DICTIONARY B
BEO - BIOZ
Click on a letter grouping to scroll down.
BEO - BESPZ
BESQ - BETWHZ
BETWI - BIBZ
BIC - BIGLZ
BIGM - BIOZ
BEO - BESPZ
BESQ - BETWHZ
BETWI - BIBZ
BIC - BIGLZ
BIGM - BIOZ
BEO - BESPZ
BEOD
n. c1000 obs. - a table
BE OFF
vb. 1960s sl. - to happen, esp. of a violent incident
BE OFF EGGS, ON POTATOES
vb. Bk1900 Sc. - to wander abruptly from one subject to another
BE OFF OF ONE'S FEET WITH
vb. Bk1905 Sc. - to be the victim of
BE OFF OF THE REEL
vb. 1899 Sc. - to be married
BE OFF WITH THE GUN
vb. to depart hurriedly ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE OFF YOUR EGGS
vb. to make a mistake, to be on the wrong tack ...1844 Sc.
BE ON ABOUT
vb. to grumble; to complain, especially loudly; to talk on a subject for far too long ...1863 UK
BE ON A HIDING TO NOTHING
vb. to be unlikely to succeed. or be unlikely to gain much advantage if one does ...1905
BE ON AT
vb. to nag; to constantly reprove ...1974 UK sl.
BE ONE BIG EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ONE OF THE KNIGHTS
vb. to have syphilis ...1940s homosexual sl.
BE ONE'S OWN CARVER
vb. † to take or choose for oneself at one's own discretion ...1579
BE ON IT
vb. to drink alcohol ...1938 Aust. sl.
BE ON ONE'S BACK-SEAM
vb. to be out of luck, penniless ...B1890 tailors' sl.
BE ON ONE'S BEANWATER
vb. to feel lively or animated; to be in high spirits ...1907 Amer. dial.
BE ON ONE'S METTLE
vb. to be in a bad temper ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE BALANCE
vb. to hesitate, to be undecided ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE BEEFMENT
vb. to see, to watch; to spy ...Bk1902 thieves' sl.
BE ON THE BIG EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE DAM
vb. of a policeman: to be in trouble ...c1920 police usage
BE ON THE ERIE
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE FENCE
vb. to be neutral ...Bk1905 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE FLUTTER
vb. to be sexually adept ...c1875 sl.
BE ON THE LAM
vb. to be a fugitive from justice ...1928 US sl.
BE ON THE LONG EAR
vb. to listen intently; to eavesdrop ...1942 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE LOOK
vb. to be courting ...1952 Amer. dial.
BE ON THE MARLOCK
vb. to play tricks ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE MERRY-PIN
vb. to be excited or merry ...1790 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE POUNCE
vb. to see, to watch; to spy ...Bk1902 thieves' sl.
BE ON THE RACK
vb. to be at full stretch or strain ...1693
BE ON THE RANDY
vb. to spend time in drinking and riot; to live in an immoral manner ...1893 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HEDGE
vb. to be thrown or fall from a coach ...c1800 sl.
BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HEDGE WHEN THE BRAINS WERE GIVEN AWAY
phr. to be brainless, or stupid, or at the least very dull ...c1810
BEOT
n. † a promise, a vow, a threat, a boast ...a1000
BEOTE
n. † to boast, to threaten ...a1000
BEOTEN
n. † to boast, to threaten ...a1000
BE OVER SHARP METTLE
vb. to be too hasty-tempered ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE-OWE
vb. to own, to possess ...1886 Eng. dial.
BEPART
vb. † to divide, to share ...1531
BEPAT
vb. to pat frequently; to strike, to beat ...1676
BE PEDALLED
vb. to be dismissed from a job ...c1920 sl.
BEPEPS
vb. †* to beat a person, to 'pepper' ...1622
BEPESTER
vb. to pester greatly, to plague, to vex, to harass ...1600
BEPILL
vb. † to pillage completely ...1574
BEPISS
vb. to wet with urine ...1764
BEPLOTMELE
adv. † part by part, one portion after another, in due order or succession ...c1440
BEPRESS
vb. † to oppress ...1591
BEPUFF
vb. to puff or blow out; to swell; hence, to flatter, to praise greatly ...1843
BEPURFURATE
adj. purpled, rosy-tinged, rosy-coloured ...1584
BE PUT INTO ONE'S COOL CRAPE
vb. to die ...L18 sl.
BE PUT THROUGH ONE'S FACINGS
vb. to be reprimanded or to show off ...c1865 colloq., orig. military sl.
BE PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL
vb. to be buried ...1858 N. Ireland
BEPUZZLE
vb. * to confuse, to perplex, to bewilder ...1599
BEPUZZLEMENT
n. 1. the act of perplexing ...1806
n. 2. perplexity, bewilderment ...1885
BEQUARREL
vb. † to quarrel with; to find fault with, to abuse ...1624
BEQUASH
vb. †* to shake or fall in pieces, to be shattered ...1377
BEQUEATH
n. † a byword, proverb ...c1000
vb. † to say, to utter, to express in words ...c1000
BEQUEST
vb. † to give as a bequest, to bequeath ...1394
BEQUESTING
n. † bequeathing ...1572
BEQUIRTLE
vb. † to besprinkle ...1690
BERAFFLED
adj. perplexed, entangled ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERAG
vb. to worry, to harass, to annoy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE RAGGIES
vb. to be steady friends ...L19 Royal Navy usage
BERAIN
vb. † to rain upon ...a1225
BERAND
adj. † roaring, bellowing ...a1300
BERANTLED
adj. confused, mixed up ...1969 Amer. dial.
BERARD
n. †* a viper ...c1475
BERATTLE
vb. †* to fill with rattling noise or din; also, to rattle away at, to assail with din ...1553
BERAY
vb. 1. † to disfigure, to dirty, to defile, to befoul with dirt, filth, ordure ...1530 obs. or Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to befoul, to stain, to disfigure; to asperse, to cover with abuse ...1576 obs. or arch.
BERAYER
n. † one who defiles or pollutes ...1699
BERCELET
n. † a hunting dog, a hound ...c1340
BERE
n. 1. † clamour, outcry, shouting, roaring; the noise of voices of men or animals ...c1205
n. 2. †* a wave, a billow ...1250
n. 3. a pillow-case ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. † to cry, to roar ...c1225
BEREAVEN
adj. deprived, taken away by force ...a1619 arch.
BERE-BAG
n. † a native or inhabitant of Scotland ...1352
BEREDE
vb. † to advise, to inform, to counsel; to plan ...a1225
BEREFT
adj. crazy ...1913 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. † to snatch away a possession; to remove or take away by violence ...c1320
vb. 2. †* to deprive ...1557
BEREND
vb. to rend or tear badly ...1582
BERG
n. 1. a town, village, hamlet ...1843 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a rock ...Bk1898 Sc.
BERGE
n. one who is impetuous in talk ...1925 Sc.
vb. to speak in a loud and angry manner; to scold, to rail, to taunt loudly ...1887 Sc.
BERGER
n. †* a curl of hair ...1690
BERGFALL
n. a falling of rock fragments or debris; an avalanche of stones ...1856
BERGH
n. † protection, shelter ...c1250
vb. † to give shelter; to protect, to preserve; to deliver, to save ...a1000
BERGHER
n. † a protector, deliverer, saviour ...a1300
BERGIER
n. †* a peasant, a rustic, a woodman ...1480
BERGY
adj. of the nature of an iceberg; abounding in icebergs ...1856
BERIDE
vb. 1. to ride around; to beset with horsemen ...a1000
vb. 2. † to ride by the side of ...1690
BE RIGHT CHEAP OF ONE'S PAIKS
vb. to deserve a beating richly (paiks = a deserved punishment) ...1836 Sc.
