BUSK (or BUSKING), to sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in
the tap rooms of public houses. Sometimes implies selling any articles.
BUSS, an abbreviation of “omnibus,” a public carriage. Also, a kiss.
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 pennorth o’ BEES WAX (cheese) and a penny BUSTER,” a common snack at
beershops.
BUSTER, an extra size; “what a BUSTER,” what a large one; “in for
a BUSTER,” determined on an extensive frolic or spree. _Scotch_,
BUSTUOUS; _Icelandic_, BOSTRA.
BUSTLE, money; “to draw the BUSTLE.”
BUTTER, or BATTER, praise or flattery. To BUTTER, to flatter, cajole.
BUTTER-FINGERED, apt to let things fall.
BUTTON, a decoy, sham purchaser, &c. At any mock or sham auction seedy
specimens may be seen. Probably from the connection of _buttons_ with
_Brummagem_, which is often used as a synonyme for a sham.
BUTTONER, a man who entices another to play.—_See_ BONNETTER.
BUTTONS, a page,—from the rows of gilt buttons which adorn his jacket.
BUTTONS, “not to have all one’s BUTTONS,” to be deficient in intellect.
BUZ, to pick pockets; BUZ-FAKING, robbing.
BUZ, to share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not
enough for a full glass for each of the party.
BUZZERS, pickpockets. _Grose_ gives BUZ COVE and BUZ GLOAK, the latter
is very ancient cant.
BUZ-BLOAK, a pickpocket, who principally confines his attention to
purses and loose cash. _Grose_ gives BUZ-GLOAK (or CLOAK?), an ancient
cant word. BUZ-NAPPER, a young pickpocket.
BUZ-NAPPER’S ACADEMY, a school in which young thieves are trained.
Figures are dressed up, and experienced tutors stand in various
difficult attitudes for the boys to practice upon. When clever enough
they are sent on the streets. It is reported that a house of this
nature is situated in a court near Hatton Garden. The system is well
explained in _Dickens’ Oliver Twist_.
BYE-BLOW, a bastard child.
BY GEORGE, an exclamation similar to BY JOVE. The term is older than is
frequently imagined, vide _Bacchus and Venus_ (p. 117), 1737. “Fore (or
by) GEORGE, I’d knock him down.” A street compliment to Saint George,
the patron Saint of England, or possibly to the House of Hanover.
BY GOLLY, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for “by God.” In the
United States, small boys are permitted by their guardians to say
GOL DARN anything, but they are on no account allowed to commit the
profanity of G—d d——g anything. An effective ejaculation and moral
waste pipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation—BY
THE-EVER-LIVING-JUMPING-MOSES—a harmless phrase, that from its length
expends a considerable quantity of fiery anger.
CAB, in statutory language, “a hackney carriage drawn by one horse.”
Abbreviated from CABRIOLET, _French_; originally meaning “a light low
chaise.” The wags of Paris playing upon the word (quasi _cabri_ au
lait) used to call a superior turn-out of the kind a _cabri au crême_.
Our abbreviation, which certainly smacks of slang, has been stamped
with the authority of “GEORGE, _Ranger_.” See the notices affixed to
the carriage entrances of St. James’s Park.