B
Babler, a great Talker.
Backt, dead, as he wishes the old Man backt, he longs to have his Father upon six Mens shoulders, or as his Back’s up, he is in a fume, or angry.
Bacon, as he sav’d his Bacon, he has escap’d with a whole Skin. A good voice to beg Bacon, said in jear of an ill voice.
Badge, a mark of Distinction among poor People; as, Porters, Water-men, Parish-Pensioners and Hospital-boys, Blew-coats and Badges being the ancient Liveries.
Badgers, they that buy up a quantity of Corn and hoard it up in the same Market, till the price rises; or carry it to another, where it bears a better. Also a Beast for sport, Badger Eartheth, Lodgeth.
Badjob, an ill bout, bargain, or business.
Baffle, to worst, or defeat. A baffled Cause, worsted, defeated.
Baggage, a Whore or Slut.
Bagonet or Bisnet, a Dagger.
Bail-dock, the place in the Court, where the Prisoners are kept till called to be Arraign’d.
Balsom, c. Money.
Balderdash, ill, unpleasant, unwholesom mixtures of Wine, Ale, &c.
Banbury-story, of a Cock and a Bull, silly chat.
Banditti, Highwaymen, (Horse or Foot) Rogues of any kind, now, but strictly Italian Outlaws.
Bandog, a Bailiff, or his Follower, a Sergeant, or his Yeoman; also a very fierce Mastive.
Bandore, a Widows mourning Peak; also a Musical Instrument.
Bandy, a play at Ball with a Bat; also to follow a Faction.
Bandy-legg’d, crooked.
Bang, a blow, to Bang, to beat.
Banillas, a Seed growing in a Cod, somewhat resembling a Kidney-bean, on Trees in the Indies, much us’d in Chocolate.
Banter, a pleasant way of prating, which seems in earnest, but is in jest, a sort of ridicule, What do you banter me? i. e. do you pretend to impose upon me, or to expose me to the Company, and I not know your meaning.
Bantling, a Child.
Barker, a Salesman’s Servant that walks before the Shop, and cries, Cloaks, Coats, or Gowns, what d’ye lack, Sir?
Barketh, the Noise a Fox makes at Rutting time.
Barnacle, c. a good job, or a snack easily got, also Fish growing on Ships sides when foul, and a Brake for unruly Horses Noses, also the Gratuity to Jockeys, for selling or buying Horses.
Barnacles, c. the Irons Fellons wear in Goal.
Bar-wig, between a bob and a long one.
Basset, a Game at Cards.
Baste, to beat, as, I’ll baste your sides Sirrah, I’ll bang you lustily.
Bastonado-ing, a Cudgelling.
Batten, c. to Fatten.
Battner, c. an Ox.
Batter, the ingredients for a Pudding or Pan-cake, when they are all mixt and stirred together.
Battery, beating, assault, also, striking with the Edge and feble of one’s Sword, upon the edge and feble of his Adversaries.
Batter’d-bully, an old well cudgell’d and bruis’d huffing Fellow.
Baubee, a half-penny.
Baubels, c. Jewels, also trifles and Childrens Play-things.
Bawdy-baskets, c. the Twenty third Rank of Canters, with Pins, Tape, Obscene Books, &c. to sell, but live more by Stealing.
Bawdy-batchelors, that live long Unmarried.
Bawdy-house-bottle, a very small one.
Bay-windows, embowed, as of old, standing out from the rest of the Building. Stand at bay, as Deer will, when closely pursued, or being hard run, turn Head against the Hounds.
Beach, the Sea-shore, or Strand.
Bear-garden-discourse, common, filthy, nasty Talk. If if had been a Bear it would have bit you, of him that makes a close search after what just lies under his Nose. As good take a Bear by the Tooth, of a bold desperate Undertaking. Go like the Bear to the Stake, or hang an Arse. As many tricks as a dancing Bear, or more than are good.
Beard-splitter, an enjoyer of Women.
Beateth, the noise a Hare makes at Rutting time.
Beating, striking the Feble of the Adversary’s Sword, with the Fort and edge of one’s own.