BERIME
vb. to compose rhymes about; to celebrate in rhyme; often, to lampoon ...1589
BERINE
vb. †* to touch; to fall upon, to fall ...a1300
BERISP
vb. † to censure, to reprove, to rebuke ...1481
BERK
n. a foolish person ...1936 sl., chiefly Brit.
vb. † to clot, to make matted ...a1550
BERKELEY (HUNT)
n. a foolish person ...1937 Brit. rhyming sl. for 'cunt'
BERLASKIN
n. a hurting, an annoyance ...1952 Amer. dial.
BERLIN
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1967 Amer. dial.
BERLINER
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1950 Amer. dial.
BERLING
n. † a little bear; a bear's cub ...1399
BERLIN KETTLE
n. a large kettle used to boil foods ...1968 Amer. dial.
BERLIN PFANNKUCHEN
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1967 Amer. dial.
BERMAN
n. 1. † a bearer, a carrier, a porter ...c1000
n. 2. †* a miner ...1677
BERMOTHER
n. † the womb or uterus ...1527
BERNARD
n. † the member of a gang of swindlers who acts as a decoy; a lurking scoundrel; a sharper ...1532
BERNE
n. † a warrior, a hero, a man of valour; in later use, a poetic word for 'man' ...937
BERNER
n. † an attendant in charge of a pack of hounds ...a1425
BE ROAD-MAKING
phr. the 'menstrual flux is on' ...Bk1893 sl.
BEROGUE
vb. † to call one a rogue; to abuse ...1673
BERREY
n. a rabbit warren; a group of rabbit holes ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to animals: to burrow, to dig a hole in the ground ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERRIED
adj. † of a track or trail: beaten, trodden ...1382
BERRIES
n. 1. a woman's nipples, esp. if dark brown or dark red in colour ...1980s US Black sl.
n. 2. wine ...1980s US Black sl.
int. an expression of approval ...1920s US Black sl.
BERRIES, THE
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 1. something or someone thought to be very good or excellent ...1920 Amer. sl.
n. 2. the limit, the last straw ...1960 Amer. sl.
n. 3. wine ...1980s US Black sl.
BERRY
adj. good-looking ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 1. † a mound, a hillock ...1205 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. † a rabbit's burrow; a company of rabbits ...1486
n. 3. † a gust or blast of wind ...1598
n. 4. a coffee bean ...1712
n. 5. the gooseberry ...1787 N. Ireland, Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 6. a good thing ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 7. a dollar; usually used in the plural ...1916 US sl.
n. 8. a pound; usually used in the plural ...1934 Brit. sl.
vb. 1. † to beat, to thrash ...a1225 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to beat a path, etc. ...1382
BERRY-BARN
n. the third finger ...1870 Sc.
BERRY-BROWN
n. † nut-brown ale ...1686 Eng. dial.
BERRY-GLAUMER
n. a person who can pick strawberries very rapidly ...1944 Amer. dial.
BERRY-MOUCHER
n. 1. a truant from school in blackberry season ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the blackberry ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERRY PICKER
n. a rustic or countrified person ...1968 Amer. dial.
ֳBERRY-SLUFFS
n. the skins of gooseberries ...1891 Eng. dial.
BERSATRIX
n. † a rocker of children in a cradle ...17C
BERSERK
n. a wild Norse warrior of great strength and ferocious courage, who fought on the battlefield with a frenzied fury known as the 'berserker rage'; often a lawless bravo or freebooter ...1879
BERSERKER
n. a wild Norse warrior of great strength and ferocious courage, who fought on the battlefield with a frenzied fury known as the 'berserker rage'; often a lawless bravo or freebooter ...1822
BERTH
n. 1. a job; an appointment to a job ...1778 sl.
n. 2. a foothold, a grasp ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. † to place or lay a floor ...1736 Eng. dial.
BERUFFIANIZE
vb. to call or stigmatize as a ruffian ...1596
BERUMPUS
n. the buttocks ...1970 Amer. dial.
BERUN
vb. 1. † to run or flow about, or over the surface of ...a1000
vb. 2. † to run round about, to encompass ...c1205
BERVIE
n. a haddock split and smoke-dried ...Bk1911 Sc.
BERVIE-HADDOCK
n. a haddock split and smoke-dried ...Bk1911 Sc.
BERWE
n. † a grove, a shady place ...c890
BERYL
adj. clear pale green ...1501
n. 1. † a word of admiration for a woman ...c1440
n. 2. pale sea-green, the colour of beryl ...1834
BERYL-GLASS
n. † a mirror ...1540
BESACKED
adj. discharged from employment ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESAGEW
n. † a double-edged axe ...c1430
BESAGUE
n. † a double-edged axe ...c1430
BESAIL
vb. † to assail, to attack ...1460
BESAILE; BESAYLE
n. † a grandfather's father; a great-grandfather ...c1400
BESAY
vb. 1. † to defend ...c1000
vb. 2. † to declare, to speak about ...c1200
BESCRAMBLE
vb. †* to scratch, to tear ...1598
BESCROW AND BESCREW
vb. to curse ...1952 Amer. dial.
BESCUMMER
vb. 1. to abuse, to calumniate ...1825 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to besmear with dirt ...1825 Eng. dial.
BESEE
vb. 1. † to look about; to look in any direction; to see ...c1000
vb. 2. † to be attentive, to pay attention to ...c1200
vb. 3. † to care for, to protect ...a1225
BESEECH
n. †* beseeching, entreaty, petition ...1606
vb. 1. † to beg earnestly for, to entreat a thing ...c1175
vb. 2. † to seek after, to search for, to try to get ...c1200
vb. 3. † to seek to know ...c1250
BESEEING
n. † circumspection, consideration ...1340
BE SEEING YOU
phr. goodbye ...1934
BE SEEIN' YOU IN HALIFAX
phr. goodbye ...1965 Amer. dial.
BESEEK
vb. to beseech ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BESEEM
vb. 1. † to seem, to appear, to look ...a1225
vb. 2. to become, to befit ...1874 Eng. dial.
BESEEMING
n. † appearance, look ...1611
BESEEMLINESS
n. * fittingness, propriety ...1647
BESEEMLY
adj. * seemly, becoming, befitting ...1742
BESEKANDLIK
adj. † kind, gracious ...a1300
BESENCH
vb. † to cause to sink, to submerge, to plunge down, to overwhelm ...971
BESEND
vb. † to send to, to send a message to ...1297
BESEPS
conj. except, unless ...1890 Eng. dial.
prep. except, with the exception of ...1853 Eng. dial.
BESEPTS
conj. except, unless ...1890 Eng. dial.
prep. except, with the exception of ...1853 Eng. dial.
BESERVE
vb. † to serve diligently ...a1300
BESET
vb. 1. † to become, to suit, to look well on, to befit, to set off ...1567
vb. 2. to attack ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE SET FORTH LIKE LAMB AND SALLIT
vb. to be gaily dressed ...Bk1902 Eng. dial.
BESETMENT
n. a besetting weakness or sin ...1859 Eng. dial.
BESETTER
n. the buttocks ...1967 Amer. dial.
BESEW
vb. † to sew up ...a800
BESHAG
vb. † to make shaggy ...1868
BESHAME
vb. to shame; to be ashamed ...1889 Eng. dial.
BESHED
vb. 1. † to drench, moisten, wet with ...1382
vb. 2. † to shed blood ...1474
BESHEND
vb. †* to ruin ...a1300
BESHINING
n. † illumination, lighting up ...1398
BESHIT
vb. to deposit ordure on ...a1000
BE SHORT OF A SHEET
vb. to be slightly crazy or idiotic ...Bk1892 Aust. sl.
