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.
[Illustration]
~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._
~Bullet~, to discharge from a situation. To shake the BULLET at anyone,
is to threaten him with “the sack,” but not to give him actual notice to
leave. To get the BULLET is to get notice, while to get the instant
BULLET is to be discharged upon the spot. The use of the term is most
probably derived from a fancied connexion between it and the word
discharge.
~Bullfinch~, a hunting term for a large, thick, quickset hedge,
difficult alike to “top” or burst through. Probably a corruption of
BULL-FENCE, a fence made to prevent cattle straying either in or out.
~Bull the Cask~, to pour hot water into an empty rum puncheon, and let
it stand until it extracts the spirit from the wood. The mixture is
drunk by sailors in default of something stronger.—_Sea._
~Bully~, a braggart; in the language of the streets, a man of the most
degraded morals, who protects fallen females, and lives off their
miserable earnings.—_Shakspeare_, in _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_, uses
the word in its old form, as a term of endearment. This epithet is often
applied in a commendable sense among the vulgar; thus—a good fellow or
a good horse will be termed “a BULLY fellow,” “a BULLY horse;” and “a
BULLY woman” signifies a right, good motherly old soul. Among Americans,
“BULLY for you,” is a commendatory phrase, and “that’s BULLY” is a
highly eulogistic term.
~Bullyrag~, to abuse or scold vehemently; to swindle one out of money by
intimidation and sheer abuse.
~Bum~, the part on which we sit.—_Shakspeare._ BUMBAGS, trousers;
_Gael._ BUN, a base or bottom; _Welsh_, BON, the lowest or worst part of
anything.
~Bum-Bailiff~, a sheriff’s-officer—a term, some say, derived from the
proximity which this gentleman generally maintains to his victims.
Blackstone says it is a corruption of “bound bailiff.” A BUM-BAILIFF was
generally called “bummy.”
~Bumble~, to muffle. BUMBLE-FOOTED, club-footed, or awkward in the gait.
~Bumble~, a beadle. Adopted from _Dickens’s_ character in _Oliver
Twist_. This and “BUMBLEDOM” are now common.
~Bumble-Puppy~, a game played in public-houses on a large stone, placed
in a slanting direction, on the lower end of which holes are excavated,
and numbered like the holes in a bagatelle-table. The player rolls a
stone ball, or marble, from the higher end, and according to the number
of the hole it falls into the game is counted. It is undoubtedly the
very ancient game of _Troule-in-madame_.
~Bumbles~, coverings for the eyes of horses that shy in harness.
~Bumbrusher~, an usher at a school.
~Bumclink~, in the Midland counties the inferior beer brewed for
haymakers and harvest labourers. Derivation obvious.
~Bum-Curtain~, an old name for academical gowns when they were worn
scant and short, especially those of the students of St. John’s
College.—_Camb. Univ._ Any ragged or short academical gown.
~Bummarees~, a term given to a class of speculating salesmen at
Billingsgate market, not recognised as such by the trade, but who get a
living by buying large quantities of fish from the salesmen and
re-selling them to smaller buyers. The word has been used in the
statutes and bye-laws of the market for upwards of 200 years. It has
been variously derived. Some persons think it may be from the _French_
BONNE MARÉE, good fresh fish! “Marée signifie toute sorte de poisson de
mer qui n’est pas sale; bonne marée—_marée fraîche_, vendeur de
marée.”—_Dict. de l’Acad. Franc._ The BUMMAREES are accused of many
trade tricks. One of them is to blow up codfish with a pipe until they
look double their actual size. Of course when the fish come to table
they are flabby, sunken, and half dwindled away. In Norwich, to BUMMAREE
one is to run up a score at a public-house just open, and is equivalent
to “running into debt with one.” One of the advertisements issued by Hy.
Robinson’s “Office,” over against Threadneedle Street, was this:—
“Touching Advice from the OFFICE, you are desired to give and take
notice as followeth:—
“OF Monies to be taken up, or delivered on _Botto-maria_, commonly
called _Bomarie_.
“OF money to be put out or taken upon interest,” &c.
—_The Publick Intelligencer_, numb. 17, 25th June, 1660.
~Bummer~, literally one who sits or idles about; a loafer; one who
sponges upon his acquaintances. In California, men who profess to be
journalists, and so obtain free dinners and drinks, are called “literary
BUMMERS.” Although the term is not much in use in this country, the
profession of bumming, both literary and otherwise, is freely practised.
