Blenheim Oranges. First cultivated at Blenheim, the seat of the Duke of Marlborough.

Blenheim Street. In compliment to the Duke of Marlborough after the battle of Blenheim.

Blind Man’s Buff. So called because if any one of those taking part in the game allowed the blind man to buff up against him he had to be blindfolded in his place.

Blood. See “Penny Blood.”

Bloody. The addiction of the vulgar to the use of this adjective on all occasions has made it low and reprehensible. Anciently, however, it was employed in a most reverential sense, relative to the Blood of Christ–e.g. the “Bloody Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Bloody Assizes. Those held by Judge Jeffreys in 1685 for the punishment of all who had taken part in the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion. Three hundred persons were executed, and more than a thousand transported to the plantations.

Bloody Butcher. The sobriquet of the Duke of Cumberland, son of George II., owing to his wholesale slaughter of the adherents of Prince Charles Stuart, the Young Pretender, after the battle of Culloden.

Bloody Eleventh. The 11th Foot, in memory of the terrible slaughter inflicted on this regiment at Salamanca.

Bloody Tower. Where the infant Princes were murdered at the order of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Glo’ster.

Bloomers. After Mrs Ann Bloomer of New York, who introduced the original nondescript style of “New Woman” in 1849.

37Bloomsbury. A corruption of “Lomesbury,” the name of a manor house and grounds which stood on the site of the present square. “Lomesbury village” sprang up around the ancient church of St Giles’s in-the-Fields.

Bluchers. After Field-Marshal von Blucher, who affected this style of military half-boot.

Blue. An indecent story is said to be “blue” because harlots in the ancient Bridewell, and in more modern houses of correction or penitentiaries, were habited in blue gowns.

Blue Boar. An inn sign derived from the heraldic device of Richard III.

Blue Grass State. Kentucky, from the character of the orchard grass in this fertile limestone region.

Blue Hen’s Chickens. A nickname for the people of Delaware. The Delaware State Journal thus accounts for its origin: “At the beginning of the Revolutionary War there lived in Sussex county of that colony a gentleman of fortune named Caldwell, who was a sportsman, and breeder of fine horses and game-cocks. His favourite axiom was that the character of the progeny depends more on the mother than on the father, and that the finest game-cocks depended on the hen rather than on the cock. His observation led him to select a blue hen, and he never failed to hatch a good game-cock from a blue hen’s egg. Caldwell distinguished himself as an officer in the First Delaware Regiment for his daring spirit. The high state of its discipline was conceded to its exertions, so that when officers were sent on recruiting service it was said that they had gone home for more of Caldwell’s game-cocks; but as Caldwell insisted that no cock could be truly game unless its mother was a blue hen, the expression Blue Hen’s Chickens was substituted for game-cocks.”

Blue Law State. An old name for Connecticut, whose original settlers shared with the Puritans in the mother country a disgust of the licentiousness of the Court 38of the Restoration, and on this account were said to advocate “Blue” Laws.

Blue Noses. A nickname bestowed upon the Nova Scotians, from the species of potato which they produce and claim to be the best in the world.

Blue Peter. The flag hoisted at the mast head to give notice that a vessel is about to sail. Its name is a corruption of the French “Bleu Partir,” or blue departure signal.

Blue Pig. An inn sign, corrupted from the “Blue Boar.”

Blue Stocking. From the famous club of literary ladies formed by Mrs Montague in 1840, at which Benjamin Stillingfleet, who habitually wore blue stockings, was a regular visitor. Blue stockings, therefore, became the recognised badge of membership. There was, however, such a club of ladies and gentlemen at Venice as far back as 1400, called Della Calza, from the colour of stockings worn.

Blunderbuss. A corruption of the Dutch donderbus, “thunder tube.”

Board of Green Cloth. The steward of the Royal Household presides over this so called court, which has a green cover on its table.

Boar’s Head. The sign of the ancient tavern in Eastcheap immortalised by Shakespeare. This, like all others of the same name, was derived from the heraldic device of the Gordons, the earliest of whom slew a boar that had long been a terror of the forest.

Bob Apple. A very old boyish pastime. Standing on tiptoe, with their hands behind them, they tried to catch in their mouths an apple as it swung to and fro at the end of a piece of string suspended from the ceiling. A variant of the same game consisted in lying across a form and plunging their heads into a large tub of water, at the bottom of which was the apple.

Bobby. The nickname of a policeman, after Sir Robert 39Peel, to whom the introduction of the modern police system was due.