BE SHOT IN THE NECK
vb. to be drunk ...1855 Amer. sl.
BE SHOT OF
vb. to dismiss ...1802
BESHREW
vb. 1. † to make wicked or evil; to deprave, to pervert, to corrupt ...c1325
vb. 2. † to invoke evil upon; to wish one all that is bad; to invoke a curse on; to curse, to blame greatly, as the cause of misfortune ...1377
vb. 3. † to treat evilly, to use ill, to abuse ...c1430
BESHUT
vb. 1. † to shut in, to enclose, to surround; to shut up, to confine, to imprison ...a1300
vb. 2. † to shut out, to exclude ...c1330
BE SHUT OF
vb. to dismiss, to get rid of ...1575
BESIBBING
adj. †* resembling; having a likeness to ...1602
BE SICK
vb. to have a baby ...1959 Amer. dial.
BESIDE
adv. † toward the sides, sidewise ...c1400
BESIDE-FORTH
adv. † moreover, further ...1377
BESIDES
adv. † close by, near ...c1205
BESIEGE
n. † besieging, siege ...1552
BESIEGINGLY
adv. * urgently, importunately ...1822
BESIGHT
n. †* consideration, determination, ordinance ...1258
BESIN
vb. † to stigmatize as sinful ...1622
BESINK
vb. 1. † to sink, to fall down through any substance ...c893
vb. 2. † to submerge ...c1200
BESIT
vb. 1. † to encamp about; to besiege ...a1100
vb. 2. † to sit upon; to lie heavy upon; to weigh upon ...1362
vb. 3. † to sit properly upon, as a dress; to fit, to suit, to become ...c1449
BESKYFTE
vb. †* to thrust off ...1470-85
BESLABBER
vb. to eat slovenly; to besmear in eating or drinking ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESLE
n. idle talk ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to talk much at random and ignorantly ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE SLIPPING
vb. to deteriorate in quality ...1914 sl.
BESLITTEN
adj. slit ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESLOBBER
vb. 1. to kiss like a drivelling child ...1828
vb. 2. to flatter ...1868
vb. 3. to eat in a slovenly manner; to render wet or dirty by spilling food on the clothes ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESLOW
vb. † to retard ...1645
BESLUBBER
vb. to wet and soil with a thick liquid; to bedaub, to bedabble, to besmear ...c1394
BESMARTEN
vb. to make smart or neat ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESMATTER
vb. to smear or daub with mud or dirt ...1715 Eng. dial.
BESMEAR
vb. to sully, to defile, to pollute ...1579
BESMIRCH
vb. 1. to sully, to dim the lustre of ...1602
vb. 2. to soil, to discolour, as with smoke, soot, or mud ...a1700
BESMIT
vb. † to stain; to infect, as with disease; to contaminate ...a1225
BESMORTH
vb. to besmear ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESMOTTER
vb. to smear or daub with mud or dirt; bespatter, to foul ...1715 Eng. dial.
BESMOTTERED
adj. †* splashed or spattered as with mud or dirt ...c1386
BESMUDGE
vb. to smear, to soil with mud or dirt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESMUT
vb. 1. to stain, to sully ...1610
vb. 2. to dirty, to begrime ...1656
BESMUTCH
vb. to besmirch; to soil ...1832
BESNANG
vb. to crush, to batter, to beat in ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESNARE
vb. † to take in a snare; to entrap ...1571
BESOB
vb. † to soak ...1609
BE SOFT ON SOMEONE
vb. to be amorously inclined toward a person, to have an affection for ...colloq.
BESOGNE
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1615
n. 2. † a low, vulgar, worthless fellow ...1658
n. 3. business, affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOGNIER
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1584
n. 2. † a low, vulgar, worthless fellow ...1588
BESOGNIO
n. 1. † a raw recruit/soldier ...1591
n. 2. † a term of contempt for a needy beggar; a base, worthless fellow, a low, vulgar person ...1603
BESOIGNE
n. † business, affair, duties, ado ...1474
BESOM
n. 1. † a bundle of rods or twigs used as an instrument of punishment; a birch ...c893
n. 2. a comet ...1566
n. 3. an implement for sweeping, usually made of a bunch of broom, heather, birch, or other twigs bound together round a handle; a broom ...c1000
n. 4. a term of reproach or contempt applied to a woman, esp. a woman of loose or slovenly habits ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 5. a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 6. a vicious cow ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 7. energy; zest ...1969 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. † to sweep with force or violence ...a1400
vb. 2. to sweep ...1791
BESOM-CLEAN
adj. clean only on the surface; clean by sweeping though not by washing ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESOMER
n. a person, of either sex, of loose and slovenly habits ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESOM-HEAD
n. a foolish, stupid person ...1864
BESOM-HEADED
adj. weak-minded, foolish, stupid ...1864
BESOM-MAKER
n. a maker of brooms ...1814 Eng. dial.
BESOM-RIDER
n. a witch, from the popular notion that they rode on broomsticks ...1664
BESOM-SCAUPED
adj. weak-minded, stupid ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOM-SHAFT
n. a broomstick ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOM-SHANK
n. a broomstick ...1805 Eng. dial.
BESOM-STAKE
n. a broomstick ...1895 Eng. dial.
BESOM-TAIL
n. a tail formed like a 'besom'; a bushy tail ...1678
BESOM-TAILED
adj. having a bushy tail ...1695
BESONIO
n. 1. † a raw recruit/soldier ...1591
n. 2. † a term of contempt for a needy beggar; a base, worthless fellow, a low, vulgar person ...1603
BESOOP
vb. †* ? to thrash, to lay about ...1589
BESOOTHMENT
n. * the act of soothing; its means or resulting state ...Bk1888
BESORE
vb. † to vex, to annoy, to molest, to cause mischief to ...17C
BESORT
n. † suitable company ...1604
vb. † to assort, to match, to agree with; to befit ...1605
BESOT
vb. 1. to affect with a foolish, blinding affection; to cause to dote on; to infatuate with ...1581
vb. 2. to make mentally or morally stupid or blind; to stupefy in mind ...1615
vb. 3. to have an intoxicating effect on; said of drugs ...1627
BESOTTED
adj. 1. infatuated ...1580
adj. 2. intellectually or morally stupefied or blinded ...1634
adj. 3. intoxicated or muddled by a narcotic ...1831
BESOUTH
prep. † on the south side of; to the south of ...c1410 obs. exc. Sc.
BESPALL
vb. † to bespatter with saliva or spittle ...1602
BESPANKLE
vb. to bespangle, to sprinkle or adorn with small glittering objects ...1621
BESPAR
vb. † to shut in; to lock up ...a1100
BESPARAGE
vb. † to disparage ...1592
BESPARKLE
vb. † to bespatter, to spot ...1485
BESPARKLING
adj. † sparkling, throwing out sparks ...1648
BESPATTER
vb. 1. to asperse with abuse, flame, flattery, praise, etc., to hold in contempt ...1644
vb. 2. to cover with abuse; to vilify or slander, to calumniate ...1653
BESPATTERMENT
n. abuse ...1870
BESPATTLE
vb. † to bespatter with anything dirty ...1546 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
BESPAWL
vb. † to bespatter with saliva or spittle ...1602
BESPEAK
vb. 1. † to call out, to exclaim, to complain that ...c893
vb. 2. † to speak against; to charge, to accuse; to oppose ...a1000
vb. 3. † to discuss, to advise upon, to determine upon ...c1175
vb. 4. † to speak up or out, to exclaim, orig. with some notion of objection or remonstrance; in later times, to raise one's voice, to speak ...c1314 obs. or arch.
vb. 5. † to promise ...c1320
BESPECKED
adj. spotted or specked over the surface ...1565
BESPECTACLED
adj. having spectacles on ...1742
BESPELT
adj. bewitched, mischievous ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPERPLE
vb. † to bespatter ...1557
BESPETE
vb. † to spit upon, to cover or defile with spitting ...a1225
BESPIT
vb. to spit upon ...a1300 arch.
