Part 10

“I will not weary you by further examples, with which most of you are better acquainted than I am myself, but merely express my satisfaction that there should exist bodies of men who will bring the well-considered and understood wants of science before the public and the Government, who will even hand round the begging-box, and expose themselves to refusals and rebuffs, to which all beggars are liable, with the certainty besides of being considered great BORES. Please to recollect that this species of BORE is a most useful animal, well adapted for the ends for which nature intended him. He alone, by constantly returning to the charge, and repeating the same truths and the same requests, succeeds in awakening attention to the cause which he advocates, and obtains that hearing which is granted him at last for self-protection, as the minor evil compared to his importunity, but which is requisite to make his cause understood.”

~Bore~ (_Pugilistic_), to press a man to the ropes of the ring by superior weight. In the world of athletics to BORE is to push an opponent out of his course. This is a most heinous crime among rowers, as it very often prevents a man having the full use of the tide, or compels him to foul, in which case the decision of the race is left to individual judgment, at times, of necessity, erroneous.

~Bosh~, nonsense, stupidity.—_Gipsy_ and _Persian_. Also pure _Turkish_, BOSH LAKERDI, empty talk. The term was used in this country as early as 1760, and may be found in the _Student_, vol. ii. p. 217. It has been suggested, with what reason the reader must judge for himself, that this colloquial expression is from the _German_ BOSH, or BOSSCH, answering to our word “swipes.”

~Bosh~, a fiddle. This is a _Gipsy_ term, and so the exclamations “Bosh!” and “Fiddle-de-dee!” may have some remote connexion.

~Bosh-Faker~, a violin player. Term principally used by itinerants.

~Bos-Ken~, a farmhouse. _Ancient._—_See_ KEN.

~Bosky~, inebriated. Not much in use now.

~Bosman~, a farmer: “faking a BOSMAN on the main toby,” robbing a farmer on the highway. BOSS, a master.—_American._ Both terms from the _Dutch_, BOSCH-MAN, one who lives in the woods; otherwise _Boschjeman_, or _Bushman_.

~Boss-Eyed~, said of a person with one eye, or rather with one eye injured, a person with an obliquity of vision. In this sense sometimes varied by the term “swivel-eyed.”

~Bostruchyzer~, a small kind of comb for curling the whiskers.—_Oxford University._

~Botany Bay~, Worcester Coll. Oxon., so called from its remote situation.

~Bother~, trouble or annoyance. Any one oppressed with business cares is said to be BOTHERED. “Don’t BOTHER,” is a common expression. BLOTHER, an old word, signifying to chatter idly.

~Botheration!~ trouble, annoyance; “BOTHERATION to it!” “confound it!” or “deuce take it!”—an exclamation when irritated.

~Bottle-Holder~, originally a term in prize ring parlance for the second who took charge of the water-bottle, which was an essential feature in all pugilistic arrangements. This second used to hold the combatant on his knee between the rounds, while the other or principal second sponged, instructed, and advised; an abettor; also the bridegroom’s man at a wedding. Slang term for Lord Palmerston, derived from a speech he made some years ago when foreign secretary, in which he described himself as acting the part of a judicious BOTTLE-HOLDER among the foreign powers.

~Bottom~, stamina in a horse or man. Power to stand fatigue; endurance to receive a good beating and still fight on. “A fellow of pluck, sound wind, and good BOTTOM is fit to fight anything.” This was an old axiom among prize fighters. Pierce Egan was very fond of the word.

~Bottom~, spirit placed in a glass before aërated water is poured in. As, “a soda and a BOTTOM of brandy,” “soda and dark BOTTOM,” is American for soda and brown brandy.

“BOTTOMED well with brandy.”—_Bon Gaultier Ballads._

~Botts~, the colic or bellyache.—_Stable Slang._ _Burns_ uses it. _See Death and Dr. Hornbook._

~Botty~, conceited, swaggering.—_Stable._ An infant’s posteriors.—_Nursery._

~Bounce~, impudence, cheek. A showy swindler, a bully.

