better
More; "how far is it to town?" "Oh, BETTER ’n a mile."—Saxon and Old English, now a vulgarism.
English · UK & Ireland 17968
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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.
betting round
Laying fairly and equally against nearly all the horses in a race so that no great risk can be run. Commonly called getting round. See BOOK, and BOOKMAKING.
betty
A skeleton key, or picklock.—Old Prison Cant.
betty martin
That's my eye, Betty Martin; an answer to any one that attempts to impose or humbug.
betwattled
Surprised, confounded, out of one's senses; also bewrayed.
bever
An afternoon's luncheon; also a fine hat; beaver's fur making the best hats,
beverage
Garnish money, or money for drink, demanded of any one having a new suit of clothes.
bible
A boatswain's great axe. Sea term.
bible oath
Supposed by the vulgar to be more binding than an oath taken on the Testament only, as being the bigger book, and generally containing both the Old and New Testament.
bible-carrier
A person who sells songs without singing them.—Seven Dials.
biddy
A general name applied to Irish stallwomen and milkmaids, in the same manner that Mike is given to the labouring men. A big red-faced Irish servant girl is known as a Bridget.
bienly
Excellently. She wheedled so bienly; she coaxed or flattered so cleverly. French.
big
"to look BIG," to assume an inflated air or manner; "to talk BIG," i.e., boastingly.
big-bird
TO GET THE, i.e., to be hissed, as actors occasionally are by the "gods." BIG-BIRD is simply a metaphor for goose.—Theat. Slang.
big-wig
A person in authority or office. Exchangeable with "GREAT GUN."
bilbo
A sword; abbrev. of "BILBAO blade." Spanish swords were anciently very celebrated, especially those of Toledo, Bilbao, &c.
bilboa
A sword. Bilboa in Spain was once famous for well-tempered blades: these are quoted by Falstaff, where he describes the manner in which he lay in the buck-basket. Bilboes, the stock; prison. Cant.
bilk
A cheat, or a swindler. Formerly in general use, now confined to the streets, where it is common, and mostly used in reference to prostitutes. Gothic, BILAICAN.
bill at sight
To pay a bill at sight; to be ready at all times for the venereal act.
bill of sale
A widow's weeds. See HOUSE TO LET.
billingsgate
(when applied to speech), foul and coarse language. Many years since people used to visit Thames Street to hear the Billingsgate fishwomen abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr. Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known.
billingsgate language
Foul language, or abuse. Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes, they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand.
billy
A silk pocket-handkerchief.—Scotch.—See WIPE.
billy-barlow
A street clown; sometimes termed a JIM CROW, or SALTIMBANCO,—so called from the hero of a slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse.
billy-cock
A soft felt hat of the Jim Crow or "wide-awake" description.
bing
To go. Cant. Bing avast; get you gone. Binged avast in a darkmans; stole away in the night. Bing we to Rumeville: shall we go to London?
bingo
Brandy or other spirituous liquor. Cant.
bingo boy
A dram drinker. Cant.
bingo mort
A female dram drinker. Cant.
bingy
A term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter; nearly equivalent to VINNIED.
binnacle word
A fine or affected word, which sailors jeeringly offer to chalk up on the binnacle.
bird and baby
The sign of the eagle and child.
bird-witted
Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed on.
birth-day suit
He was in his birth-day suit, that is, stark naked.
birthday suit
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
bishop
A mixture of wine and water, into which is put a roasted orange. Also one of the largest of Mrs. Philips's purses, used to contain the others.
bishop
A warm drink composed of materials similar to those used in the manufacture of "flip" and "purl."
bit
Money. He grappled the cull's bit; he seized the man's money. A bit is also the smallest coin in Jamaica, equal to about sixpence sterling.
bit
Fourpence; in America a 12-1/2 cent piece is called a BIT, and a defaced 20 cent piece is termed a LONG BIT. A BIT is the smallest coin in Jamaica, equal to 6d. BIT usually means the smallest silver coin in circulation; also a piece of money of any kind.
bit-faker
Or TURNER OUT, a coiner of bad money.
bit-of-stuff
Overdressed man; a man with full confidence in his appearance and abilities; a young woman, who is also called a BIT OF MUSLIN.
bitch
A she dog, or doggess; the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of whore, as may he gathered from the regular Billinsgate or St. Giles's answer--"I may be a whore, but can't be a bitch."
bitch
Tea; "a BITCH party," a tea-drinking. Probably because undergraduates consider tea only fit for old women.—Oxford.
bitch booby
A country wench. Military term.
bite
A cheat; also a woman's privities. The cull wapt the mort's bite; the fellow enjoyed the wench heartily. Cant.
bite
A cheat; "a Yorkshire BITE," a cheating fellow from that county. The term BITE is also applied to a hard bargainer.—North; also old slang—used by Pope. Swift says it originated with a nobleman in his day.
biter
A wench whose **** is ready to bite her a-se; a lascivious, rampant wench.
bitter
Diminutive of bitter beer; "to do a BITTER," to drink beer.—Originally Oxford, but now general.
bittock
A distance of very undecided length. If a North countryman be asked the distance to a place, he will most probably reply, "a mile and a BITTOCK." The latter may be considered any distance from one hundred yards to ten miles.
bivvy
Or GATTER, beer; "shant of BIVVY," a pot or quart of beer. In Suffolk the afternoon refreshment of reapers is called BEVER. It is also an old English term.
biz
Contraction of the word business; a phrase much used in America in writing as well as in conversation.
blab
A tell-tale, or one incapable of keeping a secret
black a-se
A copper or kettle. The pot calls the kettle black a-se. Cant.
black and white
clear and straightforward
black art
The art of picking a lock. Cant.
black book
He is down in the black book, i.e. has a stain in his character. A black book is keep in most regiments, wherein the names of all persons sentenced to punishment are recorded.
black diamonds
Coals; talented persons of dingy or unpolished exterior; rough jewels.
black eye
We gave the bottle a black eye, i.e. drank it almost up. He cannot say black is the white of my eye; he cannot point out a blot in my character.
black fly
The greatest drawback on the farmer is the black fly, i.e. the parson who takes tithe of the harvest.
black guard
A shabby, mean fellow; a term said to be derived from a number of dirty, tattered roguish boys, who attended at the Horse Guards, and Parade in St. James's Park, to black the boots and shoes of the soldiers, or to do any other dirty offices. These, from their constant attendance about the time of guard mounting, were nick-named the black-guards.