Beau, a silly Fellow that follows the Fashions nicely, Powdering his Neck, Shoulders, &c.
Beautrap, a Sharper.
Beck, c. a Beedle.
Beetle-head, a heavy dull Block-head.
Beldam, a scolding old Woman.
Belle, a nice, gay, fluttring foolish Woman that follows every Fashion, also fair.
Belloweth, see Roe.
Belly-cheat, c. an Apron.
Belsh, all Mault drinks.
Belweather, chief or Leader of the Flock, Master of misrule, also a clamorous noisy Man.
Bene, c. good.
Bene-cove, c. a good Fellow.
Bene-ship, c. very good, also Worship.
Bene-bowse, c. strong Liquor, or very good Drink.
Bene-darkmans, c. good night.
Benfeakers of Gyoes, c. Counterfeiters of Passes.
Benefit of Clergy, see Neck-verse.
Ben, a Fool.
Bennish, Foolish.
Beside-himself, distracted, beside the Cushion, a mistake, beside the Lighter, in a bad condition.
Besom, a Broom.
Bestrid, Mounted or got up astride.
Bess, c. bring bess and glym, c. forget not the Instrument to break open the Door and the Dark-lanthorn.
Betty, c. a small Engin to force open the Doors of Houses; also, a quarter Flask of Wine.
Bever, an afternoon’s Lunchion.
Beveridge, a Garnish-money, for any thing; also Wine and Water.
Bevy, a company of Roes, Quails, &c. Bevy Grease, Roes fat.
Bewildred, at a stand or nonplus in Business, not knowing what to do, also lost in a Wood.
Biddy, a Chicken, also Bridget.
Big, choice Barley-making, the best Mault.
Biggin, a Woman’s Coif.
Biggot, an obstinate blind Zealot.
Biggotry, an obstinate blind Zeal.
Bil-boa, c. a Sword.
Bite the Bil from the Cull, c. whip the Sword from the Gentleman’s side.
Bilk, c. to cheat. Bilk the Ratling-cove, c. to sharp the Coach-man of his hire.
Bilk’d, c. defeated, disappointed.
Billeting, Foxes Excrements. Billeting of Soldiers, Quartering them.
Billet-doux, a Love letter.
Bill-of-sale, a Bandore, or Widow’s Peak.
Billingsgate-dialect, Scolding, ill Language, foul Words.
Binding, securing the Adversary’s Sword with Eight or ten Inches of one’s one, upon Five or six of his.
Bing, c. to go, &c.
Bing-awast, c. get you hence. Bing’d awast in a Darkmans, c. stole away in the Night-time. Bing we to Rume vile, c. go we to London.
Bingo, c. Brandy.
Bingo-boy, c. a great Drinker or Lover thereof.
Bingo-club, c. a set of Rakes, Lovers of that Liquor.
Birds of a Feather, c. Rogues of the same gang; also, those of the same Profession, Trade or Employment. To kill two Birds with one Stone, to dispatch two Businesses at one Stroke.
Bird-witted, Wild-headed, not Solid or Stayed, opposed to a Sober-Wit.
Bit, c. Robb’d, Cheated or Out-witted. Also Drunk, as, he has bit his Grannam; he is very Drunk. Bit the Blow, c. accomplish’d the Theft, plaied the Cheat, or done the Feat: You have Bit-a great Blow, c. you have Robb’d some body of a great deal, or to a considerable value.
Bite, c. a Rogue, Sharper or Cheat; also a Woman’s Privities.
Bite the Biter, c. to Rob the Rogue, Sharp the Sharper, or Cheat the Cheater.
Bite the Cully, c. to put the cheat on the silly Fellow.
Bite the Roger, c. to Steal the Portmanteau. Bite the Wiper, c. to Steal the Handkerchief. The Cull wapt the Morts bite, c. the Fellow enjoyed the Whore briskly. He will not bite, or swallow the Bait. He won’t be drawn in, to bite on the bit; to be pinched, or reduced to hard Meat, a scanty or sorry sort of Living.
Bitter-cold, very Cold.