~Bounce~, to boast, cheat, or bully.—_Old Cant._ Also to lie.

~Bounceable~, prone to bouncing or boasting.

~Bouncer~, a person who steals whilst bargaining with a tradesman, a swindler, or a lie of more than ordinary dimensions.

~Bounder~, a four-wheeled cab. Because of its jumping motion over the stones. Also a University term for a TRAP, which generally has a very rough time of it on the country roads.

~Bow-Catcher~, or KISS-CURL, a small curl which a few years back used to be, and probably will be again some day, twisted on the cheeks or temples of young—and often old—girls, adhering to the face as if gummed or pasted. Evidently a corruption of BEAU-CATCHER. In old times this was called a lovelock, when it was the mark at which all the Puritan and ranting preachers levelled their pulpit pop-guns, loaded with sharp and virulent abuse. Hall and Prynne looked upon all women as strumpets who dared to let the hair depart from a straight line upon their cheeks. The French prettily termed these adornments _accroche-cœurs_, whilst in the United States they were plainly and unpleasantly called “spit-curls.” Bartlett says: “Spit-curl, a detached lock of hair curled upon the temple; probably from having been at first plastered into shape by the saliva.” It is now understood that the mucilage of quince seed is used by the ladies for this purpose. When men twist the hair on each side of their faces into ropes they are sometimes called “bell-ropes,” as being wherewith to _draw the belles_. Whether BELL-ROPES or BOW-CATCHERS, it is singular they should form part of a prisoner’s adornment, and that a jaunty little kiss-curl should, of all things in the world, ornament a jail dock; yet such was formerly the case. Hunt, “the accomplice after the fact and King’s evidence against” the murderer of Weare, on his trial appeared at the bar with a highly pomatumed love-lock sticking tight to his forehead. In the days of the Civil Wars, the very last thing a Cavalier would part with was his love-lock.

~Bowdlerization~, a term used in literary circles to signify undue strictness of treatment caused by over-modesty in editing a classic. To BOWDLERIZE is to emasculate through squeamishness. From the name (Bowdler) of one of Shakspeare’s “purifiers.”

~Bowlas~, round tarts made of sugar, apple, and bread, sold in the streets, especially at the East-end of London.

~Bowles~, shoes.

~Bowl Out~, to put out of the game, to remove out of one’s way, to detect.—Originally a _Cricketing term_, but now general.

~Box-Harry~, a term with bagmen or commercial travellers, implying dinner and tea at one meal; also dining with “Duke Humphrey,” _i.e._, going without—which _see_.

~Box the Compass~, to repeat the thirty-two points of the compass either in succession or irregularly. The method used at sea to teach boys the points of the mariner’s compass.—_Sea._

~Boy~, a hump on a man’s back. In low circles it is usual to speak of a humpbacked man as two persons—“him and his BOY,” and from this much coarse fun and personality are at times evolved.

~Bracelets~, handcuffs.

~Brace up~, to pawn stolen goods.

~Brads~, money. Properly a small kind of nails used by cobblers.—_Compare_ HORSE NAILS.

~Brain-Pan~, the skull, and BRAIN-CANISTER, the head. Both pugilistic and exchangeable terms.

~Bramble-Gelder~, a derisive appellation for an agriculturist.—_Suffolk._

~Brandy Pawnee~, brandy and water.—_Anglo-Indian._

~Brandy Smash~, one of the 365 American drinks, made of brandy and crushed ice.

~Bran-New~, quite new. Properly _Brent_, BRAND or _Fire new_, _i.e._, fresh from the anvil, or fresh with the manufacturer’s brand upon it.

~Brass~, money. “Tin” is also used, and so are most forms of metal.