Bobs. The popular nickname of Lord Roberts during the South African War. He is also called “Lord Bobs.”

Boer. Expresses the Dutch for a farmer. Synonymous with the English “boor,” an uncultivated fellow, a tiller of the soil.

Bogtrotter. An Irishman, from the ease with which he makes his way across the native bogs, in a manner astonishing to a stranger.

Bogus. In reporting a trial at law The Boston Courier in 1857 gave the following authoritative origin:–“The word Bogus is a corruption of the name of one Borghese, a very corrupt individual, who twenty years ago or more did a tremendous business in the way of supplying the great west, and portions of the south-west, with counterfeit bills and bills on fictitious banks. The western people fell into the habit of shortening the name of Borghese to that of Bogus, and his bills, as well as all others of like character, were universally styled by them ‘bogus currency.’” So that the word is really American.

Bohea. Tea of the poorest quality, grown in the hilly district of Wu-i; pronounced by the Chinese Vooy.

Bohemia. From the Bohii, the ancient inhabitants of the country.

Bohemian. One who leads a hand-to-mouth existence by literary or other precarious pursuits, who shuns the ordinary conventions of society, and aspires to that only of his fellows. The term originally meant a “Gipsy,” because the earliest nomadic people who overran Western Europe did so by way of Bohemia.

Boiled Shirt. An Americanism, originally from the western states, for a starched white shirt.

Bolivia. After General Simon Bolivar, surnamed “The Liberator of Peru.”

40Bologna. A settlement of the Boii, after whom the Romans called it Bononia.

Bomba. The sobriquet of Ferdinand, King of Naples, on account of his bombardment of Messina in 1848.

Bonanza State. Nevada, on account of its rich mines, styled Bonanza mines. Bonanza is Spanish for “prosperity.”

Bond Street (Old and New). Built on the land owned by Sir Thomas Bond, Comptroller of the Household of Charles I.

Bone of Contention. In allusion to two dogs fighting over a bone.

Bone-shaker. The original type of bicycle, with wooden wheels, of which the rims consisted of small curved pieces glued together. Compared with a modern machine it was anything but easy riding.

Boniface. The popular name for an innkeeper–not that St Boniface was the patron saint of drawers and tapsters, but because one of the Popes of this name instituted what was called “St Boniface’s Cup,” by granting an indulgence to all who toasted his health, or that of his successors, immediately after saying grace at meals.

Booking Office. In the old coaching days passengers had to book their seats for a stage journey several days in advance at an office in the innyard whence the coaches set out. When railways came in the name was retained, though no “booking” was ever in evidence. Nearly all the old coaching innyards have been converted into railway goods and parcels receiving depots.

Bookmaker. From the way in which he adjusts his clients’ bets, so that, ordinarily, he cannot lose on the issue of a day’s racing.

Boot-jack. A wooden contrivance by which the wearer could help himself to take off his high-legged boots without the aid of a servant. Hence it was called a jack, which is the generic term for a man-servant or boy.

41Border Eagle State. Mississippi, on account of the Border Eagle in the arms of the state.

Bore. This name was first applied by the “Macaronies” to any person who disapproved of foppishness or dandyism. Nowadays it implies one whose conversation is uninteresting, and whose society becomes repugnant.

Borneo. A European application of the Sanskrit boorni, land.

Born in the Purple. Since purple was the Imperial colour of the Cæsars and the Emperors of the East, the sons of the reigning monarch were said to be born in it. This expression had a literal truth, for the bed furniture was draped with purple.

Born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth. In allusion to the silver apostle spoon formerly presented to an infant by its godfather at baptism. In the case of a child born lucky or rich such a gift of worldly goods was anticipated at the moment of entering life.

Borough. The Burgh or town which arose on the south side of Old London Bridge, long before the City of London became closely packed with streets and houses.

Borough English. A Saxon custom, whereby the youngest son of a burgher inherited everything from his father, instead of the eldest, as among the Normans.

Bosh. See “All Bosh.”

Bosphorus. From the Greek bos-porus, cow strait, agreeably to the fable that Io, transformed into a white cow, swam across it.

Boss. A term derived from the Dutch settlers of New York, in whose language baas (pronounced like the a in all), expressed an overseer or master.

Boston. Short for St Botolph’s Town. “The stump” of the church is seen from afar across the Boston Deeps.

