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A female pedant. In 1400 a society of ladies and gentlemen was formed at Venice, distinguished by the colour of their stockings, and called della calza. It lasted till 1590, when it appeared in Pans and was the rage among the lady savants. From France it came to England in 1780, when Mrs. Mon- tague displayed the badge of the Bas-bleu club at her evening assemblies. Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet was a constant attendant of the soirees.
Gin.
A barrier of secrecy or refusal to cooperate, especially among police officers
Christ's Hospital is so called because the boys there wear a long blue coat girded at the loins with a leather belt. Some who attend the mathematical school are termed King's boys, and those who constitute the highest class are Grecians. The school was founded by Edward VI the year of his death. It was moved from London to Horsham in 1902.
a favorite or highly valued person
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, is so called by Homer. Now Prudence gently pulled the poet's ear, And thus the daughter of the Blue-eyed Maid, In flattery's soothing sounds, divinely said, " O Peter, eldest-born of Phoebus, hear.
A name given to those Americans who were believed to have made friendly ("blue-light") signals to British ships in the war of 1812.
Sometimes a journeyman plumber, glazier, or other workman, who, when repairing houses, strips off the lead, and makes away with it. This performance is, though, by no means confined to workmen. An empty house is often entered and the whole of the roof in its vicinity stripped, the only notice given to the folks below being received by them on the occasion of a heavy downfall of rain.
Unconventional and imaginative ideas without limits
When the blood stain of this key was rubbed out on one side, it appeared on the opposite side; so prodigality being overcome will appear m the form of meanness; and friends, over-fond, will often become enemies.
A symbol of joy and contentment
Or BLEWED, tipsy, or drunk. Now given way to SLEWED.
A fit of despondency.—See BLUE DEVILS.
Lead.—German, BLEI. Most likely, though, from the colour, as the term is of the very lowest slang.
Fierce, surly. He looked as bluff as bull beef.
An excuse; also the game at cards known as euchre in America.
An inn-keeper. Cant.
A short gun, with a wide bore, for carrying slugs; also a stupid, blundering fellow.
A marijuana cigar.
Money. It has been said that this term is from the French BLOND, sandy or golden colour, and that a parallel may be found in BROWN or BROWNS, the slang for half-pence. Far-fetched as this etymology seems, it may be correct, as it is borne out by the analogy of similar expressions. Cf. BLANQUILLO, a word used in Morocco and Southern Spain for a small Moorish coin. The "asper" (ἄσπρον) of Constantinople is called by the Turks AKCHEH, i.e., "little white."
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
To say something suddenly and without thinking
Sleep.
One who sometimes hides himself, and sometimes appears publicly abroad, is said to-play at bo-peep. Also one who lies perdue, or on the watch.
The Old English custom of serving this as a Christmas dish is said to derive from Scandinavian mythology. Freyr, the god of peace and plenty, used to ride on the boar Gullmbursti ; his festival was held at Yuletide (winter solstice),, when a boar was sacrificed to his honour.
Wages paid to servants which includes the cost of their food. Ser- vants "on board wages" provide their own victuals.
A facetious synonym for a card or billiard table.
surfer
Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison, or house of correction.
A school where the pupils are fed and lodged as well as taught The term is sometimes applied to "prison." I am going to boarding school, going to prison to be taught good behaviour.
Originally to transport; the term is now applied to penal servitude. To "get the BOAT," or to "be BOATED," is to be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment equivalent to transportation under the old system.
The face.
A jet ski.
A shilling.
A shoplifter's assistant, or one that receives and carries off stolen goods. All is bob; all is safe. Cant.
A shilling. Formerly BOBSTICK, which may have been the original. BOB-A-NOB, a shilling a-head.
A rope which holds the bowsprit to the stem or cutwater. Figuratively, the frenum of a man's yard.
A lewd woman, or one that plays with her tail; also an impotent man, or an eunuch. Tag, rag, and bobtail; a mob of all sorts of low people. To shift one's bob; to move off, or go away. To bear a bob; to join in chorus with any singers. Also a term used by the sellers of game, for a partridge.
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
In other words, "That'll be all right; you needn't bother any more." The origin of the phrase is unknown; it was certainly in use in the 1880s, but no satisfactory explanation of who "Bob" was has been brought forward.
A gal,—vulgar pronunciation of girl.
Excrement.
Excrement.
Cheated, tricked, disappointed.
A squabble, tumult.—Anglo-Indian.
Smart, clever, spruce.
Very well, clever, spruce. "How are you doing?" "Oh! pretty BOBBISH."—Old.
A policeman: both BOBBY and PEELER were nicknames given to the new police, in allusion to the Christian name and surname of the late Sir Robert Peel, who was the prime mover in effecting their introduction and improvement. The term BOBBY is, however, older than the introduction of the new police. The official square-keeper, who is always armed with a cane to drive away idle and disorderly urchins, has, time out of mind, been called by the said urchins, "BOBBY the beadle."
A shilling.
The body.
GAY: Fable, xxxvii. Bar sinister. See BAR.
Any one sitting between two others in a carriage, is said "to ride BODKIN." Amongst sporting men, applied to a person who takes his turn between the sheets on alternate nights, when the hotel has twice as many visitors as it can comfortably lodge; as, for instance, during a race-week.
Completely and utterly
A severe setback or disappointment
Paint containing body or consistency. Water-colours are made opaque by mixing with white lead.
An aggregate of indivi- duals legally united into a corporation.
nonverbal communication using body language
A bailiff or runner: SNATCH, the trick by which the bailiff captures the delinquent. These terms are now almost obsolete, so far as the pursuits mentioned are concerned.
Ears unable to appreciate music or rhetoric. Well, friend, I assure thee thou hast not got Boeotian ears [because you can appreciate the beauties of my sermons], — LE SAGE: Gil Bias, vii, 3.
beer belly