BESPITE
prep. * despite ...1842
BESPOKE
adj. 1. bewitched ...Bk1898 Eng. & Amer. dial.
adj. 2. engaged; usually to be married ...1931 Amer. dial.
BESPOKEN
adj. engaged; usually to be married ...1929 Amer. dial.
BESPOTTLE
vb. to bespatter, to cover with mud or dirt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPOUSE
vb. † to espouse, to marry ...c1175
BESPOUT
vb. 1. to recite to, to plague with oratory ...1828
vb. 2. to utter, say, or recite with pompous elocution ...1857
BESPRAY
vb. †* to besprinkle, to bespatter ...1593
BESPRENG
vb. 1. † to sprinkle anything over; to besprinkle, to asperse ...c1000
vb. 2. † to sprinkle about ...c1529
BESPRENT
adj. 1. besprinkled ...c1368
adj. 2. scattered, strewed about ...1567
vb. †* to besprinkle ...1573
BESPRENTED
adj. sprinkled, splashed ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPRING
vb. † to besprinkle ...1387
BESPRINK
vb. †* to besprinkle ...1609
BESPRITZED
adj. sprinkled on, as by a garden hose ...1935 Amer. dial.
BESPURT
vb. 1. † to splash or spatter, to befoul ...1579
vb. 2. † to abuse; to sully with vice ...1603
BESPURTLE
vb. 1. † to asperse with reproach or abuse; to sully with vice ...1604
vb. 2. † to splash or splatter; to befoul ...1618
n. c1000 obs. - a table
BE OFF
vb. 1960s sl. - to happen, esp. of a violent incident
BE OFF EGGS, ON POTATOES
vb. Bk1900 Sc. - to wander abruptly from one subject to another
BE OFF OF ONE'S FEET WITH
vb. Bk1905 Sc. - to be the victim of
BE OFF OF THE REEL
vb. 1899 Sc. - to be married
BE OFF WITH THE GUN
vb. to depart hurriedly ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE OFF YOUR EGGS
vb. to make a mistake, to be on the wrong tack ...1844 Sc.
BE ON ABOUT
vb. to grumble; to complain, especially loudly; to talk on a subject for far too long ...1863 UK
BE ON A HIDING TO NOTHING
vb. to be unlikely to succeed. or be unlikely to gain much advantage if one does ...1905
BE ON AT
vb. to nag; to constantly reprove ...1974 UK sl.
BE ONE BIG EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ONE OF THE KNIGHTS
vb. to have syphilis ...1940s homosexual sl.
BE ONE'S OWN CARVER
vb. † to take or choose for oneself at one's own discretion ...1579
BE ON IT
vb. to drink alcohol ...1938 Aust. sl.
BE ON ONE'S BACK-SEAM
vb. to be out of luck, penniless ...B1890 tailors' sl.
BE ON ONE'S BEANWATER
vb. to feel lively or animated; to be in high spirits ...1907 Amer. dial.
BE ON ONE'S METTLE
vb. to be in a bad temper ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE BALANCE
vb. to hesitate, to be undecided ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE BEEFMENT
vb. to see, to watch; to spy ...Bk1902 thieves' sl.
BE ON THE BIG EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE DAM
vb. of a policeman: to be in trouble ...c1920 police usage
BE ON THE ERIE
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE FENCE
vb. to be neutral ...Bk1905 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE FLUTTER
vb. to be sexually adept ...c1875 sl.
BE ON THE LAM
vb. to be a fugitive from justice ...1928 US sl.
BE ON THE LONG EAR
vb. to listen intently; to eavesdrop ...1942 Amer. sl.
BE ON THE LOOK
vb. to be courting ...1952 Amer. dial.
BE ON THE MARLOCK
vb. to play tricks ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE MERRY-PIN
vb. to be excited or merry ...1790 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE POUNCE
vb. to see, to watch; to spy ...Bk1902 thieves' sl.
BE ON THE RACK
vb. to be at full stretch or strain ...1693
BE ON THE RANDY
vb. to spend time in drinking and riot; to live in an immoral manner ...1893 Eng. dial.
BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HEDGE
vb. to be thrown or fall from a coach ...c1800 sl.
BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HEDGE WHEN THE BRAINS WERE GIVEN AWAY
phr. to be brainless, or stupid, or at the least very dull ...c1810
BEOT
n. † a promise, a vow, a threat, a boast ...a1000
BEOTE
n. † to boast, to threaten ...a1000
BEOTEN
n. † to boast, to threaten ...a1000
BE OVER SHARP METTLE
vb. to be too hasty-tempered ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE-OWE
vb. to own, to possess ...1886 Eng. dial.
BEPART
vb. † to divide, to share ...1531
BEPAT
vb. to pat frequently; to strike, to beat ...1676
BE PEDALLED
vb. to be dismissed from a job ...c1920 sl.
BEPEPS
vb. †* to beat a person, to 'pepper' ...1622
BEPESTER
vb. to pester greatly, to plague, to vex, to harass ...1600
BEPILL
vb. † to pillage completely ...1574
BEPISS
vb. to wet with urine ...1764
BEPLOTMELE
adv. † part by part, one portion after another, in due order or succession ...c1440
BEPRESS
vb. † to oppress ...1591
BEPUFF
vb. to puff or blow out; to swell; hence, to flatter, to praise greatly ...1843
BEPURFURATE
adj. purpled, rosy-tinged, rosy-coloured ...1584
BE PUT INTO ONE'S COOL CRAPE
vb. to die ...L18 sl.
BE PUT THROUGH ONE'S FACINGS
vb. to be reprimanded or to show off ...c1865 colloq., orig. military sl.
BE PUT TO BED WITH A SHOVEL
vb. to be buried ...1858 N. Ireland
BEPUZZLE
vb. * to confuse, to perplex, to bewilder ...1599
BEPUZZLEMENT
n. 1. the act of perplexing ...1806
n. 2. perplexity, bewilderment ...1885
BEQUARREL
vb. † to quarrel with; to find fault with, to abuse ...1624
BEQUASH
vb. †* to shake or fall in pieces, to be shattered ...1377
BEQUEATH
n. † a byword, proverb ...c1000
vb. † to say, to utter, to express in words ...c1000
BEQUEST
vb. † to give as a bequest, to bequeath ...1394
BEQUESTING
n. † bequeathing ...1572
BEQUIRTLE
vb. † to besprinkle ...1690
BERAFFLED
adj. perplexed, entangled ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERAG
vb. to worry, to harass, to annoy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE RAGGIES
vb. to be steady friends ...L19 Royal Navy usage
BERAIN
vb. † to rain upon ...a1225
BERAND
adj. † roaring, bellowing ...a1300
BERANTLED
adj. confused, mixed up ...1969 Amer. dial.
BERARD
n. †* a viper ...c1475
BERATTLE
vb. †* to fill with rattling noise or din; also, to rattle away at, to assail with din ...1553
BERAY
vb. 1. † to disfigure, to dirty, to defile, to befoul with dirt, filth, ordure ...1530 obs. or Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to befoul, to stain, to disfigure; to asperse, to cover with abuse ...1576 obs. or arch.
