau quality (Art, 1884). Riskily effeminate. From the name of the great French painter, whose style is almost unwholesomely refined. The word has become cruelly perverted by its translation into common-place art 44 Boulevard-journalist Bowl chat. Now very extensively used. The Bouguereau quality is not only applied to figure painting and to sculpture, but reaches landscape and portrait painting, decoration, and even literature. The Bouguereau quality in letters is now very marked, and refers to work by both sexes. It is also applied to manners, speech, and even dress remarkable example of rapid growth of a word.  
     The exhibition includes several notable works by famous painters. M. Bouguereau'a group called 'Spring' is alone worth seeing, being a very refined example of his exquisite painting of the nude. I). N., 19th July 1886.  
     Boulevard -journalist (Fr., 1856). Immediately after Louis Napoleon seized upon the throne of France, a number of contentious little journals appeared, mostly of a personal and scandalous character, for politics had been practically slain. The serious journals styled these new issues 'journaux des boulevards', their writers ' Les journalistes boulevardiers '. These literary gnats especially attacked England, as a rule, hence the English press willingly Anglicised the term to describe an unscrupulous writer until 'Society journalist' was discovered and accepted.  
     Boulevardier (Franco-Eng. y 1854- 70). Paris man about town of thirdrate position ; accepted in England ; e.g., ' He is only a boulevardier. '  
     Bounced (Avier., 1880). Ignominiously ejected. Derivation speaks fatally for itself.  
     While he did not feel greatly injured by being bounced from a club which numbered only seven lame old men and two dogs, he wanted to feel that justice was on his side, and he therefore appealed to the Lime-Kiln Club for its decision. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Quite accepted in England. Bounced muchly (Amer. Tavern). To be expelled with exceeding vigour.  
     Bounced is a modern discovery, but the adverb 'muchly' is due to the wild philology of the mirth-provoking Artemus Ward.  
     Bouncer (P. House, 3 80's). Expeller of noisy or even mildly drunken customers. (See * Chucker out '. )  
     The ' bouncer ' of the House of Commons, going into the gallery, tried to find the guilty individual, Newsp. Cutting.  
     Every one who mixes much in society in Whitechapel will understand the functions of the bouncer. When tavern liberty verges on licence, and gaiety on wanton delirium, the bouncer selects the gayest of the gay and bounces him. To ' bounce ' is simply to prevail on persons whose mirth interferes with the general enjoyment to withdraw from society which they embarrass rather than adorn. The bouncer almost invariably uses gentle means and moral persuasion. He bounces the erring 'as if he loved them'. His reputation for strength and science are so great that no one cares to resist the bouncer, and the boldest hold their breath and let themselves be bounced without a murmur. (See ' Chucker out '. ) D. N., 26th July 1883.  
     Bouncing (Peoples'). Big, rotund probably from bonse a huge round marble.  
     Moreover, he has females in his employ who have been with him ten years, and many of them are the healthy mothers of bouncing boys and girls. I'm not quite sure under what circumstances children bounce, but I believe the expression is applied to strapping infants ; though, again, I do not know under what circumstances children strap. G. K. Sims, Ref., 28th December 1884.  
     Bound to Shine (Amer.). Praise. The antithesis of ' clouded over' (q.v.).  
     Bournemouth (Theatri., 1882-83). The deported Gaiety Theatre (London) said satirically. The house was very icy that winter, and produced colds, while Bournemouth is the sanatorium for weak-chested invalids.  
     We don't care about Bournemouth our pleasant name for the Gaiety, as everybody there is dying of coughs and colds. Sporting Times, 3rd February 1883.  
     Bowl for Timber (Cricketers'). To send the ball at the martyr-player's legs the timber. Discountenanced in later years rather as waste of time than with any view of repression of personal injury. ' Try for timber he's quivery' that is to say, nervous.  
     Bowl ( Thieves', 19 cent. ). Discovery from ' bowl out ' a cricketing term. Good as illustrating how a national pastime always provides new language. Grizard went with them, and said he wanted them to look sharp and get to Covent Garden before the market was open, in case it came to a ' bowl '. This was at four in the morning. The Alderman : What is a bowl ' ? Witness : I understand it to be a find-out. 45  
     Bowler (Middle Glass). Hard, dome-shaped, man's felt hat. This hat ('80) took the place of the deer-stalker, which was the first modern felt hat produced in London. The bowler was a make of a smaller kind altogether. Origin not known but probably from the nam of the manufacturer. Has quite passed into the language.  
     All the description that the railway officials can give of the man is that he appeared well dressed, and wore a dark overcoat, closely buttoned, and a bowler hat. Z). T., 15th February 1897.  
     Bow - wow - mutton (Naval). So bad that it might be dog-flesh.  
     Boxing put (Austral, from Amer.). Boxing outing or bout.  
     Boy (Boltoii). Man. There are no men in Bolton all are boys, even at ninety. This quality they share alone, throughout England, with post-boys who never grow up.  
     Boy Jones, The (about 1840). Secret informant. A chimney boysweep of this name tumbled out of a chimney at Buckingham Palace, or was found there under a bed, and was supposed to have heard State secrets as between the Queen and the then Prince Albert. Event supposed to have accelerated chimney-sweeping by machinery. For years ' the boy Jones' was suggestive of secrecy. ' The person who told me, my son, was the boy Jones.' (See 'Jinks the Barber', 'Postman's Sister'.)  
     Boyno ! (Nautical from Lingua Franca, or S. American). Friendly valediction; sometimes been used at meeting as ' Hullo ! ' ' Boyno how is it ? '  
     At parting, 'Well so long! Boyno!' From the Spanish 'bueno', equivalent of 'God speed you.'  
     ' Bueno, senoretta ! ' said the dwarf, and walked away with the superintendent.  
     Brace up (Thieves'). Pawn stolen property. Corruption perhaps from Fr. ' Eraser ', to fabricate at length ; 'braser des faffes' to fabricate false papers. May have been introduced by French criminals.  
     Bracelets ( Thieves'). Humorous title for hand-cuffs ; in itself a satirical description.  
     Brads (North Country). One of the trade names for money in this case halfpence. The word comes from the boot-making trade, and is still in use in the north. Brads are small nails.  
     ' Hey, lass, thee shalt hev' thy tay-tray when t' brads coom along.'  
     Bradshaw (Middle Class). Precise person, great at figures. From ' Bradshaw's Railway Guide' ; e.g., ' Quite a Bradshaw my dear. '  
     Brag (Soc., 1800-30). A game of cards in which the players tried to give the idea that they held better cards than they did. Hence the phrase, ' Don't brag by the card.'  
     Speculation does not greatly surprise me, I believe, because I feel the same myself ; but it mortifies me deeply because speculation was under my patronage ; and, after all, what is there so delightful in a pair royal of Braggers? It is but three nines or three knaves, or a mixture of them. Jane Austen's Letters, 1809.  
     Bran New (Peoples'). A corruption of brand new, that which is branded with the name of the maker. Probably from Sheffield.  
     Brandy and Fashoda (Soc. t October 1898). Brandy and soda, of course. Good example of droll pleonasm. From the discovery of the French captain, Marchand, at Fashoda, almost immediately after the conquest of the dervishes at Omdurman (1898). (See S. andB.)  