Botany Bay. So called by Captain Cook on account of the variety of, to him, new plants found on its shores. This portion of New South Wales was the first British 42Convict Settlement; hence Botany Bay became a term synonymous with penal servitude.

Botolph Lane. From the church of St Botolph, situated in it.

Bottle of Hay. A corruption of “bundle of hay,” from the French botte, a bundle, of which the word bottle expresses the diminutive.

Bottom Dollar. An Americanism for one’s last coin.

Bovril. An adaptation of bovis, ox, and vril, strength–the latter being a word coined by Lord Lytton in “The Coming Race.”

Bow. From the ancient stone bridge over the Lea, which was the first ever built in this country on a bow or arch.

Bow Church. Properly the church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, the first in this country to be built on bows or arches.

Bowdlerise. In the year 1818 Thomas Bowdler brought out an expurgated edition of Shakespeare’s Plays; hence a “Bowdlerised Edition” of any work is one of which the original text has been unwarrantably tampered with.

Bowie Knife. After Colonel Jim Bowie, a famous fighter of the western states, who first armed himself with this weapon.

Bow Street. From its arc shape when first laid out.

Bow Street Runners. Primitive detectives sent out from their headquarters in Bow Street in highwayman days.

Bowyer Tower. Anciently the residence of the Tower bowyer or bowmaker. Here, according to tradition, the Duke of Clarence was drowned in a butt of “Malmsey.”

Boxing Day. See “Christmas-box.”

Box Office. At one time only the private boxes at a theatre could be booked in advance; hence the term.

43Box the Compass. To be able to repeat all the thirty-two degrees or points of the mariner’s compass; a mental exercise all round the compass-box.

Boycott. To ostracise a man. This word came into use in 1881, after Captain Boycott of Lough Mark Farm, co. Mayo, was cut off from all social and commercial intercourse with his neighbours for the crime of being an Irish landlord.

Boy King. Edward VI., who ascended the throne of England in his tenth, and died in his sixteenth, year.

Boz. Under this nom de plume Charles Dickens published his earliest “Sketches” of London life and character in The Morning Chronicle. He has told us himself that this was the pet name of a younger brother, after Moses Primrose in “The Vicar of Wakefield.” The infantile members of the family pronounced the name “Bozes,” and at last shortened it into “Boz.”

Bradford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bradenford, “broad ford.”

Braggadocio. After Braggadochio, a boasting character in Spenser’s “Faery Queene.”

Brahma Fowl. Originally from the district of the Brahmapootra River in India. Pootra is Sanskrit for Son; hence the river name means “The Son of Brahma.”

Brandy. From the German Brantwein, burnt wine. A spirituous distillation from wine.

Brazenose College. The brazen nose on the college gate notwithstanding, this name was derived from the fact that here stood an ancient brasenhuis, or “brew-house.” Oxford has always been famous for the excellent quality of its beer.

Bravo. In Italy one who is always boasting of his courage and prowess; generally a hired assassin.

Brazil. From braza, the name given by the Portuguese to the red dye-wood of the country.

44Bread Street. Where the bakers had their stalls in connection with the Old Chepe, or market.

Break Bread. To accept hospitality. In the East bread is baked in the form of large cakes, which are broken, never cut with a knife. To break bread with a stranger ensures the latter personal protection as long as he remains under the roof of his host.

Breakfast. The morning meal, when the fast since the previous night’s supper is broken.

Break the Bank. Specifically at the gaming-tables of Monte Carlo. With extraordinary luck this may be done on occasion; but the winner’s triumph is short-lived since, the capital of the bank being unlimited, if he continues to play after fresh stores of gold have been produced, he must lose in the end.

Brecon. See “Brecknock.”

Brecknock. The capital (also called Brecon) of one of the shires of Wales, originally Breckineauc, after Brychan, a famous Welsh prince. Brecknock Road takes its name from Lord Camden, Earl of Brecknock, the ground landlord.

Breeches Bible. From the word “breeches” for “aprons” (Genesis iii. 7).

Brentford. The ford over the Brent.

Breviary. The name given to an abridgment of the daily prayers, for the use of priests, during the Seven Canonical Hours, made by Pope Gregory VII. in the eleventh century.

Brevier. The style of type originally employed in the composition of the Catholic “Breviary.”

Bridegroom. The word groom comes from the Gothic and Anglo-Saxon guma, man, allied to the Latin homo, man. It still expresses a man-servant who grooms or attends to his master’s horse.

Bride Lane. From the church of St Bride or Bridget.