BERAYER
n. † one who defiles or pollutes ...1699
BERCELET
n. † a hunting dog, a hound ...c1340
BERE
n. 1. † clamour, outcry, shouting, roaring; the noise of voices of men or animals ...c1205
n. 2. †* a wave, a billow ...1250
n. 3. a pillow-case ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. † to cry, to roar ...c1225
BEREAVEN
adj. deprived, taken away by force ...a1619 arch.
BERE-BAG
n. † a native or inhabitant of Scotland ...1352
BEREDE
vb. † to advise, to inform, to counsel; to plan ...a1225
BEREFT
adj. crazy ...1913 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. † to snatch away a possession; to remove or take away by violence ...c1320
vb. 2. †* to deprive ...1557
BEREND
vb. to rend or tear badly ...1582
BERG
n. 1. a town, village, hamlet ...1843 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a rock ...Bk1898 Sc.
BERGE
n. one who is impetuous in talk ...1925 Sc.
vb. to speak in a loud and angry manner; to scold, to rail, to taunt loudly ...1887 Sc.
BERGER
n. †* a curl of hair ...1690
BERGFALL
n. a falling of rock fragments or debris; an avalanche of stones ...1856
BERGH
n. † protection, shelter ...c1250
vb. † to give shelter; to protect, to preserve; to deliver, to save ...a1000
BERGHER
n. † a protector, deliverer, saviour ...a1300
BERGIER
n. †* a peasant, a rustic, a woodman ...1480
BERGY
adj. of the nature of an iceberg; abounding in icebergs ...1856
BERIDE
vb. 1. to ride around; to beset with horsemen ...a1000
vb. 2. † to ride by the side of ...1690
BE RIGHT CHEAP OF ONE'S PAIKS
vb. to deserve a beating richly (paiks = a deserved punishment) ...1836 Sc.
BERIME
vb. to compose rhymes about; to celebrate in rhyme; often, to lampoon ...1589
BERINE
vb. †* to touch; to fall upon, to fall ...a1300
BERISP
vb. † to censure, to reprove, to rebuke ...1481
BERK
n. a foolish person ...1936 sl., chiefly Brit.
vb. † to clot, to make matted ...a1550
BERKELEY (HUNT)
n. a foolish person ...1937 Brit. rhyming sl. for 'cunt'
BERLASKIN
n. a hurting, an annoyance ...1952 Amer. dial.
BERLIN
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1967 Amer. dial.
BERLINER
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1950 Amer. dial.
BERLING
n. † a little bear; a bear's cub ...1399
BERLIN KETTLE
n. a large kettle used to boil foods ...1968 Amer. dial.
BERLIN PFANNKUCHEN
n. a doughnut with jelly inside ...1967 Amer. dial.
BERMAN
n. 1. † a bearer, a carrier, a porter ...c1000
n. 2. †* a miner ...1677
BERMOTHER
n. † the womb or uterus ...1527
BERNARD
n. † the member of a gang of swindlers who acts as a decoy; a lurking scoundrel; a sharper ...1532
BERNE
n. † a warrior, a hero, a man of valour; in later use, a poetic word for 'man' ...937
BERNER
n. † an attendant in charge of a pack of hounds ...a1425
BE ROAD-MAKING
phr. the 'menstrual flux is on' ...Bk1893 sl.
BEROGUE
vb. † to call one a rogue; to abuse ...1673
BERREY
n. a rabbit warren; a group of rabbit holes ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to animals: to burrow, to dig a hole in the ground ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERRIED
adj. † of a track or trail: beaten, trodden ...1382
BERRIES
n. 1. a woman's nipples, esp. if dark brown or dark red in colour ...1980s US Black sl.
n. 2. wine ...1980s US Black sl.
int. an expression of approval ...1920s US Black sl.
BERRIES, THE
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 1. something or someone thought to be very good or excellent ...1920 Amer. sl.
n. 2. the limit, the last straw ...1960 Amer. sl.
n. 3. wine ...1980s US Black sl.
BERRY
adj. good-looking ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 1. † a mound, a hillock ...1205 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. † a rabbit's burrow; a company of rabbits ...1486
n. 3. † a gust or blast of wind ...1598
n. 4. a coffee bean ...1712
n. 5. the gooseberry ...1787 N. Ireland, Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 6. a good thing ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 7. a dollar; usually used in the plural ...1916 US sl.
n. 8. a pound; usually used in the plural ...1934 Brit. sl.
vb. 1. † to beat, to thrash ...a1225 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to beat a path, etc. ...1382
BERRY-BARN
n. the third finger ...1870 Sc.
BERRY-BROWN
n. † nut-brown ale ...1686 Eng. dial.
BERRY-GLAUMER
n. a person who can pick strawberries very rapidly ...1944 Amer. dial.
BERRY-MOUCHER
n. 1. a truant from school in blackberry season ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the blackberry ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BERRY PICKER
n. a rustic or countrified person ...1968 Amer. dial.
ֳBERRY-SLUFFS
n. the skins of gooseberries ...1891 Eng. dial.
BERSATRIX
n. † a rocker of children in a cradle ...17C
BERSERK
n. a wild Norse warrior of great strength and ferocious courage, who fought on the battlefield with a frenzied fury known as the 'berserker rage'; often a lawless bravo or freebooter ...1879
BERSERKER
n. a wild Norse warrior of great strength and ferocious courage, who fought on the battlefield with a frenzied fury known as the 'berserker rage'; often a lawless bravo or freebooter ...1822
BERTH
n. 1. a job; an appointment to a job ...1778 sl.
n. 2. a foothold, a grasp ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. † to place or lay a floor ...1736 Eng. dial.
BERUFFIANIZE
vb. to call or stigmatize as a ruffian ...1596
BERUMPUS
n. the buttocks ...1970 Amer. dial.
BERUN
vb. 1. † to run or flow about, or over the surface of ...a1000
vb. 2. † to run round about, to encompass ...c1205
BERVIE
n. a haddock split and smoke-dried ...Bk1911 Sc.
BERVIE-HADDOCK
n. a haddock split and smoke-dried ...Bk1911 Sc.
BERWE
n. † a grove, a shady place ...c890
BERYL
adj. clear pale green ...1501
n. 1. † a word of admiration for a woman ...c1440
n. 2. pale sea-green, the colour of beryl ...1834
BERYL-GLASS
n. † a mirror ...1540
BESACKED
adj. discharged from employment ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESAGEW
n. † a double-edged axe ...c1430
BESAGUE
n. † a double-edged axe ...c1430
BESAIL
vb. † to assail, to attack ...1460
BESAILE; BESAYLE
n. † a grandfather's father; a great-grandfather ...c1400
BESAY
vb. 1. † to defend ...c1000
vb. 2. † to declare, to speak about ...c1200
BESCRAMBLE
vb. †* to scratch, to tear ...1598
BESCROW AND BESCREW
vb. to curse ...1952 Amer. dial.
BESCUMMER
vb. 1. to abuse, to calumniate ...1825 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to besmear with dirt ...1825 Eng. dial.
BESEE
vb. 1. † to look about; to look in any direction; to see ...c1000
vb. 2. † to be attentive, to pay attention to ...c1200
vb. 3. † to care for, to protect ...a1225
BESEECH
n. †* beseeching, entreaty, petition ...1606
vb. 1. † to beg earnestly for, to entreat a thing ...c1175
vb. 2. † to seek after, to search for, to try to get ...c1200
vb. 3. † to seek to know ...c1250
BESEEING
n. † circumspection, consideration ...1340
BE SEEING YOU
phr. goodbye ...1934
BE SEEIN' YOU IN HALIFAX
phr. goodbye ...1965 Amer. dial.