     Brandy-shunter (L. Class). He that swalloweth frequent eau-de-vie.  
     Thomas Spencer Carlton, the eminent brandy-shunter, was born about thirtyfive years ago of wealthy yet honest parents. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Brass (Metallic England). Money. The commonest term for cash all over England, and almost the only one used in the copper and iron industries.  
     The prisoner and another man stopped the prosecutor, and explained that it was ' money to buy beer ' that they wanted. ' Haven't any ' said he. ' Yes, you have ' shouted Quain ; ' and we've got to have some of it. Now, then, brass up, or we'll shove you through it.' Neivsp. Cutting.  
     Brass-knocker (Cadgers'). Broken victuals. This may be a corruption from the Romany, but it is now suggestive of a house whose superior respectability warrants the absence of complete economy and the presence of pieces.  
     Brayvo Hicks (Theat., 1830). A peculiar form of applause only used in approbation of muscular demonstration on the lower stage especially broadsword exercise. Derived from Hicks, a celebrated favourite actor for many years, more especially 'upon the Surrey side'. After he passed away the applausive phrase first applied to him was inherited for many years by his natural successors. It may still be heard in out-of-the-way little theatres. Applied in S. London widely ; e.g., ' Brayvo Hicks into 'er again. Mary give 'er the gravil rash.'  
     Brayvo Rouse (E. London). Applause approval. From the name of an enterprising proprietor of * The Eagle ' , afterwards ' The Royal Grecian ', a theatre situated in the City Road, now the Central London headquarters of the Salvation Army. This clever man was one of the first managers to give a long series of well-presented French light operas in English. All the best of Auber's work was dressed in English by Rouse who, it is to be feared, annexed without ' authorial ' complications. Whenever he appeared it was always * Brayvo Rouse '. Old players still show his house in the City Road. * Buck up to it again brayvo Rouse ! '  
     Bread and Meat Man (Military). An officer of the Army Service Corps.  
     Bread-basket (London Trade, 19 cent.). Obvious invention of genius for stomach. Hence never extended to Ireland, where the equivalent is tatersack, the mouth being tatur-trap.  
     Miss Selina Slops was invited before his Worship, on the charge of smearing the face of B.O. 44 with a flatiron, while hot, and also with jumping upon his bread-basket, while in the execution of his duty. Gutting.  
     Break (L. Class). Ruin, overcome, expose, injure justly or unjustly. Expression of victory ' I broke 'im I broke 'im through and through ! ' In middle classes 'to break a man' is an abbreviation of break away from him to cease to know him to cut him. This word obtains everincreasing significations.  
     Breakdown (Negro-plantation). A particular kind of dance, for one generally, where the steps are varied, but the performer does not move far from his place; coming from the old French settlements of America, probably a corruption of ' Rigodon ' Anglicised or rather Americanised.  
     I have heard of burlesque actors dancing a 'breakdown', but the other day the jEcho, on its broadsheet, announced, 'breakdown of an excursion train ! ' Entr'acte, January 1883.  
     Breakers Ahead (Nautical). Necessarily, warning of coming danger. 'Melita' enjoyed a very short and inglorious career. It started with 'breakers ahead' and ended with brokers on the spot, I believe. Ref., 14th January 1883.  
     Breaking Camp (American backwoods). To change one's camping place ; figuratively, to leave it by way of death.  
     I could have braced up under it if my poor Mary had got sick and died at home with me holdin' of her hand and consolin' her as she was breakin' camp for the other world. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Breast the Tape (Sporting). Conquer, lead, overcome from touching the tape with breast in running matches.  
     Leeds at the best of times does not rejoice in a very clear atmosphere ; but when she wraps herself in a fog, she can give London a good start in the race for objectionableness and breast the tape an easy winner at the finish. Ref., 27th November 1887.  
     Breath strong enough to carry coal (Anglo. -Amer.). Drunk.  
     . . . comes home at three o'clock in the morning with a breath strong enough to carry the coal. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Brekker (Oxford ' er'). Breakfast a great find in the ' er ' dialect, but probably in origin dating from the nursery.  
     Bremerhaven Miscreant (Amer. polit., 1883). At this place were made the clock-work dynamite torpedoes which ('80 - '83) alarmed European society.  
     'Bremerhaven miscreant '. These toys, in which a charge of dynamite is exploded by clockwork, are manufactured, it is commonly believed, by Mr Crowe, of Peoria. In a free country, of course, where there is a large Irish vote, a clever mechanic may make what he pleases, and we are far from expressing the futile hope that the Government of the United States will interfere with the industry of Mr Crowe and his followers. But our nation, though averse to a policy of Protection, might not unreasonably lay a heavy prohibitive duty on ' infernal machines '. D. N., March 1883.  
     Briar (Peoples', 1870). A briar-root pipe. A modern invention, supposed to be of god-like comfort. * Briar-root is sometimes used to describe a corrugated, badly-shaped nose.'  
     Brickfielder (Australian). Hot north wind, bringing with it a red impalpable dust from the interior. It penetrates even locks, and stains fabrics in drawers of a dull brick red hence the graphic name. Generally comes after great heat in January, and portends a grateful change in the weather. 'What a brickfielder you are ! ' meaning nuisance.  
     Bricky (Peoples'). Brave, fearless, adroit after the manner of a brick ; said even of the other sex, ' What a bricky girl she is.' (See 'Plucky', 'Cheeky'.)  
     Bridges-bridges (Printers'). A cry to arrest a long-winded story. Probably corruption of ' abregeons-abregeons' in a deal Anglicized. (See ' Grasses ', ' Chestnuts '. )  
     Bridges and no Grasses (Printers 1 ). Secret. A bridge is an absentee without leave, who has not sent a substitute, or grass. When a combination is made to prevent a master from getting out his paper by the printers absenting themselves, this would be called Breaking the Bridge. The whole system belongs to a system of rattening, a system which is being swept away by the strides of education.  
     Bridgeting (Amer.-Eng., 1866 on). Obtaining money under false pretences, or even by criminal process, from servant girls. This word has taken astounding journeys. It dates from Ireland, where so many female children are named after Saint Bridget that the name became as typical of the Irish serving-girl in New York as Pat (from St Patrick) is typical of the Irish working-man. From the fifties onward Bridget became synonymous in New York with domestic servant. In the sixties the Fenian leaders in New York discovered a new way of getting money by issuing notes of the Bank of the Republic of Ireland at 50 per cent, discount. Large sums were obtained through many years, and money is obtained even now from 48 sentimental Irish servant women in New York much of which has, it has been declared, aided the Irish Nationalist movement in the House of Commons. Term now applied in many directions.  
     Brief (Peoples'). Letter, or piece of paper with writing. Probably ancient. May be from the use by the First or Second George of this term for letter.  
     Brief (19 cent.). False reference. The system of false references has so increased that many masters do not ask for references, but accept the servant or clerk, discovering him to be honest or dishonest, as the peculiar disposition of the employer lies.  
     Brenner said, ' I've given the Jew boy another brief. I hope he'll pay me this time.' Alleged conspiracy to defraud Licensed Victuallers. Morning Advertiser, 25th February 1892.  