~Brass~, impudence. In 1803 some artillerymen stationed at Norwich were directed to prove some brass ordnance belonging to the city. To the report delivered to the corporation was appended this note:—“_N.B._—It is customary for the corporal to have the old metal when any of the pieces burst.” _Answer._—“The corporation is of opinion that the corporal does not want BRASS.”

~Brass-Knocker~, broken victuals. Used by tramps and cadgers.

~Brat~, a child of either sex. Generally used in an offensive sense.

~Brazen-Faced~, impudent, shameless. From BRASS. Such a person is sometimes said “to have rubbed his face with a brass candlestick.”

~Brazil~, a hard red wood; “HARD AS BRAZIL,” a common expression. _Quarles_ in his _Emblems_ says—

“Thou know’st my brittle temper’s prone to break. Are my bones BRAZIL or my flesh of oak?”

~Bread-Bags~, a nickname given in the army and navy to any one connected with the victualling department, as a purser or purveyor in the Commissariat.

~Bread Basket~, DUMPLING-DEPOT, VICTUALLING-OFFICE, &c., were terms which in the old pugilistic days were given by the “Fancy” to the digestive organs. Blows in this region were called “porridge disturbers,” and other fancy names, which were supposed to rob them of their hardness—to those who did not receive them.

~Break-Down~, a noisy dance, almost violent enough to break the floor down; a jovial, social gathering, a “flare up;” in Ireland, a wedding—_American_ so far as the dance is concerned.

~Break One’s Back~, a figurative expression, implying bankruptcy, or the crippling of a person’s means.

“A story is current of a fashionable author answering a late and rather violent knock at his door one evening. A coal-heaver wanted to know if the gentleman would like a cheap ton of coals; he was sorry for troubling him so late, but ‘the party as had a-ordered the two ton and a-half couldn’t be found,’ although he had driven his ‘waggon for six blessed hours up and down the neighbourhood. Five-and-twenty is the price, but yer shall have them for 20s.’ Our author was not to be tempted, he had heard of the trick before; so bidding the man go away from his house, he shut the door. The man, however, lingered there, expatiating on the quality of his coals—‘Acterly givin’ ’em away, and the gent wont have ’em,’ said he, addressing the neighbourhood in a loud voice: and the last that was heard of him was his anything but sweet voice whistling through the keyhole, ‘Will eighteen _bob_ BREAK YER BACK?’”

~Break Shins~, to borrow money. Probably from an older slang phrase, “kick,” to ask for drink-money.

~Break the Ice~, to make a commencement, to plunge _in medias res_.

~Break Up~, the conclusion of a performance of any kind—originally a school term.

~Breaky-Leg~, strong drink; “he’s been to Bungay fair, and broke both his legs,” _i.e._, got drunk. In the ancient Egyptian language the determinative character in the hieroglyphic verb “to be drank,” has the significant form of the leg of a man being amputated. “Tangle Leg” is the name given to New England rum.

~Breeched~, or TO HAVE THE BAGS OFF, to have plenty of money; “to be well BREECHED,” to be in good circumstances. Also among schoolboys to be well flogged.

~Breeches~, “to wear the BREECHES,” said of a wife who usurps the husband’s prerogative. Equivalent to the remark that “the grey mare is the better horse.”

~Breeching~, a flogging. Term in use among boys at several private schools.

~Breef~, probably identical with BRIEF, a shortened card used for cheating purposes; thus described in an old book of games of about 1720—

“Take a pack of cards and open them, then take out all the honours ... and cut a little from the edges of the rest all alike, so as to make the honours broader than the rest, so that when your adversary cuts to you, you are certain of an honour. When you cut to your adversary cut at the ends, and then it is a chance if you cut him an honour, because the cards at the ends are all of a length. Thus you may make breefs end-ways as well as sideways.”

Modern card-players of a certain kind have considerably improved on this.

~Breeks~, breeches.—_Scotch_, now common.

~Brick~, a “jolly good fellow;” “a regular BRICK,” a staunch fellow. About the highest compliment that in one word can be paid one man. Said to be derived from an expression of Aristotle’s—τετραγωνος ἀνηρ.