BESEEK
vb. to beseech ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BESEEM
vb. 1. † to seem, to appear, to look ...a1225
vb. 2. to become, to befit ...1874 Eng. dial.
BESEEMING
n. † appearance, look ...1611
BESEEMLINESS
n. * fittingness, propriety ...1647
BESEEMLY
adj. * seemly, becoming, befitting ...1742
BESEKANDLIK
adj. † kind, gracious ...a1300
BESENCH
vb. † to cause to sink, to submerge, to plunge down, to overwhelm ...971
BESEND
vb. † to send to, to send a message to ...1297
BESEPS
conj. except, unless ...1890 Eng. dial.
prep. except, with the exception of ...1853 Eng. dial.
BESEPTS
conj. except, unless ...1890 Eng. dial.
prep. except, with the exception of ...1853 Eng. dial.
BESERVE
vb. † to serve diligently ...a1300
BESET
vb. 1. † to become, to suit, to look well on, to befit, to set off ...1567
vb. 2. to attack ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE SET FORTH LIKE LAMB AND SALLIT
vb. to be gaily dressed ...Bk1902 Eng. dial.
BESETMENT
n. a besetting weakness or sin ...1859 Eng. dial.
BESETTER
n. the buttocks ...1967 Amer. dial.
BESEW
vb. † to sew up ...a800
BESHAG
vb. † to make shaggy ...1868
BESHAME
vb. to shame; to be ashamed ...1889 Eng. dial.
BESHED
vb. 1. † to drench, moisten, wet with ...1382
vb. 2. † to shed blood ...1474
BESHEND
vb. †* to ruin ...a1300
BESHINING
n. † illumination, lighting up ...1398
BESHIT
vb. to deposit ordure on ...a1000
BE SHORT OF A SHEET
vb. to be slightly crazy or idiotic ...Bk1892 Aust. sl.
BE SHOT IN THE NECK
vb. to be drunk ...1855 Amer. sl.
BE SHOT OF
vb. to dismiss ...1802
BESHREW
vb. 1. † to make wicked or evil; to deprave, to pervert, to corrupt ...c1325
vb. 2. † to invoke evil upon; to wish one all that is bad; to invoke a curse on; to curse, to blame greatly, as the cause of misfortune ...1377
vb. 3. † to treat evilly, to use ill, to abuse ...c1430
BESHUT
vb. 1. † to shut in, to enclose, to surround; to shut up, to confine, to imprison ...a1300
vb. 2. † to shut out, to exclude ...c1330
BE SHUT OF
vb. to dismiss, to get rid of ...1575
BESIBBING
adj. †* resembling; having a likeness to ...1602
BE SICK
vb. to have a baby ...1959 Amer. dial.
BESIDE
adv. † toward the sides, sidewise ...c1400
BESIDE-FORTH
adv. † moreover, further ...1377
BESIDES
adv. † close by, near ...c1205
BESIEGE
n. † besieging, siege ...1552
BESIEGINGLY
adv. * urgently, importunately ...1822
BESIGHT
n. †* consideration, determination, ordinance ...1258
BESIN
vb. † to stigmatize as sinful ...1622
BESINK
vb. 1. † to sink, to fall down through any substance ...c893
vb. 2. † to submerge ...c1200
BESIT
vb. 1. † to encamp about; to besiege ...a1100
vb. 2. † to sit upon; to lie heavy upon; to weigh upon ...1362
vb. 3. † to sit properly upon, as a dress; to fit, to suit, to become ...c1449
BESKYFTE
vb. †* to thrust off ...1470-85
BESLABBER
vb. to eat slovenly; to besmear in eating or drinking ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESLE
n. idle talk ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to talk much at random and ignorantly ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE SLIPPING
vb. to deteriorate in quality ...1914 sl.
BESLITTEN
adj. slit ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESLOBBER
vb. 1. to kiss like a drivelling child ...1828
vb. 2. to flatter ...1868
vb. 3. to eat in a slovenly manner; to render wet or dirty by spilling food on the clothes ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESLOW
vb. † to retard ...1645
BESLUBBER
vb. to wet and soil with a thick liquid; to bedaub, to bedabble, to besmear ...c1394
BESMARTEN
vb. to make smart or neat ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESMATTER
vb. to smear or daub with mud or dirt ...1715 Eng. dial.
BESMEAR
vb. to sully, to defile, to pollute ...1579
BESMIRCH
vb. 1. to sully, to dim the lustre of ...1602
vb. 2. to soil, to discolour, as with smoke, soot, or mud ...a1700
BESMIT
vb. † to stain; to infect, as with disease; to contaminate ...a1225
BESMORTH
vb. to besmear ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESMOTTER
vb. to smear or daub with mud or dirt; bespatter, to foul ...1715 Eng. dial.
BESMOTTERED
adj. †* splashed or spattered as with mud or dirt ...c1386
BESMUDGE
vb. to smear, to soil with mud or dirt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESMUT
vb. 1. to stain, to sully ...1610
vb. 2. to dirty, to begrime ...1656
BESMUTCH
vb. to besmirch; to soil ...1832
BESNANG
vb. to crush, to batter, to beat in ...Bk1911 Sc.
BESNARE
vb. † to take in a snare; to entrap ...1571
BESOB
vb. † to soak ...1609
BE SOFT ON SOMEONE
vb. to be amorously inclined toward a person, to have an affection for ...colloq.
BESOGNE
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1615
n. 2. † a low, vulgar, worthless fellow ...1658
n. 3. business, affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOGNIER
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1584
n. 2. † a low, vulgar, worthless fellow ...1588
BESOGNIO
n. 1. † a raw recruit/soldier ...1591
n. 2. † a term of contempt for a needy beggar; a base, worthless fellow, a low, vulgar person ...1603
BESOIGNE
n. † business, affair, duties, ado ...1474
BESOM
n. 1. † a bundle of rods or twigs used as an instrument of punishment; a birch ...c893
n. 2. a comet ...1566
n. 3. an implement for sweeping, usually made of a bunch of broom, heather, birch, or other twigs bound together round a handle; a broom ...c1000
n. 4. a term of reproach or contempt applied to a woman, esp. a woman of loose or slovenly habits ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 5. a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 6. a vicious cow ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 7. energy; zest ...1969 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. † to sweep with force or violence ...a1400
vb. 2. to sweep ...1791
BESOM-CLEAN
adj. clean only on the surface; clean by sweeping though not by washing ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESOMER
n. a person, of either sex, of loose and slovenly habits ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESOM-HEAD
n. a foolish, stupid person ...1864
BESOM-HEADED
adj. weak-minded, foolish, stupid ...1864
BESOM-MAKER
n. a maker of brooms ...1814 Eng. dial.
BESOM-RIDER
n. a witch, from the popular notion that they rode on broomsticks ...1664
BESOM-SCAUPED
adj. weak-minded, stupid ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOM-SHAFT
n. a broomstick ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESOM-SHANK
n. a broomstick ...1805 Eng. dial.
BESOM-STAKE
n. a broomstick ...1895 Eng. dial.
BESOM-TAIL
n. a tail formed like a 'besom'; a bushy tail ...1678
BESOM-TAILED
adj. having a bushy tail ...1695
BESONIO
n. 1. † a raw recruit/soldier ...1591
n. 2. † a term of contempt for a needy beggar; a base, worthless fellow, a low, vulgar person ...1603
BESOOP
vb. †* ? to thrash, to lay about ...1589
BESOOTHMENT
n. * the act of soothing; its means or resulting state ...Bk1888
BESORE
vb. † to vex, to annoy, to molest, to cause mischief to ...17C
BESORT
n. † suitable company ...1604
vb. † to assort, to match, to agree with; to befit ...1605
BESOT
vb. 1. to affect with a foolish, blinding affection; to cause to dote on; to infatuate with ...1581
vb. 2. to make mentally or morally stupid or blind; to stupefy in mind ...1615
vb. 3. to have an intoxicating effect on; said of drugs ...1627
BESOTTED
adj. 1. infatuated ...1580
adj. 2. intellectually or morally stupefied or blinded ...1634
adj. 3. intoxicated or muddled by a narcotic ...1831
BESOUTH
prep. † on the south side of; to the south of ...c1410 obs. exc. Sc.
