Chapter 24

b..., abbreviation of bougre. Babet, Bessie. babiller, _v._ to prattle, chatter. babouche, _f._ Turkish slipper. badaud, _m._ idler, gaper, booby. bagage, _m._ baggage, luggage (also in _pl._). bagarre, _f._ scuffie, fray, hubbub. bagatelle, _f._ mere trifle. Bagdad, city of Asiatic Turkey on the Tigris. bah, _interj._ ah!, pshaw! bahut, _m._ chest. bai, -e, _adj. and m._ bay, bay horse. baigner, _v._ to bathe; se --, bathe. baignoire, _f._ bath-tub. bailler, _v._ to give. bâiller, _v._ to yawn. bailli, _m._ bailiff. bain, _m._ bath; bains de mer, sea bathing; bains froids, cold baths, floating bath-bouses (on a river). baïonnette, _f._ bayonet. baiser, _v._ to kiss; _m._ kiss. baisse, _f._ rail, recline, decline. baisser, _v._ to lower, drop; se --, stoop, bow down, be lowered. bal, _m._ ball (dance). balafre, _f._ gash, slash, scar. balance, _f._ scale, scales (also in _pl._). balancer, _v._ to balance, swing; se --, swing, rock; balancé, -e, balanced, swinging. balancier, _m._ pendulum. balayer, _v._ to sweep. balbutier, _v._ to stammer (_t_ pronounced as _c_). balcon, _m._ balcony. baleine, _f._ whale. ballade, _f._ ballad. balle, _f._ ball, bullet. ballon, _m._ balloon; le -- d'Alsace, a mountain with rounded summit on the western border of Alsace. ballot, _m._ bale. ballotter, _v._ to toss about. Baltique, _f._ Baltic. balustrade, _f._ balustrade. banal, -e, _adj._ hackneyed, commonplace. banc, _m._ bench, scat. bande, _f._ band, strip, stripe, Bock. bander, _v._ to bandage, bind up. bandit, _m._ bandit, ruffian. bank-note, _f._ bank-note. banlieue, _f._ outskirts, suburbs. banque, _f._ bank. banqueroute, _f._ bankruptcy; faire --, to go into bankruptcy; faire -- à, cheat. banquette, _f._ bench (upholstered). banquier, _m._ banker. baptême, _m._ baptism, christening; nom de --, Christian name (_p_ not pronounced). baptiser, _v._ to baptize, christen (_p_ not pronounced). baraque, _f._ booth, shack. barbe, _f._ beard. barbiche, _f._ small beard on the chin, imperial. bardeau, _m._ shingle, thin board (over the rafters). Bariatynski (Prince Alexander), Prussian field-marshal with distinguished service in the Caucasus and in the Crimean war (1815-1879). baril, _m._ barrel. barioler, _v._ to variegate, color diversely. baron, -ne, _m., f._ baron, baroness. barque, _f._ bark, small boat. barre, _f._ bar, tiller, rudder, helm; jouer aux barres, to play at prisoners' base. barrette, beretta, cardinal's cap, scullion's cap. barricader, _v._ to barricade. barrière, _f._ barrier, city wall, fence, railing. barrique, _f._ barrel, cask. bas, _m._ stocking. bas, -se, _adj., adv. and m._ low, in a low tone, down, lower side, bottom; en --, below, downstairs; là---, yonder, over there; à --, down, down with, off; à -- de, down from; par le --, along the bottom; mettre --, to take off (a coat, etc.). bassin, _m._ basin. bassiner, _v._ to warm (a bed), bathe. bataille, _f._ battle, line of battle. bataillon, _m._ battalion; chef de --, major. bateau, _m._ boat. bâtiment, _m._ building, vessel. bâtir, _v._ to build. bâtisse, _f._ building (of masonry). bâton, _m._ stick, staff, club. battant, _m._ leaf (of a folding door); le portail s'ouvre à deux battants, the large folding door opens wide. battement, _m._ beating. batterie, _f._ battery. battre, _v._ to beat, strik, flap, churn; se --, fight; battant neuf, brand new. battue, _f._ battue (hunting), beating (of a horse's feet), chase. Batz, village near le Croisic (pronounced as written, or: _Ba_). bazar, _m._ bazaar, Oriental market. béant, -e, _adj._ gaping, wide open. beau (bel before vowels), belle, _adj._ beautiful, fair, handsome, fine; de