     Brief (Lawyers' Clerks'). Pawnbroker's ticket, suggested perhaps by the shape. The synonyms for this signal of woe are countless, and the list is always growing.  
     ' Ah, Sam, how are yer ? 'ere, will you buy the brief of a good red 'un, in for a fifth its value?' Newsp. Cutting.  
     This mystic enquiry refers to the duplicate (this paste-board being a simulacrum of a card firmly pinned to the pledge) of a pawned watch a red 'un, a term which is probably the corruption of a proper name say Redding. (See Tombstone.)  
     Brighton Bitter (Public House). Mild and bitter beer mixed satirical reference to some Brighton ale-house keepers, who, knowing Sunday and Monday excursionists are only chance customers, never give these customers bitter beer, though they pay its price.  
     Brim (Thieves'). A fearless woman of the town. Origin evidently foreign probably the French army, where a ' brimade ' is equal to English military ' making hay ', and introduced to London by way of Soho.  
     Bristols (Soc. t 1830 on). Visiting cards, from the date when these articles were printed upon Bristol i.e., cardboard ; a superior Bristol make.  
     Inside Madame Bernhardt'shouse there is a register open for the signatures of callers, and the card basket shows a large collection of 'Bristols'. D. T. t 17th February 1898.  
     Brit ( Theatr. ). An endearing diminutive conferred by its denizens on the Britannia Theatre ; as, ' How do you get to the Brit ?' ' Take a train east one station this side of Jericho.' (See Bird, Vic, Eff, 'Delphi, and Lane. )  
     British Roarer (Peoples'). Our heraldic and symbolical lion.  
     The tribunes are dressed in red cloth, and are guarded by four comic Byzantine lions, which act as symbols of our British roarer. D. N., May 1883.  
     Broad Faker (Thieves'). Cardplayer, probably not wholly dissociated from cheating. Broad may simply refer to the width of the card ; but it probably refers to the name of an early maker of cards probably marked for cheating.  
     Broad - gauge Lady (Railway Officials', passing to Peoples'). One who makes rather a tight fit for five on a side. ' I know I'm a broad-gauge lady but I can't help it, can I ? ' Herbert Campbell's ' gag ', Drury Lane Panto. 1884-85. Passed away with the broad-gauge in the '90's.  
     Brogue (Irish). Local lingual accent from the name of the footcovering worn by the peasants. ' From the brogue to the boot ' (gentleman) 'all speak the same of him, and can say no other '. Maria Edgeworth, The Absentee, ch. 9.  
     Broken Brigade (Soc., 1880 on). Poor, younger sons living on their wits. ' Broken ' another form of * stonebroke'.  
     The younger son has been brought up in almost precisely the same fashion as his elder brother. . . . When, therefore, he finds himself without the legitimate means to live and enjoy life, as he has been trained to do, he must either find illegitimate means or else join that party which has earned for itself the unenviable name of the broken brigade. D. N., 26th September 1887.  
     Brokered (L. C., 1897). A specimen of the daily making of language here upon the pre-historic basis of the noun creating the verb. How much more concise than 'got the brokers in', and so much nearer the literal, for one broker who brokers, as a rule, suffices.  
     Defendant complained that she had been 'brokered' by mistake, and that she had to go out to wash to help pay this debt for another man, as her husband was only surety. D. T., 20th November 1897.  
     Brolly (Public School, 1875 on). Umbrella. This is evidently a corruption of umbrella. How did it come about ? It descends from good society. Let us suppose the then Prince of Wales hears one of his children when very young make an effort to say umbrella, with 'brolly' for result, that he therefore applies the word very naturally to his umbrella ; that he is heard at the Marlborough, where the word is adopted, and so passed on to the sons of the members of the club, who carry it down into their schools whence it spreads. In King's College the word is quite naturalised. (See 'Gamp,' 'Gingham,' 'Sangster'.)  
     Brompton Boilers (Art, 1870 on). A three-roofed iron-built museum at S. Kensington. It got this name from the aspect of the building, and retained it nearly fifty years. They were only demolished in 1898.  
     As little is there room or reason for carting them (the pictures left to the nation by Sir Richard Wallace), off to South Kensington, especially so long as the administrative powers leave the 'Brompton boilers' in their present absolutely disgraceful condition. D. T., 2nd April 1899.  
     Brooks of Sheffield (M. CL, 1853 on). Nemo warning to be careful as to names. ' Who was he ? ' oh Brooks of Sheffield. From the first three numbers of David Copperfield where David is referred to by Mr Murdstone in this name. Now passiug away but still used in the '80's. On all fours with Binks the Barber.  
     Never mind ; I hear that Smith, the champion pugilist of the universe and all England, is going to find out who that there Brooks of Sheffield is who boasts that he knocked Smith out in a private glove fight. Ref., 31st July 1887.  
     Broom (Soc., 1860 on). A would-be swell a total pretence. Corruption of Brum, with the 'u' long, it being an abbreviation of Brummagem, which is a contemptuous pronunciation of Birmingham for many years, until the '80s, a synonym for pinchbeck manufactures. Good example of substituting a known word for another less known on this occasion the process taking place in Society itself.  
     Broomstick (Canadian). A gun or rifle. No word could more perfectly outline the peaceful character of the Canadian as distinct from his American brother, when it is borne in mind that the latter calls his gun, shooting iron. The domesticity of ' broomstick ' yields history in itself.
     Brother Bung (London Tavern). A fellow - publican ; as, ' Oh, they're brother bungs', said contemptuously. However, after the usual smart English manner of taking even Mr John Bull by the horns, the less dignified publicans have accepted the situation amongst themselves, and will frequently say when meeting, ' How goes it, brother bung ? '  
     Brougham (Soc. t 1820 [?]). A small, close carriage, named after Lord Brougham it is even said invented by him. The name has lasted to this day as 'broom' amongst high-class people though less well-informed souls will give the two syllables. Recently a smaller brougham with rounded front has come to be called, by leading people, 'cask', and even 'tub'.  
     Brown (Mooney's, Strand). Two pennyworth of whisky. Evasive, delicate mode of getting a 2d. drink, the usual whisky - gargle being half sixpence. Good example of a singularly local passing word. Mooney's is the Irish whisky - house of the whole Strand.  
     Brown George (Oxford fin, 1890 on). Large jug holding bath-water, from its colour, and the name of the earthenwarer.  
     Brown Polish (Anglo - Amer.). A mulatto. Outcome of the use of tan - coloured boots. Grotesquely graphic on the lines of Day and Martin (1840) describing a negro, because D. & M.'s blacking was so black.  
     Brown Stone Fronts (Amer. political). Aristocrats.  
     The dream of the rich New Yorker, realised in the case of Mr Vanderbilt, is to live in a brown stone house.  
     In New York politics, efforts are sometimes made to bring about what are called the primary elections in July, because in that month, as it is said, ' the brown stone fronts are out of town'. D. N., 10th October 1883,  
     The height of respectability is to live in a brown stone-fronted house that is to say, to show a bold veneer of brown stone to the world that passes along the main street, putting off your neighbours at the back with ordinary brick. Neicsp. Cutting.  