Black and White, under one’s Hand, or in Writing.
Blab, a Sieve of Secrets, a very prating Fellow that tells all he knows.
Black-box, a Lawyer.
Black-coat, a Parson.
Black-guard, Dirty, Nasty, Tatter’d roguish Boys, that attend (at the Horse-Guards) to wipe Shoes, clean Boots, water Horses, or run of Errands.
Blackjack, a Leather-Jug to drink in.
Black-Indies, Newcastle, from whence the Coals are brought.
Blackmuns, c. Hoods and Scarves of Alamode and Lustrings.
Black-mouth, foul, malicious, Railing, or Reflecting.
Blacken, to blast or asperse.
Black-spy, c. the Devil.
Blank, baffled, down-look’t, sheepish, guilty.
Bleak, sharp, piercing Weather.
Bleach, to whiten.
Bleaters, c. they that are cheated by Jack-in-a box.
Bleating cheat, c. a Sheep.
Bleed freely, c. part with their Money easily.
Blemish, when Hounds or Beagles find where the Chace has been, and make a proffer to enter, but return.
Blew-John, Wash, or Asterwort.
Blind-cheeks, the Breech Kiss my Blind-cheeks, Kiss my Ar—.
Blind-excuse, a sorry shift. A Blind Ale-house, or Blind Lane, obscure, of no Sign, Token, or Mark.
Blind harpers, c. Beggers counterfeiting blindness, with Harps or Fiddles.
Blind-man’s-buff, a play us’d by Children blindfolded. Bluffed, contracted from Blind-man’s-buff, he that is Blinded in the Play.
Blind-man’s-holiday, when it is too dark to see to Work.
Blind side, every Man’s weak Part.
Bloated, Smoked Herrings; also, one puffed or swelled with false Fat, and has not a Healthy Complexion.
Blobber-lipp’d, very thick, hanging down, or turning over.
Block, a silly Fellow.
Block-houses, c. Prisons, also Forts upon Rivers.
Blockish, Stupid.
Blockstock, See Block.
Bloss, c. a Thief or Shop-lift, also, a Bulhes pretended Wife, or Mistress, whom he guards, and who by her Trading supports him, also a Whore.
Blot the Skrip and jark it, c. to stand Engaged, or be Bound for any body.
Blot in the Tables, what is fair to be hit.
Blot in a Scutcheon, a blemish or imputation upon any one.
Bloud, ’twill breed ill Bloud, of what will produce a misunderstanding or Difference.
Blower, c. a Mistress, also a Whore.
Blowing, c. the same.
Blow-off-on the grounsills, c. to lie with a Woman on the Floor or Stairs.
Blown upon, seen by several, or slighted; not blown upon, a secret piece of News or Poetry, that has not taken air, spick and span-new. To blow Hot and Cold with a Breath, or play fast and loose.
Blow off the loose corns, c. to Lie now and then with a Woman. It is blow’d, c. it is made publick, and all have notice.
Blubber, Whale-oyl, (imperfect.)
Blubbering, much Crying.
Bluffer, c. a Host, Inn-keeper or Victualler, to look bluff, to look big, or like Bull-beef.
Blunder, an Ignorant Mistake.
Blunderbuss, a Dunce, an unganely Fellow, also a short Gun carrying Twenty Pistol-Bullets at one Charge.
Bluster, to huff, a blustring Fellow, a rude ratling Fellow.
Boor, see wild Boar.
Boarding-school, c. Bridewell.
Boarding-scholars, c. Bridewell-birds.
Bob, c. a Shop-lift’s camrade, assistant, or receiver, also a very short Periwig, and for Robert. It’s all bob, c. all is safe, the Bet is secured.
Bob’d, c. Cheated, Trick’d, Disappointed, or Baulk’d.
Bob-tail, a light Woman, also a short Arrow-head.
Bode-ill, to presage or betoken ill. Also in Holland, a Bode is a Messinger, attending the Burgo-Masters, and executing their Orders.
Bodle, Six make a Penney, Scotch Coin.
Boer, a Country-Fellow or Clown.
Boerish, Rude, Unmannerly, Clownish.
