burn crust
A jocular name for a baker.
English · UK & Ireland 1634
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
burn the ken
Strollers living in an alehouse without paying their quarters, are said to burn the ken. CANT.
burner
A clap. The blowen tipped the swell a burner; the girl gave the gentleman a clap.
burning shame
A lighted candle stuck into the parts of a woman, certainly not intended by nature for a candlestick.
burnt
Poxed or clapped. He was sent out a sacrifice, and came home a burnt offering; a saying of seamen who have caught the venereal disease abroad. He has burnt his fingers; he has suffered by meddling.
burr
A hanger on, or dependant; an allusion to the field burrs, which are not easily got rid of. Also the Northumbrian pronunciation: the people of that country, but chiefly about Newcastle and Morpeth, are said to have a burr in their throats, particularly called the Newcastle burr.
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.
bushel bubby
A full breasted woman.
business
The action which accompanies dialogue. "His BUSINESS was good." Generally applied to byplay.—Theatrical.
busk
A piece of whalebone or ivory, formerly worn by women, to stiffen the forepart of their stays: hence the toast--Both ends of the busk.
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.
buss beggar
An old superannuated fumbler, whom none but beggars will suffer to kiss them.
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."
bustle
Money; "to draw the BUSTLE."
busy
As busy is the devil in a high wind; as busy as a hen with one chick.
butcha
A Hindoo word in use among Englishmen for the young of any animal. In England we ask after the children; in India the health of the BUTCHAS is tenderly inquired for.
butcher
The king in playing-cards. When card-playing in public houses was common, the kings were called butchers, the queens bitches, and the knaves jacks. The latter term is now in general use.
butcher's dog
To be like a butcher's dog, i.e. lie by the beef without touching it; a simile often applicable to married men.
butcher's horse
That must have been a butcher's horse, by his carrying a calf so well; a vulgar joke on an awkward rider.
butler’s hudibras
With Dr. Grey’s Annotations, 3 vols. 8vo. 1819.
butt
A dependant, poor relation, or simpleton, on whom all kinds of practical jokes are played off; and who serves as a butt for all the shafts of wit and ridicule.
butter
Or BATTER, praise or flattery. To BUTTER, to flatter, cajole. Same as "soft soap" and "soft sawder." Soft words generally. Maybe from the old proverb, "Fine words butter no parsneps."
butter and eggs trot
A kind of short jogg trot, such as is used by women going to market, with butter and eggs.--he looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, yet I warrant you cheese would not choak her; a saying of a demure looking woman, of suspected character. Don't make butter dear; a gird at the patient angler.
butter box
A Dutchman, from the great quantity of butter eaten by the people of that country.
butter flap
A trap, a light cart.
butter-fingered
Apt to let things fall; greasy or slippery-fingered.
buttered bun
One lying with a woman that has just lain with another man, is said to have a buttered bun.
buttock and file
A common whore and a pick-pocket. Cant.
buttock ball
The amorous congress. CANT.
buttock broker
A bawd, or match-maker. CANT.
button
A bad shilling, among coiners. His a-se makes buttons; he is ready to bewray himself through fear. CANT.
button
A decoy, sham purchaser, &c. At any mock or sham auction seedy specimens may be seen. Probably from the connexion of buttons with Brummagem, which is often used as a synonym for a sham.—See BONNET.
buttoner
A man who entices another to play.
buttons
A page,—from the rows of gilt buttons which adorn his jacket.
butty
A word used in the mining districts to denote a kind of overseer. Also used by the Royal Marines in the sense of comrade; a policeman’s assistant, one of the staff in a mêlée.
buz
To share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not enough for a full glass to each of the party.
buz-bloke
A pickpocket who principally confines his attention to purses and loose cash. Grose gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cant word. GLOAK was old cant for a man. BUZ-NAPPER, a young pickpocket.
buz-man
An informer; from BUZ, to whisper, but more generally a thief.
buz-napper’s academy
A school in which young thieves were trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this old style of business in Oliver Twist.
buzzard
A simple fellow. A blind buzzard: a pur-blind man or woman.
buzzer
A pickpocket. Grose gives BUZ-COVE and, as above mentioned, BUZ-GLOAK.
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." Originally in reference 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." BY GUM is another oblique oath. 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----n anything. A manner of "sailing close to the wind" which is objectionable to the honest mind.
by jingo
An oath or exclamation having no particular meaning, and no positive etymology, though it is believed by some that JINGO is derived from the Basque jenco, the devil.
byblow
An illegitimate child.
back to the drawing board
Revising something (such as a plan) from the beginning, typically after it has failed.
back to the grindstone
To return to a hard and/or tedious task.
bag and baggage
With all belongings.
balls to the wall
Full throttle; at maximum speed.
barking up the wrong tree
Pursuing a mistaken idea or blaming the wrong person or cause.
basket case
One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic, or stress.
be cruel to be kind
Act in a way which seems harsh but will ultimately be of benefit.
bear fruit
Have good results.
bear the brunt
Suffer the most.
beating a dead horse
To uselessly dwell on a subject far beyond its point of resolution.
bed of roses
A situation or activity that is comfortable or easy.