3. (racing.)—The paddock at the Newmarket race-course where saddling
takes place. It adjoins the grand stand.
1884. St. James’s Gazette, May 1, p. 1. All the favourites were
brought into the bird-cage. [M.]
Birdlime, subs. (rhyming slang).—1. Time.
2. (old.)—A thief. From the glutinous substance of the same name spread
upon twigs for the purpose of catching birds and holding them fast.
1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, V., 2. That birdlime there stole it.
1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, III., 2. My rogue of a son has laid
his birdlime fingers on’t.
Bird’s-Eye, Bird’s-Eye Fogle, Bird’s-Eye Wipe, subs. (common).—A silk
handkerchief spotted with eye-like markings.—See also Billy and Wipe.
1665. Pepys, Diary, May 14. To church, it being Whit-Sunday; my
wife very fine in a new yellow bird’s-eye hood, as the fashion is
now.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xviii. He wore a blue
bird’s-eye handkerchief round his neck.
1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. His neckerchief was
of the same hue [silver grey], with a light crimson bird’s-eye.
Bird-Witted, adj. (old).—Inconsiderate; thoughtless; easily imposed
on.—Grose.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learning, II. (1861), 228. If a child be
bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, the
mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto.
1650. Ussher, Ann., VI., 360. [He] proved ... but a bird-witted
man.
Birk, subs. (back slang).—A ‘crib’ (q.v.), i.e., a house. For synonyms,
see Diggings.
Birthday Suit, subs. (common).—Naked; in the buff (q.v.); in the suit
in which Adam and Eve first saw each other, and ‘were not ashamed.’ A
French equivalent is s’habiller en sauvage.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, l. 61. I went in the morning to a
private place, along with the housemaid, and we bathed in our
birth-day soot.
Bishop, subs. (old).—1. A warm decoction of wine, orange or lemon peel,
and sugar—but variously compounded. Similar to flip and purl (q.v.).
1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin
trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a
new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto
him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport,
in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their
bull-dogs—the town-raff and the bargees—well-blunted or stiver
cramped—against dun or don—nob or big-wig—so may you never want a
bumper of bishop.
1738. Swift, Women Who Cry Oranges, wks., 1755, IV., i., 278. Well
roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup. They’ll make a sweet bishop.
1753. The World, No. 37. Punch, bishop, cool tankard, and negus are
equally denied me.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlviii., p. 421. He and the landlord
were drinking a bowl of bishop together.
2. subs. (American).—A bustle—part of feminine attire consisting of a
pad worn on the back part of the waist, and designed to give prominence
to the skirt. For synonyms, see Bird-cage.
1848. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, p. 42. Bishop. An
appendage to a lady’s wardrobe, otherwise called a bustle.