Boggs, Irish Fastnesses or Marshes.
Bog-houses, Privies.
Bog-landers, Irish Men.
Bog-trotters, Scotch or North Country Moss-troopers or High-way Men formerly, and now Irish Men.
Boisterous Fellow or, Sea, Blustering, Rude, Rough.
Boldface, Impudent. A Bold Harbour, where Ships may Ride at Anchor with safety, a bold Shore where Ships may Sail securely.
Bolter of White Friers, c. one that Peeps out, but dares not venture abroad, as a Coney bolts out of the Hole in a Warren, and starts back again.
Bolting, the leaping by one’s Adversary’s Left-side quite out of all measure.
Boltsprit, a Nose. He has broke his Boltsprit, he has lost his Nose with the Pox.
Bombast-poetry, in Words of lofty Sound and humble Sense.
Bone, c. to Apprehend, Seize, Take or Arrest. I’ll Bone ye, c. I’ll cause you to be Arrested. We shall be Bon’d, c. we shall be Apprehended for the Robbery. The Cove is Bon’d and gon to the Whit, c. the Rogue is taken up and carried to Newgate, or any other Gaol. The Cull has Bon’d the Fen, (for Fence) or Bloss that bit the Blow, c. the Man has Taken the Thief that Robb’d his House, Shop, or Pickt his Pocket. He has bit his Blow, but if he be Bon’d, he must shove the Tumbler, c. he has Stole the Goods, or done the Feat, but if he be Taken, he’ll be Whipt at the Cart-tail. I have Bon’d her Dudds Fagg’d, and Brush’d, c. I have took away my Mistress Cloathes, Beat her, and am troop’d off. Boning the Fence, c. finding the Goods where Conceal’d, and Seizing, he made no bones of it, he swallow’d it without Drinking after it.
Bonny-clapper, sower Butter-milk.
Booby, a dull heavy Lob.
Booberkin, the same.
Boon, a Gift, Reward, or Gratification.
Boon-companion, a merry Drinking Fellow.
Boot, a Scotch Torture, or Rack, for the Leg, is to draw to Confession.
What Boots it? What Avails it?
Booty-play, false, Cheating, also Plunder, the Bowls Booty, when great Odds are laid, and he goes Halves, his Cast is designed by Bad.
Boracho, a But, a Drunkard, and a Hogskin.
Borde, c. a Shilling, half a Borde, c. Sixpence.
Bordel-lo, a Bawdy-House.
Boreson or Bauson, a Badger.
Bottle-head, void of Wit.
Bottom, a Man of no Bottom, of no Basis of Principles, or no settlement of Fortune, or of no Ground in his Art. Let every Tub stand on it’s own Bottom, or every one look to his own footing. A Tale of a Tub with the Bottom out, a sleeveless frivolous Tale.
Boughs, he is up in the Boughs, or a top of the House, of one upon the Rant, or in a great Ferment.
Bounce, to boast and vapour. A meer Bounce, a Swaggering Fellow.
Bouncer, c. a Bully.
Bout, a Tryal, Act, Essay.
Bowse, c. Drink, or to Drink, see Benbowse and Rumbowse.
Bowsy, c. Drunk. We Bows’d it about, we Drank damn’d hard.
Bowsingken, c. an Ale-house. The Cul tipt us a Hog, which we melted in Rumbowse, c. the Gentleman gave us a Shilling, which we spent in Strong Drink.
Box, to Fight with the Fists. Box it about Boys, Drink briskly round. In a wrong Bow, of one that has taken wrong measures, or made false steps. A pretty Box, a Compleat little House, also a small drinking place.
Bracket-face, Ugly, Homely, Illfavor’d.
Bragget, Meed, and Ale sweetned with Honey.
Brag, Braggadocio, A vapouring, Swaggering, Bullying Fellow.
Brat, a little Child.
Branchers, Canary-Birds of the first Year.
Bravado, a Vapouring, or Bouncing.
Bravo, a Mercenary Murderer, that will Kill any Body.
Brawl, Squabble, or Quarrel. To Brangle, and Brawl, to Squabble and Scold.