~Bridge~, a cheating trick at cards, by which any particular card is cut by previously curving it by the pressure of the hand. Used in France as well as in England, and termed in the _Parisian Argot_ FAIRE LE PONT.

~Brief~, a pawnbroker’s duplicate; a raffle card, or a ticket of any kind.

~Briefs~, cards constructed on a cheating principle. See BRIDGE, CONCAVES and CONVEXES, LONGS, and SHORTS, REFLECTORS, &c. From the _German_, BRIEFE, which Baron Heinecken says was the name given to the cards manufactured at Ulm. BRIEF is also the synonym for a card in the German _Rothwälsch_ dialect, and BRIEFEN to play at cards. “Item—beware of the Joners, (gamblers,) who practice Beseflery with the BRIEF, (cheating at cards,) who deal falsely and cut one for the other, cheat with Boglein and spies, pick one BRIEF from the ground, and another from a cupboard,” &c.—_Liber Vagatorum_, ed. by Martin Luther, in 1529. English translation, by J. C. Hotten, 1860, p. 47. _See_ BREEF.

~Brim~, a violent irascible woman, as inflammable and unpleasant as brimstone, from which the word is contracted.

~Briney~, the sea. A “dip in the BRINEY” once a year is a great attraction to Cockney excursionists. A story is told of one excursionist saying to another, as they stripped in a double machine, “Why, ’Arry, what dirty feet you’ve got!” “’Ave I; well yer see I wasn’t down last year.”

~Bring-up~, or BRING-TO, to stop suddenly, as a team of horses or a vessel. To BRING-UP also means to feed, clothe, and educate a child. To BRING-UP by hand is to bring up a newly-born child or animal without assistance from the natural fount.

~Brisket-Beater~, a Roman Catholic.

~Broad and Shallow~, an epithet applied to the so-called “Broad Church,” in contradistinction to the “High” and “Low” Churches. _See_ HIGH and DRY.

~Broad-Brim~, originally applied to a Quaker only, but now used in reference to all quiet, sedate, respectable old men.

~Broad-Cooper~, a person employed by brewers to negotiate with publicans.

~Broad-Faking~, playing at cards. Generally used to denote “work” of the three-card and kindred descriptions.

~Broad-Fencer~, a “k’rect card” seller at races.

~Broads~, cards. BROADSMAN, a card-sharper. _See_ BROAD-FAKING.

~Broadway Swell~, a New York term for a great dandy, Broadway being the principal promenade in the “Empire City.”

~Broady~, cloth. Evidently a corruption of broadcloth. BROADY workers are men who go round selling vile shoddy stuff under the pretence that it is excellent material, which has been “got on the cross,” _i.e._ stolen.

~Brolly~, an umbrella. Term used at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

~Brosier~, a bankrupt.—_Cheshire._ BROSIER-MY-DAME, school term, implying a clearing of the housekeeper’s larder of provisions, in revenge for stinginess.—_Eton._

~Brother-Chip~, originally fellow carpenter. Almost general now as brother tradesman of any kind. Also, BROTHER-WHIP, a fellow coachman; and BROTHER-BLADE, of the same occupation or calling—originally a fellow-soldier.

~Brother-Smut~, a term of familiarity. “Ditto, BROTHER SMUT,” _tu quoque_.

~Broth of a Boy~, an Irish term for a jolly good fellow.

~Brown~, a halfpenny.—_See_ BLUNT.

~Brown~, “to do BROWN,” to do well or completely, “doing it BROWN,” prolonging the frolic, or exceeding sober bounds; “done BROWN,” taken in, deceived, or surprised.

~Brown Bess~, the old Government regulation musket; a musket with a browned barrel; also BLACK BESS. A suggestion has been made that BESS may be from the _German_ BUSCHE, or BOSCHE, a barrel. It is much more likely, however, that the phrase is derived from the fact that “the soldier is wedded to his weapon.”