~Bumper~, according to Johnson from “bump,” but probably from _French_
BON PÈRE, the fixed toast in monastic life of old, now used for “full
measure.” A match at quoits, bowls, &c., may end in a “BUMPER game,” if
the play and score be all on one side. BUMPER is used in sporting and
theatrical circles to denote a benefit which is one in reality as well
as in name.
~Bumptious~, arrogant, self-sufficient. One on very good terms with
himself is said to be BUMPTIOUS.
~Bunce~, costermongers’ perquisites; the money obtained by giving light
weight, &c.; costermongers’ goods sold by boys on commission. In fact
anything which is clear profit or gain is said to be “all BUNCE.”
Probably a corruption of _bonus_; BONE, or BONER, being the slang for
good. BUNCE, _Grose_ gives as the cant word for money.
~Bunch-of-Fives~, the hand, or fist.
~Bundle~, “to BUNDLE a person off,” _i.e._, to pack him off, send him
flying.
~Bundling~, men and women sleeping together, where the divisions of the
house will not permit of better or more decent accommodation, with all
their clothes on. BUNDLING was originally courting done in bed, the
lovers being tied or bundled up to prevent undue familiarities. The
practice still obtains in some parts of Wales.
~Bung~, the landlord of a public-house. Much in use among sporting men.
~Bung~, to give, pass, hand over, drink, or to perform almost any
action. BUNG up, to close up, as the eyes.—_Pugilistic._ “BUNG over the
rag,” hand over the money.—_Old_, used by _Beaumont_ and _Fletcher_,
and _Shakspeare_. Also, to deceive one by a lie, to CRAM, which _see_.
~Bunk~, to decamp. “BUNK it!” _i.e._, be off.
~Bunker~, beer.
~Bunkum~, an American importation, denoting false sentiments in
speaking, pretended enthusiasm, &c. The expression arose from a speech
made by a North Carolina senator named Buncombe.
~Bunter~, a prostitute, a street-walking female thief.
~Burdon’s Hotel~, Whitecross Street Prison, of which the Governor was a
Mr. Burdon. Almost every prison has a nickname of this kind, either from
the name of the Governor, or from some local circumstance. The Queen’s
Bench has also an immense number of names—SPIKE PARK, &c.; and every
Chief-Justice stands godfather to it.
~Burerk~, a lady, a showily-dressed woman.
~Burke~, to kill, to murder, secretly and without noise, by means of
strangulation. From Burke, the notorious Edinburgh murderer, who, with
an accomplice named Hare, used to decoy people into the den he
inhabited, kill them, and sell their bodies for dissection. The wretches
having been apprehended and tried, Burke was executed, while Hare,
having turned king’s evidence, was released. Bishop and Williams were
their London imitators. The term BURKE is now usually applied to any
project that is quietly stopped or stifled—as “the question has been
BURKED.” A book suppressed before publication is said to be BURKED.
~Burra~, great; as BURRA SAIB, a great man; BURRA KHANAII, a great
dinner.—_Anglo-Indian._
~Bury a Moll~, to run away from a mistress.
~Bus~, or BUSS, an abbreviation of “omnibus,” a public carriage. Also, a
kiss, abbreviation of _Fr._ BAISER. A Mr. Shillibeer started the first
BUS in London. A shillibeer is now a hearse and mourning coach all in
one, used by the very poorest mourners and shabbiest undertakers.
Why is Temple Bar like a lady’s veil? Because it wants to be removed
to make way for the BUSSES.
~Bus~, business (of which it is a contraction) or action on the stage,
so written, but pronounced BIZ.—_Theatrical._ _See_ BIZ.
~Business~, the action which accompanies dialogue. “His BUSINESS was
good.” Generally applied to byplay.—_Theatrical._
~Busk~, to sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms
of public-houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles. Also to
“work” public-houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or
vocalist.
~Busker~, a man who sings or performs in a public-house; an itinerant.
~Bust~, or BURST, to tell tales, to SPLIT, to inform. BUSTING, informing
against accomplices when in custody.
~Buster~ (BURSTER), a small new loaf; “twopenny BUSTER,” a twopenny
loaf. “A penn’orth o’ BEES-WAX (cheese) and a penny BUSTER,” a common
snack at beershops. A halfpenny loaf is called a “starver.”