plus belle, harder (deeper, etc.) than ever; belle, _f._ beauty (woman). beaucoup, _adv._ much, many, very much, a good deal. beau-frère, _m._ brother-in-law. beau-père, _m._ father-in-law. beauté, _f._ beauty. bébé, _m._ baby. bec, _m._ beak, prow, mouth (slang in last sense); -- de gaz, gas-light. bedaine, _f._ paunch, belly. Bedredin, Bedreddin, name borrowed by Gautier from the Arabian Nights. bégayer, _v._ to stammer. ben, familiar for _bien_ (_en_ pronounced as in _bien_). Ben, Hebrew word for son. bénéfice, _m._ profit. bénir, _v._ to bless. benjoin, _m._ benzoin (an aromatic resin; _en_ pronounced as in _bien_). béquille, _f._ crutch. bercail, _m._ sheepfold, fold. berceau, _m._ cradle. bercer, _v._ to rock, soothe; lull, weigh (an idea). berger, -ère, _m., f._ shepherd, shepherdess; _f._ easy-chair. berlinois, -e, _adj._ of Berlin. bernicle, _f._ barnacle (popular form of bernacle). Bertha, German form of Berthe. Berthe, Bertha. Berthine, diminutive of Berthe. besace, _f._ wallet. bésicles, _f. pl._ spectacles. besogne, _f._ work, occupation, business. besoin, _m._ need, necessity; avoir -- de, to need, must. bestiole, _f._ little animal. bétail (_pl._ bestiaux), _m._ cattle. bête, _f. and adj._ beast, animal, foolish, silly, stupid; faire la --, to pretend to be a fool; petites bêtes, little animais, insects, worms, etc. bêtise, _f._ nonsense, silly thing, stupidity. beugler, _v._ to bellow.. beurre, _m._ butter. Bézières, name perhaps suggested by Béziers (in southern France) or by Mézières (department of Ardennes). biais, _m._ bias, slope, way. bibliothèque, _f._ library, bookcase. bicarbonate, _m._ bicarbonate. bien, _adv. and m._ well, very, quite, many, much, fully, nicely, properly, comfortable, all right, indeed; _m._ good, goods, property, possession; -- du (etc.), much, -- des, many; homme de --, good or honest man; -- que, _conj._ although. bien-aimé, -e, _adj. and s._ well beloved, dearly loved, sweetheart. bien-être, _m._ comfort. bienheureux, -euse, _adj. and s._ blessed, one of the blest. Bienne (lac de), Swiss lake northeast of Neuchâtel. bientôt, adv. soon; à --, good-by, I'll see you again soon, etc. bienveillance, _f._ goodwill, friendliness, kindliness. bienveillant, -e, _adj._ friendly, kindly, benevolent. bière, _f._ beer. bigre, _interj._ the deuce, etc; bijou, _m._ jewel. billard, _m._ billiard-table, billiards, billiard-room. bille, _f._ billiard-ball, ball, marble. billet, _m._ note, ticket, slip. bise, _f._ north wind Bismarck (Otto, Prince von), German statesman and chancellor, founder of German unity, considered by the French largely responsible for the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 (1815-1898). bistré, -e, _adj._ bistre-colored, dusky, swarthy. bivac, _m._ bivouac (now usually written bivouac). bizarre, _adj._ bizarre, odd, strange. blague, _f._ humbug, bosh. blaguer, _v._ to make fun of, tease, draw the long bow. blanc, blanche, _adj._ and m. white; argent --, silver. blancheur, _f._ whiteness, white. blanchir, _v._ to whiten, make white, become white or light. blanchisseuse, _f._ washerwoman, laundress. blason, _m._ coat of arms. blé, _m._ wheat, grain. blême, _adj._ pale, wan. blesser, _v._ to wound, offend; blessé, -e, _m., f._ injured or wounded persan, etc.; blessant, -e, _adj._ offensive, shocking. blessure, _f._ wound. bleu, -e, _adj. and m._ blue; -- gris, blue-gray. bleuâtre, _adj._ bluish. bloc, _m._ block. blond, -e, _adj. and s._ blond, fair, light. blondin, -e, _adj. and s._ fair, persan with fair hair. bloquer, _v._ to blockade. blottir (se), _v._ to crouch; blotti, -e, crouched, squatting, cowering, nestling. blouf, _interj._ splash! blouse, _f._ blouse. boeuf, _m._ ox, beef. Bohême, _f._ Bohemia. bohème, _m._ tramp. bohémien, -ne, _adj. and s._ Bohemian, gipsy, vagrant. boire, _v._ to drink. bois, _m._ wood. boiserie, _f._ wainscoting. boisson, _f._ drink. boite, _f._ box. boitiller, _v._ to hobble (not recognized by standard dictionaries). bombance, _f._ feasting, high living. bon, -ne, _adj._ good, kind, pleasant, agreeable; pour de --, really, heartily, for good and all; bonne place, good place, right spot; bonne, _f._ maid, servant; quel -- vent?, what lucky wind? Bonaparte (Napoléon), the French Emperor (1769-1821); see note to p. 2, l. 5. bonasse, _adj._ soft (applied to persons), good-natured, silly, simple. bonbon, _m._ bonbon, candy. bond, _m._ bound, leap, jump. bondir, _v._ to bound, leap. bonheur, _m._ happiness, good fortune. bonhomme, _m._ good-natured or worthy old fellow, old fellow, fellow, little fellow, worthy man. Bonifacio, town and port of southern Corsica. bonjour, _m._ good day, good morning. bonnement, _adv._ simply. bonnet, _m._ bonnet, cap; -- de police, foraging or fatigue cap; gros --, big man; important person (familiar). bonsoir, _m._ good evening. bonté, _f._ goodness, kindness. bonzou, baby's pronunciation of bonjour. bord, _m._ edge, border, bank, shore, brim, rail, side, sill, tip; à --, on board; -- à --, side by side; à son --, on board bis boat; vie de --, life on board ship; sur le -- des lèvres, on the tip of the tongue; par-dessus --, overboard. border, _v._ to border. bordereau, _m._ account, note, memorandum. borne, _f._ limit, mile-stone, stone post (at the corner of a house, etc.), stepping-stone, horse-block. bosse, _f._ hump, bump. bossuer, _v._ to dent, bruise; bossué, -e, bruised, knotted. botte, _f._ boat, hoof, bundle. bottine, _f._ shoe (high). bouche, _f._ mouth. bouchée, _f._ mouthful. boucher, _m._ butcher. boucher, _v._ to stop up. bouchon, _m._ stopper, cork, pothouse, tavern. boucle, _f._ buckle, curl. boucler, _v._ to buckle. boudin, _m._ blood pudding. boudoir, _m._ boudoir. Boudroulboudour, the Full Moon of the Full Moons (in Arabic: Badru-l-budûr). boue, _f._ mud. boueux, -euse, _adj._ muddy. bouffée, _f._ puff, whiff. bouffi -e, _adj. and s._ puffed up, puffy, swollen, puffed up or bloated fellow. bouffon, -ne, _adj._ clownish, ludicrous, farcical. bouge, _m._ dirty hole, hovel. bouger, _v._ to move, budge. bougie, _f._ wax candle. bougre, _m._ fellow (slang); b... de teigneux, scurvy devil. bouillie, _f._ pap, pulp. bouillon, _m._ bubble, broth. boulanger, _m._ baker. Boulanger (Georges), French general involved in political intrigue to overthrow the Government (1837-1891). boule, _f._ ball. boulet, _m._ cannon-ball, ball. boulevard, _m._ boulevard. bouleverser, _v._ to upset, overthrow. Boulogne-sur-Mer, city and port on the English Channel (department of Pas-de-Calais). bouquet, _m._ bouquet, cluster. bourbeux, -euse, _adj._ muddy, miry. bourdonnement, _m._ buzzing. bourdonner, _v._ to buzz, hum. bourengrédel, _f. pl._ (= German Bauerngredel) peasant girls (Gredel = Grete = Maggie). bourg, _m._ borough, country town, town. bourgeois, -e, _adj._ and s. bourgeois, member of the middle class, citizen, master, boss (language of the working class); sa bourgeoise, his old woman. bourgeonner, _v._ to bud, put out shoots. bourgmestre, _m._ burgomaster, mayor (g pronounced). bourg-pourri, _m._ rotten borough. bourrasque, _f._ squall. bourrer, _v._ to cram, stuff. bourse, _f._ purse; la Bourse, the Stock-Exchange. bousculade, _f._ jostling, bustling. bouse, _f._ cow-dung. bout, _m._ end, bit, limit; au -- de, at the end of, after; venir à -- de, to manage