~Brown-papermen~, low gamblers.

~Brown Study~, a reverie. Very common even in educated society, but hardly admissible in writing, and therefore considered a vulgarism. It is derived, by a writer in _Notes and Queries_, from BROW STUDY, and he cites the old German BRAUN, or AUG-BRAUN, an eye-brow.—_Ben Jonson._

~Brown Talk~, conversation of an exceedingly proper character, Quakerish. Compare BLUE.

~Brown to~, to understand, to comprehend.

~Bruiser~, a fighting man, a pugilist. _Shakspeare_ uses the word BRUISING in a similar sense.

~Brum~, a counterfeit coin. _Nearly obsolete._ Corruption of _Brummagem_, for meaning of which _see_ Introductory Chapter.

~Brush~, a fox’s tail, a house-painter. Also a scrimmage.

~Brush~, or BRUSH-OFF, to run away, or move on quickly.—_Old Cant._

~Bub~, drink of any kind.—_See_ GRUB. _Middleton_, the dramatist, mentions BUBBER, a great drinker.

~Bub~, a teat, woman’s breast, plural BUBBIES; no doubt from BIBE. _See_ _ante_.

~Bubble~, to over-reach, deceive, to tempt by means of false promises.—_Old._ (_Acta Regia_, ii. 248, 1726.)

~Bubble-and-Squeak~, a dish composed of pieces of cold roast or boiled meat and greens, afterwards fried, which have thus first BUBBLED in the _pot_, and then SQUEAKED or hissed in the _pan_.

~Bubble-Company~, a swindling association.

~Buckled~, to be married. Also to be taken in custody. Both uses of the word common and exchangeable among the London lower classes.

~Bubbley-Jock~, a turkey, or silly boasting fellow; a prig.—_Scottish._ In the north of England the bird is called a BOBBLE-COCK. Both names, no doubt, from its cry, which is supposed by imaginative persons to consist of the two words exactly.

~Buck~, a gay or smart man; an unlicensed cabman; also a large marble used by schoolboys.

~Buck~, sixpence. The word is rarely used by itself, but generally denotes the sixpence attached to shillings in reference to cost, as, “three and a BUCK,” three shillings and sixpence. Probably a corruption of Fyebuck.

~Buckhorse~, a smart blow or box on the ear; derived from the name of a celebrated “bruiser” of that name. Buckhorse was a man who either possessed or professed insensibility to pain, and who would for a small sum allow anyone to strike him with the utmost force on the side of the face.

~Buckle~, to bend; “I can’t BUCKLE to that.” I don’t understand it; to yield or give in to a person. _Shakspeare_ uses the word in the latter sense, _Henry IV._, i. 1; and _Halliwell_ says that “the commentators do not supply another example.”

~Buckle-Beggar~, a COUPLE-BEGGAR, which _see_.

~Buckle-to~, to bend to one’s work, to begin at once, and with great energy—from buckling-to one’s armour before a combat, or fastening on a bundle.

~Buckley~, “Who struck BUCKLEY?” a common phrase used to irritate Irishmen. The story is that an Englishman having struck an Irishman named Buckley, the latter made a great outcry, and one of his friends rushed forth screaming, “Who struck Buckley?” “I did,” said the Englishman, preparing for the apparently inevitable combat. “Then,” said the ferocious Hibernian, after a careful investigation of the other’s thews and sinews, “then, sarve him right.”

~Buckra~, a white man. The original of this term is a “flogging man,” from the Hebrew, and the application of it to the whites by the West Indian negroes is, therefore, rather interesting. They probably first learned it from a missionary.

