bill of sale
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.
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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.
billingsgate pheasant
A red herring; a bloater. Billy, A policeman's staff, which is a little bill or billet.
Bills of Mortality
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.
bills receivable
Promissory notes, bills of exchange, or other acceptances^held by a person to whom the money stated is payable.
billy
A silk pocket-handkerchief.—Scotch.—See WIPE.
Billy Barlow
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.
billy boy
A bluff-bowed, North Country coasting vessel of river-barge build.
billy goat
A male goat. From this came the term once common for a tufted beard — a "billy" — or goatee.
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.
Billycock Hat
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.
bim
A woman.
Binary Arithmetic
Arithmetic in which the base of the notation is 2 instead of 10, a method suggested for certain uses by
Binary Theory
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.
binch
A bitch.
bine
A cigarette.
Bine Peter
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.
Bine Ribbon
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.
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?
binge and purge
To alternately overindulge and then rid oneself of excess
bingo
Brandy or other spirituous liquor. Cant.
bingo boy
A dram drinker. Cant.
bingo mort
A female dram drinker. Cant.
bingoed
Drunk.
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.
binned
Drunk.
bins
Binoculars.
bio queen
a person who is exceptionally skilled at a biological or medical field
bipnnet lairds
Local magnates or petty squires of Scotland, who wore the braid bonnet, like the common people.
Birchin Lane
I must send you to Birchin Lane, i.e. whip you. The play is on birch (a rod).
bird and baby
The sign of the eagle and child.
bird in the bosom
Something or someone cherished and protected
bird of ill omen
Someone or something that brings bad luck or signals a bad event
bird of one's own brain
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
bird's-eye view
a comprehensive view from a high angle
bird-witted
Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed on.
birdie
A penis.
birds and bees
Human reproduction and sex
birds of a feather flock together
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.
birmingham is the centre
It includes Wolverhampton, Walsall, Redditch, etc,, and has been blackened by its many coal and iron mines, and smoking factory shafts.
Birmingham Poet
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.
birmingham screwdriver
A hammer.
Birnam Wood
Birnam is a hill in Perthshire, 11 miles north-west of Perth, and formerly part of the royal forest known as Birnam Wood.
birth-day suit
He was in his birth-day suit, that is, stark naked.
birthday suit
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Birthday Suit
He was in his birthday suit. Quite nude, as when born.
biscayan shore
Suetonius tells us that a thunderbolt fell in the Cantabrian Lake (Spain) "in which twelve axes were found." (Galba, viii.
biscuit hooks
The hands.
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."
Bishop Barker
An Australian term used around Sydney for the largest glass of beer available, named from Frederick Barker (1808-82), Bishop of Sydney (consecrated 1854) who was a very tall man.
Bishop of Hexham
It was he who at the Synod of Whitby (664) succeeded in substituting the Roman uses and their ^observance of Easter in England for the Celtic. For many centuries his banner was carried to the wars.
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 and bridle
To control or restrain someone's actions or words
bit by a barn mouse
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
bit by bit
Gradually, in small amounts or steps
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