     Brown Study (Soc.) Deep study. But why brown ? Blue, or black and white would be more appropriate. Possibly from a celebrated 'varsity man given to being lost in thought.  
     Brown to (Com. Classes). To understand. Origin very obscure probably from a keen man of this name. ' He didn't brown to what she was saying not a little bit.' Possibly from meat proving its goodness by handsomely browning while on the roast.  
     Brown 'un, The (Sporting, 1870). The Sporting Times from the then tone of its paper. (See Pink 'un. )  
     Brownies (Loiver London, 1896). Common cigarettes three for one halfpenny. From proper name, Brown. Outcome of cigarette-smoking.  
     To meet humbler feminine wants there are now halfpenny packets of cigarettes containing three, known as ' Brownies.' Z>. T., 3rd March 1898.  
     Bruffam (Soc., 1860 on). A droll variation of Brougham, the small carriage known by that name Brough itself being pronounced Bruff. Another illustration of the ' gh ' eccentricities.  
     A story runs that Brougham, on being rallied by the Iron Duke as a man whose name would go down to posterity as a great lawyer, statesman, etc., but who would be best known by the name of the carriage which had been christened after him, retorted that the Duke's name would no doubt go down to posterity as that of a great general and the hero of a hundred fights, but that he would be best remembered by having a particular kind of boot named after him. Neivsp. Cutting.  
     Brulee (chiefly Naval, 1863). A very obscure word. ' Term is used at Vingt et un, and consists of the dealer helping himself to two cards, one from the top of the pack, the other from the bottom. This is permissible before the new dealer commences his deal. He has the option of making the brulee or not. If the two cards are not a natural (one ace and one court card or ten), he pays the unit to each player of the money played for if it is a natural, he takes from each player from four to six times the stake, according to agreement. Sheer gambling. Not good form. 'N.B. Nap' (Napoleon) has completely swept away Vingt et un and 'brulee avec' as the French golden youth might say. Probably from the name of the inventor.  
     Brums (R. S. Exchange). N.W. Railway stock. All railway stocks have names of convenient brevity.  
     The nicknames of stocks at the Exchange are, on the whole, disrespectful. Thus, the ordinary stock of the London and North-Western Kailway is known as ' Brums ', although ' Brummagem ' is anything but a proper description of so solid a property. ' Mids ' will readily be recognized as Midland Railway stock ; and an equal facility of identification may be claimed for 'Chats' (Chatham and Dover), ' Mets ' (Metropolitan), ' Districts ' (Metropolitan District), and some others. ' Dovers ', however, would scarcely sugggest at first sight the South - Eastern Railway, nor 'Souths' the London and South-Western ; while the North Staffordshire shares are irreverently spoken of as ' Pots,' after the Potteries.  
     The pet names are in every way preferable. Who would not cheerfully lose money on ' Berthas ' (Brighton Ordinary), on ' Doras ' (South-Eastern Deferred), on ' Noras ' (Great Northern Deferred), on 'Saras' (Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln Deferred), or even on ' Dinahs ' (Edinburgh and Glasgow Ordinary) ? On the other hand, there is an added exasperation in the thought of having rashly ' put one's pile ' on ' Caleys ' (Caledonian Ordinary) or 'Haddocks' (Great Northern of Scotland Ordinary.) Neivsp. Cutting.  
     Brush (Public House). Odd name for a small glass, which is an inverted cone fixed on a thick stem of glass ; used for dram-drinking in London and thus fancifully named from its outline to a house-painter's brush. *  
     That little bloke, with no more flesh on him than on a one and ninepenny fowl, put away six pots of four-halt", three kervoortens of cold satin in a twoout brush, a 'arf kervoorten of rum, and a bottle of whisky. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Brush Power (Artists', 1882). Simply painting, e.g. ( Never was Mr Millais' brush power so manly and assured.' Grit, of R. Academy, 1883, John Forbes-Robertson.  
     Bryant & May's 'Chuckaways' (E. London, 1876). Girls employed in B. & M.'s lucifer match factory. Here one reading is droll, the other perhaps very cruel a combination too frequent in peoples' wit. Chuckaways is one of the graphic names given to lucifer matches, simply because after striking and using, the remainder of the lucifer is thrown or ' chucked ' away. Here, in effect, the lucifer is applied to the cause, the maker. The rhyming too should be remarked. This same cruel meaning of chuckaway maybe left to the imagination. Of course girl lucifer match-makers, following a miserable and unhealthy industry, are not the equals of Belgravian matchmaking mothers.  
     Bub (Old'iEng. now American). In The Country Girl the author often calls her husband ' bub.' In the States it is a friendly term addressed to a boy.  
     ' Your husband ought to be arrested for working on Sunday ! ' ' Working on Sunday come here, bub ! Now, bub, if you'll prove that my husband ever worked on Sunday, or any other day in the week, I'll give you a dollar ! I've lived with him for twenty years, and have always had to buy even his whiskey and tobacco, and now if he's gone to work I want to know it ! ' The boy backed off without another word. 1882.  
     Bubble (Soc. t 17 cent.). To cheat. ' To bubble you out of a sum of money.' Decker's Horn-book, 1609.  
     The well-meaning ladies of England, when they subscribed for that monument, had not the faintest notion of what they were doing. They were indeed ' bubbled ', to use a phrase of Queen Anne's time. D. N., 1882.  
     POLLY. I'm bubbled.  
     LUCY. I'm bubbled.  
     POLLY. Oh, how I'm troubled.  
     Beggars' Opera.  
     Still used by the lowest. ' I bubbled 'im to rights.' Equal to ' bilk ' a more modern word.  
     Bubble around ( Amer. - Eng. ). Rather a strong verbal attack, generally by way of the press. ' I will back a first-class British subject for bubbling around against all humanity.' Besant & Rice, The Golden Butterfly, ch. 18.  
     Buck (Soc., 18 cent.). Young man of fashion, derived not from the male deer, but a diminutive of ' buckram ', a stiffening fabric used in setting out Buck Against Bucking the Tiger the full-skirted coats of the eighteenth century. The word lasted fashionably to about 1820. It is now only used by thoroughly vulgar people. Its fashionable equivalent in the middle of the nineteenth century was ' swell ', which is rapidly being vulgarized. * Toff ' is an invention of the envious enemy. Buck obtained another meaning during the '70's a sham cab fare. During the evening the Strand being gorged with crawler cabs, it was determined to keep empty cabs out of that thoroughfare from 10 to 11 P.M. Cabmen desirous of getting through on the chance of obtaining a fare from a Strand theatre or restaurant would ask passing young men fairly dressed, if poor, to pretend to be a fare in order to get past the line of police. This fraudulent passenger came to be called by cabmen, and afterwards by the police, ' a buck ', used no doubt satirically.  
     When a cabman wants to drive past the police to get access to theatre exits out of his own turn he puts a man into his cab and drives rapidly on, as if taking a fare away. This sham fare in street parlance, we learn, is 'only a buck'. D. N., 26th September 1887.  