~Buckshish~, BUCKSHEESH or BACKSHEESH, a present of money. Over all India, and the East generally, the natives lose no opportunity of asking for BUCKSHISH. The usage is such a complete nuisance that the word is sometimes answered by a blow; this is termed BAMBOO BUCKSHISH. BUCKSHISH has taken up a very firm residence in Europe—may, in fact, on a much larger scale than that of Asia, be said to have always had an existence here. BUCKSHISH is a very important item in the revenues of officials who hold positions of considerable importance, as well as in those of their humbler brethren. During the recent visit of the Shah of Persia, that potentate discovered that BUCKSHISH was by no means peculiar to the East.

~Budge~, to move, to “make tracks.”

~Budge~, strong drink; BUDGY, drunk; BUDGING-KEN, a public-house; “cove of the BUDGING-KEN,” the landlord. Probably a corruption of BOOZE. Probably also, on the lucus a non lucendo principle, because its use made one incapable of budging.

~Buff~, the bare skin; “stripped to the BUFF.”

~Buff~, to swear to, or accuse; generally used in reference to a wrongful accusation, as, “Oh, BUFF it on to him.” _Old_ word for boasting, 1582.

~Buffer~, a navy term for a boatswain’s mate, one of whose duties it is—or was—to administer the “cat.”

~Buffer~, a familiar expression for a jolly acquaintance, probably from the _French_ BOUFFARD, a fool or clown; a “jolly old BUFFER,” said of a good-humoured or liberal old man. In 1737, a BUFFER was a “rogue that killed good sound horses for the sake of their skins, by running a long wire into them.”—_Bacchus and Venus._ The term was once applied to those who took false oaths for a consideration; but though the word has fallen into disuse there is no particular reason for imagining that the practice has.

~Buffer~, a woman employed in a Sheffield warehouse to give the final polish to goods previously to their being plated.

~Buffer~, a dog. Dogs’ skins were formerly in great request—hence the term BUFF, meaning in old English _to skin_. It is still used in the ring, BUFFED meaning stripped naked, though the term BUFF, as applied to the skin, is most likely due to its resemblance to the leather so called. “Stripped to the BUFF,” cannot have any reference to dog skinning, though it may have originally referred to the BUFF jerkins worn under defensive armour. In Irish cant, BUFFER is a _boxer_. The BUFFER of a railway-carriage doubtless received its very appropriate name from the old pugilistic application of this term.

~Buffle-Head~, a stupid or obtuse person.—_Miege._ _German_, BUFFELHAUPT, buffalo-headed. Occurs in _Plautus’ Comedies made English_, 1694.

~Buffs~, the Third Regiment of Foot in the British army. From their facings.

~Buffy~, intoxicated.

~Buggy~, a gig, or light chaise. Common term in America and in India, as well as in England.

~Bug-Hunter~, a low wretch who plunders drunken men.

~Bug-Walk~, a coarse term for a bed.

~Build~, applied in fashionable slang to the make or style of dress, &c. “It’s a tidy BUILD, who made it?” A tailor is sometimes called a “trousers’ BUILDER.”

~Bulger~, large; synonymous with BUSTER.

~Bulky~, a constable.—_North._

~Bull~, one who agrees to purchase stock at a future day, at a stated price, but who simply speculates for a rise in public securities to render the transaction a profitable one. Should stocks fall, the BULL is then called upon to pay the difference. _See_ BEAR, who is the opposite of a BULL, the former selling, the latter purchasing—the one operating for a _fall_, the other for a _rise_.

~Bull~, a crown-piece, formerly BULL’S EYE. _See_ WORK.

~Bull~, term amongst prisoners for the meat served to them in jail. Also very frequently used instead of the word beef. The costermonger often speaks of his dinner, when he has beef, as a “bit o’ BULL,” without any reference to its being either tough or tender, but he never speaks of mutton as “sheep.”

~Bull-Beef~, a term of contempt; “as ugly as BULL-BEEF,” “go to the billy-fencer, and sell yourself for BULL-BEEF.” Sometimes used to indicate full size of anything. “There was he, as big as BULL-BEEF.”

~Bulldogs~, the runners who accompany the proctor in his perambulations, and give chase to runaways.—_University._