45Bride of the Sea. Venice, in allusion to the ancient ceremony of “The Marriage of the Adriatic.”

Bridewell. The name anciently given to a female penitentiary, from the original establishment near the well of St Bride or Bridget in the parish of Blackfriars. The name is preserved in Bridewell Police Station.

Brigadier. The commanding officer of a brigade.

Bridge. Twenty years ago two families at Great Dalby, Leicestershire, paid each other a visit on alternate nights, for a game of what they called Russian whist. Their way lay across a broken bridge, very dangerous after nightfall. “Thank goodness, it’s your bridge to-morrow night!” they were wont to exclaim on parting. This gave the name to the game itself.

Bridge of Sighs. The bridge forming a covered gallery over the Canal at Venice between the State prisons on the one hand and the palace of the Doges on the other. Prisoners were led to the latter to hear the death sentence pronounced, and thence to execution. No State prisoner was ever known to recross this bridge; hence its name.

Bridgewater Square. From the town house of the Earls of Bridgewater.

Brief. A brief summary of all the facts of a client’s case prepared by a solicitor for the instruction of counsel.

Bristol. Called by the Anglo-Saxons “Brightstow,” or pleasant, stockaded place.

Britain. This country was known to the Phœnicians as Barat-Anac, “the land of time.” The Romans called it Britannia.

British Columbia. The only portion of North America which honours the memory, as a place name, of Christopher Columbus.

Brittany. The land anciently possessed by the kings of Britain.

Brixton. Anciently Brigestan, the bridge of stone.

46Broadside. A large sheet printed straight across instead of in columns.

Broker. From the Anglo-Saxon brucan, through the Old English brocour, to use for profit.

Brompton. Anciently Broom Town, or place of the broom plant.

Brook Street. From a stream meandering through the fields from Tyburn.

Brooke Street. From the town house of Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke. In this street the boy poet Chatterton poisoned himself.

Brother Jonathan. After Jonathan Turnbull, the adviser of General Washington in all cases of military emergency. “We must ask Brother Jonathan” was the latter’s invariable reply to a suggestion made to him.

Brougham. First made to the order of Lord Brougham.

Brought under the Hammer. Put up for sale by public auction. The allusion is, of course, to the auctioneer’s hammer.

Bruce Castle. The residence of Robert Bruce after his defeat by John Baliol in the contest for the Scottish crown.

Bruges. From its many bridges.

Brummagem. The slang term for cheap jewellery made at Birmingham. In local parlance this city is “Brummagem,” and its inhabitants are “Brums.”

Brunswick Square. Laid out and built upon at the accession of the House of Brunswick.

Bruton Street. From the seat of the Berkeleys at Bruton, Somersetshire.

Bryanstone Square. From the seat, near Blandford, Dorset, of Viscount Portman, the ground landlord.

Bucephalus. A horse, after the famous charger of Alexander the Great.

47Buckeye State. Ohio, from the buckeye-trees with which this state abounds. Its people are called “Buckeyes.”

Buckingham. The Anglo-Saxon Boccenham, or “beech-tree village.”

Buckingham Palace. After the residence, on this site, of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham.

Buckingham Street. From the older mansion of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. The water-gate is still in evidence.

Buckle to. An expression descended from the days of chivalry, when a knight buckled on his armour for the tournament.

Bucklersbury. Anciently the bury or enclosed ground of a wealthy grocer named Buckle or Bukerel.

Budge Row. From the vendors of “Budge” or lambskin fur who congregated here.

Bug Bible. From the word “bugges”–i.e. bogies–in place of “the terror” (Psalm xci. 5).

Buggy. From bâghi, the Hindustani for a one-horse vehicle.

Bull. A papal edict, so called on account of the bulla, or seal.

Bull and Gate. An inn sign, corrupted from “Boulogne Gate,” touching the siege of Boulogne and its harbour by Henry VIII. in 1544.

Bulgaria. A corruption of Volgaria, the country of the Volsci.

Bull-dog. A dog originally employed in the brutal sport of bull-baiting. The name is also given to one of the two attendants of the proctor at a university while going his rounds by night.

Bullion State. Missouri, after Thomas Hart Benton, who, when representing this state in Congress, merited the nickname of “Old Bullion,” from his spirited advocacy of a gold and silver currency instead of “Greenbacks” or paper.

48Bullyrag. See “Ragging.”

Bullyruffian. A corruption of the Bellerophon, the vessel on which Napoleon surrendered after the battle of Waterloo.