     Mr Bridge said in this case it had not been shown that the man was ' a buck ' in the ordinary acceptance of the term. Defendant had evidently allowed his friend to ride on the spring. This was an offence against the regulations, in addition to entailing extra labour on the horse. He hoped it would be understood that in future in such cases, and where ' bucks ' were employed, the full penalty would be imposed. Newsp. Cutting, October 1887.  
     Buck against (Anglo-Amer.). To oppose violently. From the stubborn bucking habit of stag and goat.  
     Buck up and take a chilly (Navy). Advice to a man to pull himself together after a hard drink. The * chilly ' may be literal, since cayenne is supposed to be a signal help in restoring the collapsed patient to sense and sobriety.  
     Buck or a doe (Anglo-Amer. ). A man or woman, obviously from the habit and mode of thinking by backwoods' men.  
     The startled girl gave him a glance, but no other demonstration of recognition. ' It's kinder rough to rattle 'em along like freight in this way (coffined, dead), but where you ain't got no plantin' facilities of yer own it's got to be done. Was the lamented a buck or a doe?' 1883.  
     Buck Parties (Soc.). Bachelor meets. From Australia.  
     The ono drawback to our pleasure has been the delicate state of Mrs Pen's health. This sent me out to what are called here 'buck parties', i.e., parties of men only, when otherwise I should have gone with her to (what she calls) more civilised gatherings. Ref., 19th September 1888.  
     Bucket-shop (City, 1870 on). Stockjobber's, or outside broker's office. From U.S.A.  
     RUINED BY BUCKET SHOPS A once prosperous merchant's defalcation and suicide. Montreal. SamuelJohnson . . . absconded. . . . Two detectives started with him for this city. . . . This morning he jumped from the train at the Tanneries, and was found dead with two bullets through his brain. Johnson is another victim of bucket-shop speculation. It is known that he has lost thousands of dollars in these places. The community is indignant at the manner in which so many citizens are being ruined by bucket shops, and steps will certainly be taken to close them. N. Y. Mercury, 2nd October 1887.  
     Bucking match (Negro). Fight with heads. Fine example of throwback to savage life. Sheer atavism.  
     Stacey appeared to be the more belligerent of the two, insisted on having the quarrel out, and challenged Kline to fight him without fists or weapons. This is the usual manner among Philadelphia negroes to denominate a ' bucking match', which is not an infrequent method of settling disputes. Newsp. Gutting.  
     Bucking the Tiger (Anglo-Amer.). Gambling heavily.  
     Entering by a green baize door, the visitors found themselves in a large and well-lighted room the lair of the tiger. Gamblers usually speak of faro playing as ' bucking the tiger ', but if any one imagines that the animal is other than a fat, sleek, attractive-looking feline they make a great mistake. Only the furry coat is exposed ; one must join in the play in order to get a glimpse of the fangs and claws. Newsp. Cutting.  
     An oil region correspondent of a Philadelphia journal, who evidently ' has been there' at both places says that ' boring for oil is like " bucking the tiger " ', or eating mushrooms ; if you live it is a mushroom ; if you die it is a toadstool. If you strike oil you have bored in the right place ; if you don't you haven't. Newsp. Cutting.  
     In the United States the operation of staking all one's money in a gaming hell is called ' bucking the tiger '. G. A. SALA.  
     Bud (Amer.-Eng.). A young girl. Keal original American discovery.  
     The American novelist is in rather a tight place. When he is in a tight place or, indeed, whether he is or not he usually takes the world into his confidence. His grievance at present is the censorship of the ' bud ', or young girl, of his native land. D. N., 31st May 1889.  
     Buff to the Stuff (Thieves', 19 cent.). Accomplices who swear to stolen property as theirs.  
     They might as well have the twenty quid as not, for they were sure to get out of it, as they were going to send some people to ' buff to the stuff ', a slang term for claiming the property supposed to have been stolen, and stating that they had sold it. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Buffalo Boys (Music Hall). Comic negroes, affecting stupidity, probably from one of the earliest nigger melodies.  
     Buffer (Peoples'). A catspaw, intermediator, illustrator of the couplet  
     ' Those who in quarrels interpose  
     Often get a bloody nose.'  
     Comes in one line from the railway buffer, which breaks the impingement of railway carriages, and in another line from buffo, who in comic Italian opera is always ill-used. ' Poor old buffer, ' said by Robson to the ghost of Lablache, the buffo, in The Camp at the Olympic, by J. R. Planche.  
     Buffer (Navy). A boatswain's mate probably because he is the buffer state, so to speak, between boatswain and able seaman.  
     Buffer State (Political). A small territory dividing the countries or colonies of two greater states as Belgium, which is a buffer state between France and Germany. Holland is another buffer state. So also is ' Andorre '. So also were Monaco and Mentone the * buffer ' once between France and Italy.  
     Buffs, Buffaloes (Secret Society) A jovial, so-called, secret society ' Ancient Order of Buffaloes.' Probably in the commencement from ' beau fellows ' as Hullo ! my beau fellows ! beau being a word much used in the last century. The process of being made a buffalo fifty years ago was very simple, the victim being sworn on the sacred ibis. Before him and everyone of the elect a cork was placed, when the president told the acolyte that upon a given word every man was to seize his cork, the last to touch his cork having to pay 2s. 6d. The word was given, the victim saized his cork, and as no one budged or moved a hand, evidently he was the last to touch his cork. So he paid his halfcrown. The Buffaloes (A. S. 0. B. ) have been for a long time a well-ordered society possibly too jovial, but certainly in some degree charitable. They have proper officera, give annual jewels of gold, not perhaps of a very high carat, to their officers, and have ceremonials, in some degree choral, as the astonished outsider may learn for himself as, on passing a lodge, he hears the brethren proclaiming their intention to 'Chase the Buffalo', though where they would find the buffalo it would be difficult to say. Sisters, i.e., brethren's wives, come without to hear these things, and go home trembling and minatory. The Buffs are strictly non-political.  
     Buffy (Com. Lond.). Drunk probably Anglicized from bevvy. ' He always goes to bed buffy.' Or it may be swelled with drink, from French bouffi temp. Charles II.  
     He, the driver, must get up earlier and go to bed without getting buffy, which he hadn't done for a week of Sundays, before he found that little game would draw in the dibs. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bug (Amer.). Abbreviation of bugbear a nuisance.  
     The phraseology of Edison, to judge from his day-book records, is synthetic, strongly descriptive, and quaint. . . * A ' bug ' is a difficulty which appears insurmountable to the staff. To the master it is ' an ugly insect that lives on the lazy, and can and must be killed.' Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bugaboo (Amer.). A panic of an absurd and unreasoning character. 1 The recent Fenian bugaboo.'- 1867.  
     Bug -eaters (Amer.). People of Nebraska. This word must be read 'beetle' in English. Refers to the enormous amount of insect life in this territory.  
     Bug-shooter (Schools mid Univs.). A volunteer volunteers not being popular with gown the system being left to town.  
     If you join the Volunteers you are discourteously spoken of as a ' bug-shooter'. D. T., 14th August 1899.  
     Bugs (Lowest Classes). Wallflowers. From their colour, signal example of lower class tendency to horribly vulgar association of ideas, even in relation to such pleasant visitors as these blooms the first of the year frequently seen in penny bunches in poorest neighbourhoods early in February. Who'll 'av a pennorth o' bugs ? (See Bloods.)  
