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An order transferring a named sum of money at a given date from the debtor ("drawee") to the creditor ("drawer"). The drawee having signed the bill becomes the "acceptor," and the document is then negotiable in commercial circles just as is money itself.
A list of the dishes provided, or which may be ordered, at a restaurant, etc.; a menu.
a set of ideas or products being sold or promoted
A document, duly signed by the proper authorities, to certify that when the ship set sail no infectious disorder existed in
A document signed by the master of a ship in acknowledgment of goods laden m his vessel. In this document he binds himself to deliver the articles in good condition to the persons named in the bill, certain exceptions being duly provided for. These bills are generally in triplicate — one for the sender, one for the receiver, and one for the master of the vessel.
A legislative Act imposing punishment (less than capital) upon a person charged with treason or other high crimes. It is like a Bill of Attainder (q. v.), differing from it in that the punishment is never capital and the children are not affected.
An abstract of the prob- able cost of a building, etc.
The declaration delivered to the Prince of Orange (William III) on his election to the British throne, and accepted by him, confirming the rights and privileges of the people. (Feb. 13th, 1689.
A widow's weeds. See HOUSE TO LET.
When a person borrows money and delivers goods as security, he gives the lender a " bill of sale," that is, permission to sell the goods if the money is not returned on a stated day.
(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.
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.
A red herring; a bloater. Billy, A policeman's staff, which is a little bill or billet.
In 1592, wben a great pestilence broke out, the Company of Parish Clerks, representing 109 parishes in and around London, began to publish weekly returns of all deaths occurring; these later included births or baptisms, but continued to be known as "bills of mortality." The term is now used for those abstracts from parish registers which show the births, deaths, and baptisms of the district.
Promissory notes, bills of exchange, or other acceptances^held by a person to whom the money stated is payable.
A silk pocket-handkerchief.—Scotch.—See WIPE.
A street droll, a merry- andrew; so called from a half-idiot of the name,, who fancied himself some great person- age. He was well known in the East of Lon- don in the early half of last century, and died in Whitechapel workhouse. Some of his sayings were really witty, and some of his attitudes really droll.
A bluff-bowed, North Country coasting vessel of river-barge build.
A male goat. From this came the term once common for a tufted beard — a "billy" — or goatee.
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.
A soft felt hat of the Jim Crow or "wide-awake" description.
A round, low- crowned, soft felt hat with a wide brim. One account says that the name is the same as "bully-cocked," that is, cocked in the manner of a bully, or swell, a term which was applied to a hat in the description of an Oxford dandy in Amherst's Terra Films (1721). Another account says that it was first used by Billy Coke (Mr.
A woman.
Arithmetic in which the base of the notation is 2 instead of 10, a method suggested for certain uses by
A theory which supposes that all acids are a compound of hydrogen with a simple or compound radicle, and all salts are similar compounds in which a metal takes the place of hydrogen.
A bitch.
A cigarette.
A flag with a blue ground and white square in the centre, hoisted as a signal that the ship is about to sail. It takes its name from a "repeater", a naval flag hoisted to indicate that a signal has not been read and should be repeated, this flag having been used with that meaning originally.
The blue ribbon is the Garter, the badge of the highest and most coveted Order of Knighthood in the gift of the British Crown; hence the term is used to denote the highest honour attainable in any profession, walk of life, etc. The blue ribbon of the Church is the Archbishopric of Canterbury, that in law is the office of Lord Chancellor. See CORDON BLEU.
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?
To alternately overindulge and then rid oneself of excess
Brandy or other spirituous liquor. Cant.
A dram drinker. Cant.
A female dram drinker. Cant.
Drunk.
A term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter; nearly equivalent to VINNIED.
A fine or affected word, which sailors jeeringly offer to chalk up on the binnacle.
Drunk.
Binoculars.
a person who is exceptionally skilled at a biological or medical field
Local magnates or petty squires of Scotland, who wore the braid bonnet, like the common people.
I must send you to Birchin Lane, i.e. whip you. The play is on birch (a rod).
The sign of the eagle and child.
Something or someone cherished and protected
Someone or something that brings bad luck or signals a bad event
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
a comprehensive view from a high angle
Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed on.
A penis.
Human reproduction and sex
People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.
It includes Wolverhampton, Walsall, Redditch, etc,, and has been blackened by its many coal and iron mines, and smoking factory shafts.
John Freeth, who died at the age of seventy-eight in 1808. He was wit, poet, and publican, who not only wrote the words and tunes of songs, but sang them also, and sang them well.
A hammer.
Birnam is a hill in Perthshire, 11 miles north-west of Perth, and formerly part of the royal forest known as Birnam Wood.
He was in his birth-day suit, that is, stark naked.
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
He was in his birthday suit. Quite nude, as when born.
Suetonius tells us that a thunderbolt fell in the Cantabrian Lake (Spain) "in which twelve axes were found." (Galba, viii.
The hands.