BESPALL
vb. † to bespatter with saliva or spittle ...1602
BESPANKLE
vb. to bespangle, to sprinkle or adorn with small glittering objects ...1621
BESPAR
vb. † to shut in; to lock up ...a1100
BESPARAGE
vb. † to disparage ...1592
BESPARKLE
vb. † to bespatter, to spot ...1485
BESPARKLING
adj. † sparkling, throwing out sparks ...1648
BESPATTER
vb. 1. to asperse with abuse, flame, flattery, praise, etc., to hold in contempt ...1644
vb. 2. to cover with abuse; to vilify or slander, to calumniate ...1653
BESPATTERMENT
n. abuse ...1870
BESPATTLE
vb. † to bespatter with anything dirty ...1546 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
BESPAWL
vb. † to bespatter with saliva or spittle ...1602
BESPEAK
vb. 1. † to call out, to exclaim, to complain that ...c893
vb. 2. † to speak against; to charge, to accuse; to oppose ...a1000
vb. 3. † to discuss, to advise upon, to determine upon ...c1175
vb. 4. † to speak up or out, to exclaim, orig. with some notion of objection or remonstrance; in later times, to raise one's voice, to speak ...c1314 obs. or arch.
vb. 5. † to promise ...c1320
BESPECKED
adj. spotted or specked over the surface ...1565
BESPECTACLED
adj. having spectacles on ...1742
BESPELT
adj. bewitched, mischievous ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPERPLE
vb. † to bespatter ...1557
BESPETE
vb. † to spit upon, to cover or defile with spitting ...a1225
BESPIT
vb. to spit upon ...a1300 arch.
BESPITE
prep. * despite ...1842
BESPOKE
adj. 1. bewitched ...Bk1898 Eng. & Amer. dial.
adj. 2. engaged; usually to be married ...1931 Amer. dial.
BESPOKEN
adj. engaged; usually to be married ...1929 Amer. dial.
BESPOTTLE
vb. to bespatter, to cover with mud or dirt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPOUSE
vb. † to espouse, to marry ...c1175
BESPOUT
vb. 1. to recite to, to plague with oratory ...1828
vb. 2. to utter, say, or recite with pompous elocution ...1857
BESPRAY
vb. †* to besprinkle, to bespatter ...1593
BESPRENG
vb. 1. † to sprinkle anything over; to besprinkle, to asperse ...c1000
vb. 2. † to sprinkle about ...c1529
BESPRENT
adj. 1. besprinkled ...c1368
adj. 2. scattered, strewed about ...1567
vb. †* to besprinkle ...1573
BESPRENTED
adj. sprinkled, splashed ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESPRING
vb. † to besprinkle ...1387
BESPRINK
vb. †* to besprinkle ...1609
BESPRITZED
adj. sprinkled on, as by a garden hose ...1935 Amer. dial.
BESPURT
vb. 1. † to splash or spatter, to befoul ...1579
vb. 2. † to abuse; to sully with vice ...1603
BESPURTLE
vb. 1. † to asperse with reproach or abuse; to sully with vice ...1604
vb. 2. † to splash or splatter; to befoul ...1618
BESQ - BETWHZ
BESQUATTER
vb. † to bespatter with filth ...1611
BESQUIRT
vb. 1. † to befoul by squirting, to splash, to splatter ...1611
vb. 2. † to slander, to calumniate, to defame ...1682
BESS
n. 1. a short crowbar, used by housebreakers ...Bk1896 sl.
n. 2. a cow or calf ...1965 Amer. dial.
vb. to sew slackly; to baste ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESSEN
vb. to stoop, to bend down; to weigh down ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSIE
n. 1. a cow or calf ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a shotgun or rifle ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 3. an automobile ...1967 Amer. dial.
BESS O' BEDLAM
n. a harmless vagrant or maniac formerly allowed to range the country; hence, any female of wild or disorderly appearance ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY
n. 1. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
n. 2. an ill-mannered, romping, or bad-tempered woman or girl; a light-headed girl; an idiot ...Bk1898 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. a man who meddles in woman's affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-BAB(S)
adj. childish, foolish ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 1. a petted, spoiled child; a child who cries for little cause ...1842 Eng. dial.
n. 2. one given to childish amusements or silly talk ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 3. a fantastically dressed female; a slovenly, but gaily-attired woman ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 4. a doll ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESSYBABISHNESS
n. the whimpering of a spoiled child ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESSY-CLOCKER
n. the black beetle ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-CODDLE
n. a man who meddles in woman's affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-FRUGGAM
n. a female of slatternly appearance; a man dressed in woman's attire for mumming or 'guising' ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST
n. a girlfriend or female lover ...1904 sl., orig. US
vb. 1. to outwit, to outdo, to get the better of ...1863 colloq.
vb. 2. to take advantage of, to overreach, to cheat ...1881 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to consider ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTAND
vb. 1. † to stand by or near; to stand over; esp. to stand by the dead, to mourn for ...c1000
vb. 2. † to stand round in hostility; to beset, to press hard upon, to harass ...c1000
vb. 3. † to surround, to encompass, as a wall, water, etc. ...c1205
BE STANDING
vb. to stand up ...1906 Amer. dial.
BEST BIB AND TUCKER
n. someone's smartest clothes ...1747 sl.
BEST BOWER
n. in cards: the joker ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEST BUD
n. a close friend ...1967 Amer. dial.
BEST CARPENTERS MAKE THE FEWEST CHIPS, THE
phr. commenting that whores seldom have children ...1609 sl.
BEST-CONSULTED
adj. † most prudent or best-advised ...a1659
BESTEAD
adj. 1. † settled, constituted, arranged ...c1300
adj. 2. † placed, located, situated ...a1300
adj. 3. circumstanced, situated, generally in an evil sense; hence, destitute, forlorn; overcome, oppressed ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to help, to assist, to relieve ...1581
vb. 2. to be of service or use to; to avail ...1589
vb. 3. † to go instead of, to take the place of ...1596
BESTEAL
vb. † to move stealthily ...a725
BESTED
adj. 1. † settled, constituted, arranged ...c1300
adj. 2. † placed, located, situated ...a1300
BESTENTED
adj. †* distended ...1648
BESTER
n. 1. a cheater ...1851 Eng. sl.
n. 2. one who gets the better of others by fraudulent means; a sharper ...1862 sl.
BESTEST
adj. best of all ...1893 Amer. dial.
BEST-FASHION
adj. in good health ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST FEATHERS
n. one's best clothes ...1965 Amer. sl.
BEST FOOT
n. the right foot ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST GIRL
n. 1. a girlfriend or female lover ...1887 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BEST-GOODEST
n. a favourite ...1948 Amer. dial.
BEST HALF
n. one's wife ...1965 Amer. sl.
BEST HAND
n. the right hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTIAL
adj. 1. brutish, savage, cruel, rude, barbarous, uncivilized ...c1400
adj. 2. like a beast in obeying and gratifying the animal instincts and sensual desires; debased, depraved, lustful, obscene ...1447
n. the livestock on a farm ...1818 Sc.