     Build up (Thieves'). To array in good clothes, for trade purposes.  
     Jennings agreed to ' build up ' Archer with clothes, and at another meeting brought him a coat in order that he might appear respectable when he visited his old fellow-servants at the Lodge. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bulge, To get the (Anglo-Amer.). To gain an advantage ; from the approaching conqueror in wrestling or fighting overcoming the opponent, so that the conqueror's chest-muscles are forward, or bulging.  
     Mr Dodsley has, to use the new phrase of American slang, ' the bulge ' on Messrs Longmans. D. N., 19th June 1891.  
     ' You wanted to get the bulge on it, didn't you?' 'Wanted to do what?' * Wanted to get the bulge on it.' ' What do you mean by bulge ? ' N. Y. Mercury, 1892.  
     Bull (Common Lodging House) . A second brew of tea.  
     The lodgers divide their food frequently, and a man seeing a neighbour without anything will hand him his teapot, and say, ' Here you are, mate ; here's ' bull ' is a teapot with the leaves left in for a second brew. a bull for you.' A secoi G. R. Sims, Horrible London.  
     Bull and Cow (Rhyming). A row.  
     Bull-doze, To bull-doze (Amer.- Eng., 19 cent.). Political bullying. The origin of this phrase is absolutely lost, always supposing that it was ever found. Mr Rees, an American authority on obscure words, says (1887) :  
     ' A bull-doze is a term used in inflicting punishment upon an unruly animal ; the weapon a strap made out of the hide of a bull. During the existence of slavery the term "bull-doze" was used when a negro was to be whipped ; the overseer was instructed to give him as many lashes as was applied to an animal, hence the term 'bull-doze'." Maybe 'doze' has reference to dozen.  
     This word is also used in private life to describe pestering conduct :  
     Serves you just right for bull-dozing me a whole month to make this infernal excursion. Newsp. Cutting.  
     The following quotation will show that even in the U.S.A. themselves this term is not fully understood :  
     ' What do they mean by bull-dozing ? ' asked an inquisitive wife the other evening. 'I suppose they mean a bull that is half asleep.' And the injured one kept on with her sewing, but said nothing.  
     Bulley (Westminster School). The lappet of a King's scholar's gown probably rather meant to describe the wearer than the gown.  
     Bullfinches (Hunting). High hedges probably from the name of some owner or farmer opposed to hunting.  
     To the stag, we imagine, it is a matter of small concern whether his enemies are counter-jumpers or leapers of bullfinches. Newsp. Cutting, March 1883.  
     A bullfinch in Ireland is a stone hedge. Athenceum, 17th Feb. 1887, p. 221.  
     Bullock's horn (Artizans' rhyming). Pawn.  
     Put your kicksies in the bullock's horn. Cutting.  
     Bully (0. Eng.). From bullocking and bull -tossing.  
     Yes, you villain, you have defiled my own bed, you have, and then you have charged me with bullocking you into owning the truth. It is very likely, an't please your worship, that I should bullock him. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. ii. ch. 6. (See Bully-rag.)  
     Bully (Amer.). Capital, good, excellent perhaps from French Colonial times in the south, and from * bouilli' the stewed beef which equals in Gallic popularity and stability the 4 roast ' of England and the States.  
     ' What's the matter with you ? ' ' My leg's smashed,' says he. 'Can't yer walk ? ' 'No.' ' Can yer see ? ' Yes.' ' Well,' says I, ' you're a Rebel, but will you do me a little favour ? ' 'I will,' says he, ' ef I ken.' Then I says, ' Well, ole butternut, I can't see nothin*. My eyes is knocked out, but I ken walk. Come over yere. Let's git out o' this. You pint the way, an' I'll tote yer off the field on my back.' ' Bully for you,' says he. And so we managed to git together. We shook hands on it. 1863.  
     Mr Rees (N. York) says : ' Bully ' is used as indicating satisfaction amongst lower English classes as ' Never mind, as they say in the waxey crowd, he's a bully boy.'  
     Captain Townshend saw an omnibus pole strike a gentleman's horse in the flank, knocking over both steed and rider, and the man, calling out 'Bully for you,' drove away laughing.  
     Bully about the muzzle (Dogfanciers'). Too thick and large in the mouth.  
     ' Angelina [a terrier] is bully about the muzzle,' said Maulevrier ; we shall have to give her away.' Miss Braddon, Phantom Fortune.  
     Bully-fake (London, 1882). A compound of ' bully ' here meaning advantageous and 'fake' action, or result. Fake is said to come from facto.  
     It's a bully fake for a dona when she has the fair good luck to snap hold a husband who will cut up to rights. — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bully-rag (Peoples', 19 cent.). To scold at length ; said of a woman. Probably suggested by the irritation caused to the bull in the ring, or perhaps pit, by being driven frantic with a perpetual red flag the rag. ' Don't bully-rag me, woman ! '  
     Bum-boozer ( Theatr.). A desperate drinker. It is to be feared that the following line has been seen in the advertisements for artistes in the commoner theatrical papers :  
     ' Bum-boozers save your stamps.'  
     Bumble puppy (Provincial). A tossing game used to cheat simpletons hence bumble-puppy means idiot and idiocy. Origin unknown.  
     By-the-bye now that we are to be legalized into such goody-goodies that little or no sport is to be allowed except battledore and shuttlecock, egg -hat, push-pin, etc., I am about to offer a prize for the championship of Bumble puppy, i.e., if the police authorities will allow it to take place. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bummaree (Billingsgate). A middleman at the fish auctions. Corruption of bonne maree. French seaside term for high tide or flood, and also for saltwater fish.  
     The ' bummarees ' or middlemen whip up all the plaice, and carry them off to turn a penny on them by breaking them up into smaller lots. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Bummarees (Cooks'). Corruption of Bain-marie, a cooking utensil consisting of a number of little pots in a bath, or ' bain ', of water contained in a large pot. The French phrase is as difficult to comprehend as the corruption for Marie is beyond analysis unless it is the name of the inventor. English books of a later school making an effort to avoid the first syllable and be truly Parisian, call the contrivance a c bang Mary ' a very alarming rectification.  
     Bummer (Anglo-Amer., 1880). Originally a commercial traveller, from one who * booms '. (Now a noisy cad. )  
     'You are nothing but a third-class society bummer, fit only to associate with your own class of New York scum.' N. Y. Mercury, 8th October 1883.  
     Bun Feast (Soys'). A woeful description of a very poor and meagre feast, where buns need not necessarily serve to swell up the juvenile stomach.  
     Bunce (Drapers'). Goods probably from a proper name.  
     Bunch of Fives (L. Class). The fist simply ingenious mode of proving the speaker can count up to five.  
     One of the associates of the eccentric Marquis of Waterford formed a collection of door-knockers, brass plates, bell pulls, little dustpans, golden canisters, and glovers' ' bunches of fives ', of which, in the course of a roystering career, he had despoiled private houses and tradesmen's shop-fronts. G. A. Sala, Illust. Lond. Neics, 27th January 1883.  