Brazen-fac’d, Bold, Impudent, Audacious.
Bread and Cheese Bowling-green, a very ord’nary one, where they play for Drink and Tobacco, all wet, as ’tis called.
Bread and Cheese Constables, that treats their Neighbors and Friends at their coming into Office with such mean Food only.
Breaking Shins, c. borrowing of Money.
Breast, in the breast of the Judge, what he keeps in Reserve, or Suspence.
Briers, in the Briers, in trouble.
Brook, he cannot brook it, bear or endure it.
Brickle, Brittle, ape to Break.
Bristol-milk, Sherry.
Bristol-stone, Sham-Diamonds.
Broach’d, Opinion or Doctrine, Published, Divulged.
Brimming, a Boor’s copulating with a Sow, also now us’d for a Man’s with——
Brim, or Brimstone, a very Impudent, Lew’d Woman.
Brock, see Hart.
Brock’s Sister, see Hind.
Broke, Officers turn’d out of Commission, Traders Absconding, Quitting their Business and Paying no Debts.
Bromigham-conscience, very bad, Bromigham-protestants, Dissenters or Whiggs. Bromigham-wine, Balderdash, Sophisticate Taplash.
Brother-starling, that Lies with the same Woman, or Builds in the same Nest.
| Brother of the | { | Blade, a Sword-Man or Soldier. |
| { | Gussit, a Pimp, Procurer, also, a Whore-Master. | |
| { | Quill, of the Scribbling Tribe. | |
| { | String, a Fidler, or Musician. |
Brothel-house, a Bawdy House.
Brow-beat, to Cow, to Daunt, to awe with Big Looks, or Snub.
Brown-study, a Deep Thought or Speculation.
Brush, c. to Fly or Run away. The Cully is Brusht or Rub’d, c. the Fellow is march’d off, or Broke. Bought a Brush, c. Run away: Also a small Faggot, to light the other at Taverns, and a Fox’s Tail.
Brusher, c. an exceeding full Glass.
Bub, c. Drink. Rum-bub, c. very good Tip.
Bub, or Bubble, c. one that is Cheated; also an Easy, Soft Fellow.
Bubber, c. a drinking Bowl; also a great Drinker, and he that used to Steal Plate from Publick-houses.
Bube, c. the Pox. The Mort has tipt the Bube upon the Cully, c. the Wench has Clapt the Fellow.
Buckaneers, West-Indian Pirates, of several Nations; also the Rude Rabble in Jamaica.
Buckle, to Bend or give Way. He’ll buckle to no Man, he won’t Yield or Stoop to any Man.
Buck, Great Buck, the Sixth Year. Buck of the first Head, the Fifth Year, a Sore, the Fourth Year, a Sorel, the Third Year, a Pricket, the Second Year, a Fawn, the First Year. A Buck Lodgeth. Rouze the Buck, Dislodge him. A Buck Growneth or Troateth, makes a Noise at Rutting time.
Buck-fitches, c. old Leacherous, Nasty, Stinking Fellows; also He Polecats, and their Fur.
Buck’s Face, a Cuckold.
Buck, Copulation of Conies.
Bucksom, Wanton, Merry.
Budge, c. one that slips into an House in the Dark, and taketh Cloaks, Coats, or what comes next to Hand, marching off with them; also Lambs-fur, and to stir, or move. Standing Budge, c. the Thieves Scout or Perdu.
Bufe, c. a Dog.
Buffcoat, a Soldier, or Redcoat.
Buffer, c. a Rogue that kills good sound Horses, only for their Skins, by running a long Wyre into them, and sometimes knocking them on the Head, for the quicker Dispatch.
Buffenapper, c. a Dog-stealer, that Trades in Setters, Hounds, Spaniels, Lap, and all sorts of Dogs, Selling them at a round Rate, and himself or Partner Stealing them away the first opportunity.
Buffers-nab, c. a Dog’s Head, used in a Counterfeit Seal to a false Pass.
Buffle-head, a Foolish Fellow.
Buffoon, a Great Man’s Jester or Fool.
