BOOZY, intoxicated or fuddled.
BORE, a troublesome friend or acquaintance, a nuisance, anything which
wearies or annoys. The _Gradus ad Cantabrigiam_ suggests the derivation
of BORE from the _Greek_, Βαρος, a burden. _Shakespere_ uses it, King
Henry VIII., i., 1—
“—— at this instant
He BORES me with some trick.”
_Grose_ speaks of this word as being much in fashion about the year
1780–81, and states that it vanished of a sudden, without leaving a
trace behind. Not so, burly Grose, the term is still in favour, and
is as piquant and expressive as ever. Of the modern sense of the word
BORE, the Prince Consort made an amusing and effective use in his
masterly address to the British Association, at Aberdeen, September 14,
1859. He said (as reported by the _Times_):—
“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 all 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.”
BOSH, nonsense, stupidity.—_Gipsey_ and _Persian_. Also pure _Turkish_,
BOSH LAKERDI, empty talk. A person, in the _Saturday Review_, has
stated that BOSH is coeval with Morier’s novel, _Hadji Babi_, which was
published in 1828; but this is a blunder. The term was used in this
country as early as 1760, and may be found in the _Student_, vol. ii.,
p. 217.
BOSH, a fiddle.
BOSH-FAKER, a violin player.
BOS-KEN, a farm-house. _Ancient._—_See_ KEN.
BOSKY, inebriated—_Household Words_, No. 183.
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, a person with one eye, or rather with one eye injured.
BOTHER, to teaze, to annoy.
BOTHER (from the _Hibernicism_ POTHER), trouble, or annoyance. _Grose_
has a singular derivation, BOTHER, or BOTH-EARED, from two persons
talking at the same time, or to both ears. BLOTHER, an old word,
signifying to chatter idly.—_See Halliwell._
BOTHERATION! trouble, annoyance; “BOTHERATION to it,” confound it, or
deuce take it, an exclamation when irritated.
BOTTLE-HOLDER, an assistant to a “Second,”—_Pugilistic_; an abettor;
also, the bridegroom’s man at a wedding.
BOTTY, conceited, swaggering.
BOUNCE, impudence.
BOUNCE, a showy swindler.