     Buncombe or Bunkum (Amer.- Eng., 19 cent.). Politically, or possibly any publicly, spoken flattery. This word is an admirable instance of a name at once passing into a language and even yielding to phonetic spelling. The press, both in the U.S.A. and in England, accepted immediately the name as a synonym for humbug. From a celebrated orator of honied phrases named Buncombe. Vulgarised rapidly into Bunkum ; but the Americans, permanently accepting the word, have restored the original spelling. This name-word has as absolutely passed into the English language as ' burke ', or ' boycot '. Mr Rees (New York) says of this word :  
     The origin of this expression was in the lower house of Congress. A member from North Carolina, and from the county of Buncombe, was speaking when some of the members showed disapprobation, manifested in the usual manner by coughing and sneezing. The member was not long in making the discovery that he was making himself very obnoxious, nor willing to yield an iota of his time to any one, and fully determined to have his ' talk ', addressed the disaffected members thus: 'Go, gentlemen, if you like ; clear out, evaporate, for I would have you to know that I am not addressing the house but Bunkum ! '  
     Bundling ( Welsh). Courting in a reclining position.  
     That peculiar Welsh institution, ' bundling ' has almost disappeared, a son of the Cymry tells me, from the Principality. It was a sort of union by which a man and woman agreed to take one another on trial for twelve months. If at the end of that time harmonious relations still subsisted between them, they usually took one another, for better for worse, in the orthodox manner. But, if they separated, no sort of disgrace or stigma attached to either ; they went their ways, and the world thought none the worse of them for having lived in open adultery. People, 17th January 1897.  
     Bung (Peoples', 1850 on). A landlord sometimes endearing when used by dearest friends, but generally and increasingly suggestive of contempt and superiority on the part of the speaker. Used by a client towards a publican whilst he is holding his court in his own particular gin palace ; might lead to an immediate call upon the chucker-out to eject the traitor. Only a complete ' pal ' could afford, with an elegant but risky sense of fun, to say, ' Dear Bung, I'll take another bitter ' beer being understood.  
     Bung (Public Schools). A lie probably from some notorious liar's name, known in some leading school, whence it has drifted to most schools.  
     Bung Ball (London Tr.). A great annual Terpsychorean meet of the bungs, or publicans. Celebrated for the grandeur 'of the diamonds or what are said to be diamonds and other precious stones. At this function artificial hops and grapes are never worn, they being too suggestive of the bar. (See Blood Ball.)  
     Bungaries (Peoples', 1870 on). Public-houses. As taverning came to be looked down upon, the landlord, once mine host, honest John Barleycorn, etc., became a 'bung' whence, as general contempt for pubs, increased, bungary for his house came to be good English. ' Bungs and bimgaries must pass away.'  
     Buniony (Art, 1880). Terra to express lumpiness of outline, from a a bunion breaking up the ' drawing ' of a foot. < He has still go, but he's getting very buniony.'  
     Bunk (Peoples'). To retreat judiciously. ' I shall bunk ', very common in public schools.  
     Bunker (L. Class). Beer Anglicizing of ' bona-aqua ' an idea of some light-hearted Italian organ-grinder in the Italian quarter behind Hatton Garden.  
     Bunko (Amer. -Eng.). Doubtful, shifty. From S. America. Heard in Liverpool.  
     At Mackinao they took him for a lord, and at Cleveland he was taken for a bunko man, and had to identify himself by telegraph.  
     Bunter (Thieves'). A woman thief of the lowest possible kind. The very gutterling of crime to whom no ' perfect lady ' would condescend to fling a ' 'ow d'ye doo ? '  
     Bunting - tosser (Navy) Signalman. The signals are small flags made of bunting, and they are run up at or near the mast-head.  
     Bupper (Peoples', 19 cent.). Universal infantile reduction of bread and butter used, as a rule, until the specimen gets his first paternal spanking over his first pair of breeches, when the word passes into ' toke ' for the whole term of his natural boy's life, e.g., ' Bit o' bupper, p'ease ' too often heard in the watches of the night. Said to be of royal descent. ' Upon my word ', said the old general, ' I think I prefer bup to anything.'  
     Burgle (Soc., 1880). To commit burglary. Introduced (at all events to London) by Mr W. S. Gilbert in The Pirates of Penzance.  
     Burick (L. Class, 19 cent.). A wife said to be Romany. To administer manual correction to her is ' to slosh the burick '.  
     When your burick gets boozed, smashes the crockery, and then calls in her blooming old ma to protect her from your cruelty, that's the time to do a guy. Cutting, 1883.  
     Burke (Polit., 19 cent.). To stifle, quash, abate from one Burke, who with another, Hare, for some years early in the nineteenth century, systematically murdered persons of all ages, in Edinburgh, for the purpose of selling their bodies to medical men for hospital purposes. Their mode was by stifling with pitch-plasters, which prevented outcry. Their victims were first generally made drunk, except in the case of women. Hence the appositeness of the word for silencing. First used in Parliament by way of attack ; afterwards accepted as a good verb full of meaning.  
     Burst (Policemen's, 1879). Outpour of theatrical audiences about eleven (of course P.M.), into the Strand. 'The burst gets thicker every month,' said the sergeant. ' All the world goes to the play now.' The sudden popularity of the play-house began about 1879, and went on increasing in the most marvellous manner.  
     Burst her stay-lace (London). A sudden bust-heaving feminine indignation, which might even literally, and certainly does figuratively, bring about this catastrophe.  
     Burst your crust (Prize-ring, 1800, etc.). Breaking the skin. Went to America.  
     It is not good manners to do so, and you might slip and burst your crust by so doing. American Comic Etiquette for Children.  
     Bury (Low Life). To desert.  
     Buryen' face (Amer.) Solemn, serious countenance burying face.  
     Soon's I could git my buryen' face on, I takes Spider in ter whar the fuss wuz goin' on. Tobe Hodge.  
     Bus (Soc., 1881). Dowdy dress. Applied only to women ; when a badlydressed victim enters a drawing-room this fatal word may be used meaning not so much that the lady has come by bus as that her style of dress is not fitted to any sort of vehicle higher in character than the once popular one named.  
     Bus-bellied Ben (Street, E.G., 1840 on). An ordinary name for an alderman, who used to be frequently corpulent. The wave of abstinence, however, has swept even over the corporations of the City of London. The satire was completed by a couplet  
     Bus-bellied Ben ;  
     Eats enough for ten.  
     Bush-ranger (Austral.). Highwayman. Interesting as a comparative term ; for while the word is fairly equivalent to our highwayman, it is significant to compare both with the American evasive ' road-agent '.  
     Bushy Park (Rhyming, 1882). A synonym for ' lark '.  
     Oh, it is a bushy park to see the Salvation souls toddling about arm-in-arm. Cutting.  
     Business end of a tin tack (Amer. ). The point.  
     The joke about the pin in the chair, and the suggestion that the business end of a tin tack would be preferable, are essentially American. 7). N., 1882.  
     Persons unaware of the existence of such agents as buckram or crinoline muslin might be forgiven for supposing that such flounces were maintained in order on the principle of an air cushion, and that the introduction of the business end of a pin would produce sudden collapse. D. N., 27th March 1883.  