to, succeed in. bouteille, _f._ bottle. boutique, _f._ shop. bouton, _m._ button. boutonner, _v._ to button. bouvier, _m._ cowherd. bouvreuil, _m._ bullfinch. bracelet, _m._ bracelet. braconnier, _m._ poacher. braise, _f._ embers, live coals. branchage, _m._ branches. branche, _f._ branch. brandir, _v._ to brandish. branle, _m._ swinging, jogging motion; en --, swinging; être mis en --, to be set in motion, start. bras, _m._ arms; les -- leur tomberaient, they would throw up their hands in astonishment. brasier, _m._ brazier, clear bright fire, fire of red-hot coals. brasserie, _f._ brewery, beer-saloon, café. brasseur, _m._ brewer; -- d'argent, money-maker, scheming money-maker. brave, _adj._ brave, worthy, fine, good; un -- garçon, un -- homme, a fine fellow, a good man; ce -- homme de soleil, this good old sun. bravement, _adv._ bravely, worthily. braver, _v._ to brave. bravo, _interj._ bravo!, fine! bravoure, _f._ bravery. bredouiller, _v._ to splutter, stutter. bref, -ève, _adj. and adv._ brief, short, curt, in short. breloque, _f._ bauble, trinket, charm. Brêmer, _cf._ German Bremer, of Bremen. Bretagne, _f._ Brittany. bretelle, _f._ brace, suspender. breton, -ne, _adj. and s._ of Brittany, Breton (written Breton when _s._). bride, _f._ bridle, rein, string (of a bonnet). brigadier, _m._ corporal, police sergeant. brigand, _m._ brigand, ruffian. briller, _v._ to shine; brillant, -e, adj. and m. brilliant, shining, brilliancy, luster. brin, _m._ blade, sprig, grain, bit; espère un --, wait a bit. brindille, _f._ twig, sprig, bit. brique, _f._ brick. brisant, _m._ reef, breaker, surf. brise, _f._ breeze. brise-lames, _m._ breakwater. briser, _v._ to break, break down, shatter; se --, be broken, be dashed to pieces. britannique, _adj._ British. brocanteur, _m._ second-band dealer, dealer in curiosities. brocart, _m._ brocade. brocher, _v._ to figure, brocade, sew (books). brodequin, _m._ high laced shoe. broder, _v._ to embroider, embellish with designs in relief. bronze, _m._ bronze. brosse, _f._ brush. brosser, _v._ to brush. brosserie, _f._ brush-trade or manufactory, brushes. brouette, _f._ wheelbarrow; huiler la roue de sa --, to help oneself to other people's property, "gldquo;graft" (the idea being that the wheel was oiled so well that the garden could be plundered without noise). brouillard, _m._ fog, mist. Brouin, family name, perhaps Balzac derived it from the dialectic form brouine. brouine, dialectic for bruine. broussailles, _f. pl._ brambles, briars, thorny undergrowth, underbrush (rare in singular). broyer, _v._ to crush, grind. bru, _f._ daughter-in-law. bruine, _f._ drizzling rain, drizzle. bruire, _v._ to make a confused noise, rustle. bruit, _m._ noise, report. brûler, _v._ to burn; brûlé, m. burning. brûlot, _m._ fire ship, firebrand, burning brandy with sugar. brûlure, _f._ burning, burn, scalding. brume, _f._ mist. brumeux, -euse, _adj._ misty, foggy. brun, -e, _adj._ brown, dark. brusque, _adj._ blunt, abrupt, brusk. brusquement, _adv._ bruskly, rudely, quickly. brut, -e, _adj._ raw, rough, crude. brutalité, _f._ brutality. brute, _f._ brute. bruyant -e, _adj._ noisy. bûche, _f._ log, stick of wood. bûcheron -ne, _m., f._ wood-cutter. buffet, _m._ sideboard, refreshment-room. Bulbul, a kind of thrush in the Orient, sometimes called the nightingale of the East (Arabic). bulletin, _m._ bulletin. bureau, _m._ desk, office; -- de tabac, tobacco shop. burgau, _m._ mother-of-pearl (shell). burlesque, _adj._ burlesque, ludicrous. buste, _m._ bust. but, _m._ goal, target, aim; dans un --, for an object. buveur, _m._ drinker.

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