black hat
A hacker who breaks into computers for malicious purposes
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Black Horse
The 7th Dragoon Guards, or 'the Princess Royal's Dragoon Guards " Their "facings" are black. Also called Strawboots," "The Blacks.
black in the face
Extremely angry. The face is discoloured with passion or distress.
black indies
Newcastle upon Tyne, whose rich coal mines prove an Indies to the proprietors.
black jack
A nick name given to the Recorder by the Thieves.
black jack
A large leather gotch, or can, lor beer and ale, so called from the outside being tarred.
black joke
A popular tune to a song, having for the burden, "Her black joke and belly so white:" figuratively the black joke signifies the monosyllable. See MONOSYLLABLE.
black letter
The Gothic or German type which, in the early days of printing, was the type in commonest use. The term came into use about 1600, because of its heavy, black appearance in comparison with roman type.
black letter day
An unlucky day; one to be recalled with regret. m The Romans marked their unlucky days with a piece of black charcoal, and their lucky ones with white chalk, but the allusion here is to the old liturgical calendars in which the saints' days and festivals are distinguished by being printed in red.
black lie
A deliberate and harmful falsehood
black list
A list of persons in disgrace, or who have incurred censure or punishment; a list of bankrupts for the private guidance of the mercantile community. See BLACK BOOKS.
Black Maria
The van which conveys prisoners from the police courts to jail. There is an unsupported tradition that the term originated in America. Maria Lee, a negress of great size and strength, kept a sailors' boarding house in Boston, and when constables required help it was a common thing to send for "Black Maria," who soon collared the refractory and led them to the lock-up.
black mark
A negative comment or criticism
black market
Illicit trade of goods or services
black market
A phrase that came into use during World War II, to describe illicit dealing in rationed goods.
Black Mass
This is the name given to the sacrilegious mass said by diabolists in which the Devil was invoked in place of God and various obscene rites performed in ridicule of the proper ceremony.
black monday
The first Monday after the school-boys holidays, or breaking up, when they are to go to school, and produce or repeat the tasks set them.
Black Monday
Easter Monday, April 14th, 1360, was so called. Edward III was with his army lying before Paris, and the day was so dark, with mist and hail, so bitterly cold and so windy, that many of his horses and men died. Monday after Easter holidays is called "Black Monday," in allusion to this fatal day.
black or white
Completely one way or the other, with no middle ground
black out
to lose consciousness or memory
black over Bill's mother's
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
black ox
The black ox has trod on his foot — i.e. misfortune has come to him. Black oxen were sacrificed to Pluto and other infernal deities.
black oxide
a dark corrosion-resistant coating
Black Parliament
This is the name often given to the Parliament that was opened in Nov., 1529, for the purpose of furthering Henry VIII's seizing and consolidating his thefts of Church property. During the six and a half years of its existence it carried out the king's arbitrary orders with a servility no parliament has shown before or since.
Black Prince
Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-76), eldest son of Edward III. Froissart says he was "styled black by terror of his arms" (c. 169). Strutt confirms this saying: "for his martial deeds surnamed Black tne Prince" (Antiquities). Meyrick says there is not the slightest proof that he ever wore black armour, and, indeed, there is indirect proof against the supposition. Thus, there was a picture on the wall of St.
black psalm
To sing the black psalm; to cry: a saying used to children.
black rider
a mysterious or threatening figure
Black Rod
The short title of a Court official, who is styled fully "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod," so called from his staff of office — a black wand surmounted by a golden lion. He is the Chief Gentleman Usher of the Lord Chamberlain's Department, and also Usher to the House of Lords and the Chapter of the Garter.
Black Rood of Scotland
The "piece of the true cross" or rood, set in an ebony crucifix, which St.
Black Russia
A name formerly given to Central and Southern Russia, from its black soil,
Black Saladin
Warwick's famous horse, which was coal-black. Its sire was Malech, and according to tradition, when the race of Malech failed, the race of Warwick would fail also. And it was so.
Black Sea meet
They were said to close together when a vessel attempted to sail be- tween them, and thus crush it to pieces. Cyanean means blue-coloured, and Sym- plegades means dashers together.
black sheep
A disgrace to the family or community; a mauvais sujet. Black sheep are looked on with dislike by some shepherds, and are not so valuable as white ones. Cp.
Black Shirts
The black shirt was the distinguishing garment worn by the Italian Fascists and adopted in England by their imitators.
black spice racket
To rob chimney sweepers of their soot, bag and soot.
black strap
Bene Carlo wine; also port. A task of labour imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar, as a punishment for small offences.
black strap
Bad port wine. A sailor's name for any bad liquor. In North America, "Black-strap" is a mixture of rum and molasses, sometimes vinegar is added.
black velvet
A drink composed of champagne and Guinness stout in equal parts. It was the favourite drink of the Iron Chancel- lor, Bismarck.
Black Watch
Originally companies em- ployed about 1725 by the English government to watch the Islands of Scotland. They dressed in a "black" or dark tartan. They were enrolled in the regular army as the 42nd regiment under the Earl of Crawford, in 1737. Their tartan is still called 'The Black Watch Tartan," Trie regiment is now officially "The Royal Highlanders," but is still called "The Black Watch.
black-a-vised
Having a very dark complexion.
blackberry-swagger
A person who hawks tapes, boot-laces, &c.
blackbirding
Slave-catching. Term most applied nowadays to the Polynesian coolie traffic.
blackguard
A low or dirty fellow; a rough or a hulking fellow, capable of any meanness or cowardice.
blackguardiana
Or, Dictionary of Rogues, Bawds, &c., 8vo, WITH PORTRAITS [by James Caulfield]. 1795.
blackhawk and his tribe
Bird symbolizes keenness, cunning, and tenacity. 87th: Golden Acorn. Their patch is a green field with a golden acorn which symbolizes strength.
blackleg
A rascal, swindler, or card cheat. The derivation of this term was solemnly argued before the full Court of Queen’s Bench upon a motion for a new trial for libel, but was not decided by the learned tribunal. Probably it is from the custom of sporting and turf men wearing black top-boots. Hence BLACKLEG came to be the phrase for a professional sporting man, and thence for a professional sporting cheat. The word is now in its worst sense diminished to "leg."
blacklegs
A gambler or sharper on the turf or in the cockpit: so called, perhaps, from their appearing generally in boots; or else from game-cocks whose legs are always black.
blackstuff
Tarmac.
blackthorn winter
The cold weather which frequently occurs when the blackthorn is in blossom. See ICE-SAINTS.
blackwork
Undertaking. The waiters met at public dinners are often employed during the day as mutes, etc. Omnibus and cab drivers regard BLACKWORK as a dernier ressort.
bladder-of-lard
A coarse, satirical nickname for a bald-headed person. From similarity of appearance.
bladdered
Drunk.
blade
A man—in ancient times the term for a soldier; "knowing BLADE," a wide-awake, sharp, or cunning man.
Blade Tom
The Earl of Ormonde, Lord Deputy of Ireland in the reign of Elizabeth; so called from his ungracious ways and "black looks,1*
blame Canada
To jokingly blame Canada for something
blame game
Accusing others to deflect responsibility
blank
To look blank; to appear disappointed or confounded.
blank cartridge
Cartridge with powder only, that is, without shot, bullet, or ball.
blank cheque
A cheque duly signed, but without specifying any sum of money; the amount to be filled in by the payee.
blank out
to forget or be unable to recall something
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