Buffoonery, Jesting or playing the Fool’s Part. To stand Buff, to stand Tightly or Resolutely to any thing.
Bugher, c. a Dog.
Bugging, c. taking Money by Bailiffs and Serjeants of the Defendant not to Arrest him.
Busy-bodies, Pryers into other Folks Concerns, such as thrust their Sickle in another’s Harvest; and will have an Oar in every Boat. As busy as a Hen with one Chick, of one that has a great deal of business and nothing to do.
Bulchim, a Chubbingly Boy or Lad.
Bulls-Eye, c. a Crown or Five shilling Piece.
Bull-head, see Miller’s Thumb.
Bull, an absurd contradiction or incongruity; also false Hair worn (formerly much) by Women. A Town-bull, a Whore-master. To look like Bull-beef, to look Big and Grim.
Bulk and File, c. one jostles while the other Picks the Pocket.
Bulker, c. one that lodges all Night on Shop-windows and Bulkheads.
Bulky, strong like common Oyl, also of large bulk or size.
Bullet-headed, a dull silly Fellow.
Bully, c. a supposed Husband to a Bawd, or Whore; also a huffing Fellow.
Bully huff, c. a poor sorry Rogue that haunts Bawdy-houses, and pretends to get Money out of Gentlemen and others, Ratling and Swearing the Whore is his Wife, calling to his assistance a parcel of Hectors.
Bully-fop, c. a Maggot-pated, huffing, silly ratling Fellow.
Bully-rock, c. a Hector, or Bravo.
Bully-ruffins, c. Highway-men, or Padders.
Bully-trap, c. or Trapan, c. a Sharper, or Cheat.
Bum, a Bailiff, or Serjeant; also one’s Breech.
Bumbast, see Bombast.
Bumbaste, to Beat much, or hard, on the Breech.
Bumble, Cloaths setting in a heap, or ruck.
Bumfodder, what serves to wipe the Tail.
Bumpkin, a Country Fellow or Clown.
Bumper, a full Glass.
Bundletail, a short Fat or squat Lass.
Bungler, an unperforming Husband, or Mechanic.
Bung, c. a Purse, Pocket, or Fob.
Bung-nipper, c. a Cut-purse, or Pickpocket. Claying the Bung, c. cutting the Purse, or Picking the Pocket.
Bunting-time, when the Grass is high enough to hide the young Men and Maids.
Buntlings, c. Pettycoats. Hale up the Main-buntlings, c. take up the Woman’s Pettycoats.
Bunny, a Rabbit.
Bur, a Cloud, or dark Circle about the Moon, boding Wind and Rain; also the part next to the Deer’s Head.
Burlesque, Raillery in Verse, or Verse in Ridicule.
Burnish, to spread, or grow broad; also to refresh Plate, being the Trade of a Burnisher, depending on Gold and Silver-Smiths.
Burnt, Poxt, or swingingly Clapt.
Burnt the Town, when the Soldiers leave the Place without paying their Quarters.
Burre, a Hanger on, or Dependant.
Bustle, a Fray, Stir, Tumult in the Streets; also a Noise in any Place. What a Bustle you make? What a Hurry or Rattle you Cause? Bustle about, to be very Stirring, or bestir one’s Stumps.
Butcher’d, Barbarously Murder’d on the Ground, or Kill’d before his Sword is out; also in Cold Bloud.
Butter, c. to double or treble the Bet or Wager to recover all Losses: No Butter will stick on his Bread, nothing thrives or goes forward in his Hand. He knows on which side his Bread is Butter’d, or the Stronger side, and his own Interest.
Butter-boxes, Dutchmen.
Butter’d Bun, Lying with a Woman that has been just Layn with by another Man.
Buttock, c. a Whore.
Buttock-broker, a Bawd, also a Match-maker. A Buttock and File, c. both Whore and Pickpocket.
Buttock and Twang, or a downright Buttock and sham File, c. a Common Whore but no Pickpocket.
Buzzard, c. a foolish soft Fellow, easily drawn in and Cullied or Trickt.
By-blow, a Bastard.