     Busker. He who goes busking. ' Now, gentlemen, don't break out the bottom o' the plate with the weight o' silver you 'and this old busker. I'd send round my 'at as more civil, but yer liberality 'ud knock the bottom out.'  
     Busking (Street - singers'). Going from pub. to pub. singing and reciting, generally in tow with a banjo.  
     ' Hang it, I hope I shall never come down to regular busking ; yes, now and again when bis. is bad, but for ever Lord forbid.'  
     ' That pub's no good don't you see the notice no buskers after 7. They've got their evenin' reglers.' Cutting.  
     Busnacking (Navy). Equals Paul Prying unduly interfering.  
     I wish old Nobby wouldn't come 1 busnacking ' about, worrying a chap out of his life. I wasn't doing any harm ! To 'busnack' is to be unnecessarily fussy and busy. Rev. O. Goodenough, R.N.  
     Buss me bub (London, 18 cent.). Baise-moi evidently. (See Country Girl.)  
     Bust (Street, 1875). Burst, or explode with rage, and so join the majority. As a noun it means a heavy drink.  
     A vulgar critic asserts that Poe must have been on a bust, and raven mad when he wrote his famous poem.
     A sculptor can be on a bust without losing cast. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Busted (Amer., 19 cent.). Bankrupt.  
     ' We're busted miners, missus,' began Black Dan, with a wink to his comrades, ' completely busted, an' can't pay. What you give us to eat must be fer charity.' — Newsp. Cutting.  
     Buster (London, 1844 on). A penny loaf. This word has rather a pathetic origin. When the abolition of the corn laws reduced the price of bread, it increased the size of the penny loaf, which at once obtained this eulogistic title a corruption of burster, a loaf large enough to rend the enclosing stomach. This term remains, but not in its appositeness, for whereas the baker in those early free trade days took a pleasure in showing how much bread he could give for a couple of halfpence, the more recent baker has practically abolished the object. Even his penny roll is not overpowering as to size.  
     Buster (Music Hall, 1882). A special giantess, called Maid Marian. For some time after she left London the word was applied to big women, and for some years the boys in the Leicester Square district would shout at a big woman, 'My high yere's a Maid Marian for yer ! ' Marian was a Bavarian giantess brought to London in this year. She appeared at the Alhambra in the autumn so successfully that the dividends paid to shareholders were doubled. She was sixteen only, more than 8 feet high, and was * still growing'. The use of the word ' Maid ' before Marian grew out of the suggestion the two words formed that of the sweetheart of Robin Hood. Doubtless this title accelerated the popularity of the giantess, who died before she was twenty.  
     Bust yer (Street, 1880 on). A recommendation to ruin; e.g., 'Bust yer, what do I care about that ? '  
     Busy Sack (Travellers'). A carpet bag. Good word, and capital equivalent to the American ' hand-grip ', given to the small hand-bag.  
     Butcher (Public House). One of the synonyms for ' stout ' obtained probably from general observation that few butchers are thin and narrow.  
     Butter, To (Cricket, 1898). To miss, fail to catch from butterfingers, or rather buttered, so that they have no hold. In cricket generally applied to the miss of an easy catch.  
     Butter-churn (Music Hall Artistes'). Rhyming for ' turn ' the short appear ance of the performer on the stage, which he or she occupies about a quarter of an hour.  
     When the dona's finished her butter churn, he fakes his way to her, and if there's no other omee mouchin for the music why he takes her to her next flippity flop. Biography of a Toff Bundle Carrier.  
     Butter - fingers (Household). A servant careless in all her ways especially as to crockery. As though the fingers are so greased that no grip can be made.  
     Butter upon Bacon (Household English). Extravagance resulting out of the condemnation of eating bread and butter with bacon, instead of the plain loaf. ' What are you going to put lace over the feather isn't that rather butter upon b'acon ? '  
     Buttock and File ( Thieves', 18 cent. ). Shop-lifter, evidently French ; filer meaning ' to escape quickly '.  
     Button-maker (London). A nickname of George III.  
     The King was familiarly called the 'Button Maker' by one generation of his faithful subjects, and 'Farmer George ' by another. His son is still sarcastically referred to as the 'First Gentleman in Europe '. Newsp. Cutting.  
     Buxton Limp (Buxton). Reference to the hobbling walk of invalids taking the waters. Borrowed from the Alexandra Limp (q.v., also Grecian Bend, Roman Fall).  
     If walking is too severe exaction just at first and the 'Buxton limp' is too decided, the patient secures a seat in the omnibus. D. N. (Harrogate), 31st August 1883.  
     Buy your Thirst (Amer., passing English 1894). To pay for drink.  
     Buz (Oxford Common Room). Turn of the don or visitor to whom this word is addressed to fill his glass the liquor, as a rule, being priceless port. ' It's your buz ! ' Very ancient 58 supposed to be a corruption of ' bouse ', or booze, common London for 'a drink ', and to drink.
     ' In bousing about 'twas his gift to excel,  
     And from all jolly topers he bore off the bell.'  
     Buz-faker, Buz-faking (L. London). One of the applications of ' booze ' a buz-faker being an individual, generally a woman, or rather one that was a woman, who makes the victim drunk before the robbery is effected.  
     Buzzards (Amer.). People of Georgia probably from the wild turkeys which once abounded there. Singular return to Red Indian customs, the Red Indian being always designated by the name of something in natural history associated with his surroundings. Nearly every state has its inhabitants named after this system. (See Blue Grass.)  
     Buzzer (Peoples', 1898 on). A roadmotor of any kind, from the noise made during progress.  
     Byblow (Lower Peoples 1 ). An illegitimate child. Suggested by an aside breath. May be from Carolian times, and a corruption of ' bibelot ' (a valuable small art object) a term which any one of the famous French ' beauties of the Court ' might apply to her nursling and one that may have been translated satirically into byblow. The bas peuple of France to this day style an illegitimate 'un accident '.  
     By the Holy Grail (Hist.). The blood of Christ. A solemn invocation to this day in thoroughly Catholic countries, and heard in provincial France now and again 'Par le sang real.' It is heard in England, in the west only, and there very naturally reformationised into ' By the Holy Grill ' for Grail has no meaning, while 'grill' has a deal. Probably here the grill refers to St Lawrence, who was completed by being grilled. In Paris this invocation is represented by ' Sacre ', and ' Sacre* Dieu ' ' Sang Real de Dieu.' The English phrase has much exercisd English etymologists. Many have assumed that the ' grail ' was a round dish in which the Redeemer broke the bread. Nay, there has been published a drawing of this very dish. The phrase is 59 derived from ' sang real ' in this way. The 'g' of 'sang' thrown upon the following <r' we have great; then the remaining 'san' has been taken for e saint ' holy, and then some blundering early printer has taken the verbal phrase 'san greal' and translated it 'Holy Grail' and thus it remains to this day a phrase utterly without meaning. (See More Blue).  
     By th' good Katty (Lancashire and North generally). An ancient Catholic oath, evidently By the good Catherine St Catherine of Alexandria, whose popularity in England is probably proved by the number of wheelwindows in Gothic architecture. ' By th' good Katty, aw feel like as if aw should ne'er ha' done.'