BESTIALITY
n. 1. want of intelligence; irrationality, stupidity, brutality ...c1374
n. 2. indulgence in the instincts of a beast; brutal lust; a disgusting vice, a beastly practice ...a1656
n. 3. filthy language, obscenity ...1879
BESTIALIZE
vb. to brutalize, to debase in character ...1684
BESTIATE
vb. †* to brutalize ...1628
BESTILL
vb. to make quiet, to still, to hush ...1770
BESTIOUS
adj. †* beast-like, monstrous ...1470
BESTIR ONE'S STUMPS
vb. † to move one's limbs actively, to exert oneself ...1549
BEST LADY
n. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BEST-LIKE
adj. best-looking, most comely ...1889 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BEST LOOKER
n. a very good-looking person ...1911 US
BEST MAID
n. a bridesmaid ...1864 Sc. & Amer. dial.
BESTMOST
n. one's best, utmost ...1887 Amer. dial.
BEST OF BUDS
n. a close friend ...1967 Amer. dial.
BE STONKERED
vb. 1. to be put out of action ...1914 military sl.
vb. 2. to be outwitted ...c1918 Aust. sl.
vb. 3. to be dead drunk ...1940s Aust. sl.
vb. 4. to be in a fix or dilemma ...World War II Aust. & NZ services' sl.
BESTOURN
vb. † to turn upside down, to overthrow ...1483
BESTOW
vb. 1. to place, to locate; to put in a position or situation ...c1374 arch.
vb. 2. † to settle or give in marriage ...c1386
vb. 3. to stow away; to place or deposit anywhere for storage, to store up ...1393 arch.
vb. 4. to lodge, to quarter; to put up; to provide with a resting place or sleeping place ...1577 arch.
vb. 5. to put a woman to bed in childbirth ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTOW THE ORDER OF THE SACK
vb. to dismiss from employment ...c1860 sl.
BEST PARLOUR
n. the old-fashioned front parlour of a house ...1950 Amer. dial.
BESTRACT
adj. †* distracted ...1581
BESTRAUGHT
adj. 1. † distracted, distraught ...a1547
adj. 2. † distracted, bereft of wits ...1580
BESTRAUGHTED
adj. †* distracted ...a1650
BESTRAUGHTING
n. † distracting, distraction of the wits ...1585
BEST RESPECTS
n. intimate friends ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESTRIDE
vb. 1. to ride, to mount a horse, etc. ...c1000
vb. 2. † to stand astride ...1526
vb. 3. to stand over a fallen man in order to defend him; to defend, to protect, to support ...1580
vb. 4. to stand over a place with the legs astride; to straddle over, to bestraddle ...1601
BESTRIKE
vb. †* to overspread, to do over, to anoint, to smear, to daub, to rub over with ...1527
BESTRIP
vb. † to strip clean; to deprive of or take away entirely ...1065
BEST ROOM
n. the old-fashioned front parlour of a house ...1907 Amer. dial.
BE STRUCK WITH A DART
vb. to be struck by the fairies ...1881 Ireland & Eng. dial.
BESTRUT
adj. † swollen ...1603
vb. to strut or walk pompously over ...1594
BESTRUTTED
adj. † swollen ...1648
BESTS
n. the best people ...c1050
BE STUCK IN A DAR
vb. † to be astonished or confounded ...Bk1900 Eng. dial.
BESTURTED
adj. startled, alarmed ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEST WAY
adj. better ...1892 Eng. dial.
BEST WAYS
adj. better ...1892 Eng. dial.
BEST WOMAN
n. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BESULLY
vb. to sully or soil badly ...a1635
BESWADDLE
vb. 1. †* to beat, to thrash, to 'swaddle' ...1598
vb. 2. †* to envelop in swaddling-clothes ...1755
BESWAK
vb. † to dash, to strike ...c1505 Sc.
BESWAPE
vb. †* to envelop, to entangle ...c980
BESWEAT
adj. † covered with sweat ...c1205
BESWEIK
vb. to cheat, to deceive ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESWIKE
vb. † to betray, to cheat, to deceive ...971
BESWIKER
n. † a deceiver ...1340
BESWIKING
n. † cheating, deception ...1340
BESWING
vb. † to swing about; to hang ...1571
BESWINGE
vb. † to beat soundly ...1568
BESWINK
vb. 1. †* to chastise ...c1175 (probably for beswinge)
vb. 2. † to labour for, to work for ...1377
BESWINKFUL
adj. †* toilsome ...a1225
BET
adj. 1. beaten, exhausted ...1843 Ireland & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. beaten, bruised ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adv. † better ...c888
n. a letter of the alphabet ...1969 Amer. dial.
BET, THE
n. the advantage ...c1340
BETAINT
vb. † to tinge ...1594
BETAKE
vb. 1. † to hand over, to deliver, to give up, to grant, to place at a person's disposal ...c1205 exc. Sc.
vb. 2. † to hand over to the care of; to entrust, to commit, to give in charge to ...1297
vb. 3. † to allot, to assign ...c1300
vb. 4. † to give in marriage ...1382
vb. 5. † to bid adieu, to say goodbye ...1642
vb. 6. to overtake, to capture, to recover ...1865 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 7. to resort, to have recourse to ...Bk1898 Sc.
BE TAKEN AWAY
vb. to die ...1898 Eng. dial.
BE TAKEN BAD
adj. discomfited ...1900s sl.
vb. to have fallen ill ...M19 sl.
BE TAKEN SHORT
vb. to have an urgent need to urinate or defecate ...1890 sl.
BETAKE ONESELF TO ONE'S HEELS
vb. to retreat in flight, to run away ...1598
BETALL
vb. † to pay ...1630
BETANGLEMENT
n. tangled condition ...1881
BE TARRED WITH THE SAME STICK
vb. to share undesirable qualities ...1817 Sc.
BETATTERED
adj. all in tatters, ragged ...1618
BETAWDER
vb. † to bedizen with tawdry finery, to adorn gaudily ...a1689
BETEACH
vb. 1. † to show, to point out ...c1000
vb. 2. † to hand over as a trust; to entrust, to commit, to give in charge to ...c1000
vb. 3. † to hand over, to deliver, to give up, to yield ...a1000
vb. 4. † to teach, to instruct ...a1300
vb. 5. † to allot, to assign ...a1300
vb. 6. † to bid adieu or goodbye ....c1314
BETEACH ONE GOOD DAY
vb. † to wish or bid one good day ...c1400
BETEAR
vb. † to suffuse with tears ...1580
BETCHELL
vb. to beat ...1857 Sc.
BETCHELLAN
n. a beating ...Bk1898 Sc.
BETCHELLIN'
n. a beating, a drubbing ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETEE
vb. 1. † to draw over as a covering; to cover, to veil ...c893
vb. 2. † to employ, to spend, to bestow time, pains, etc. ...c1175
vb. 3. † to pull or tug at ...c1205
vb. 4. † to bring about, to manage, to arrange ...c1205
BETEEM
vb. 1. † to think fit or proper; to vouchsafe, to grant, to consent ...1565
vb. 2. † to vouchsafe, to accord, to grant, to concede ...1590
vb. 3. †* to allow or permit to do something ...1602
vb. 4. †* to pour all about ...1618
vb. 5. † to think a person worthy, to admit the worth of ...1627
vb. 6. to bestow, to indulge with ...1790 Eng. dial.
vb. 7. * to give birth to ...1855
vb. 8. to demean, to lower ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETEEMING
n. * copious outpouring, profusion ...1871
BETELING BLOCK
n. a block of wood on which to beat clothes while washing ...1966 Amer. dial.
BETELL
vb. 1. † to speak for, to answer for, to justify ...1048
vb. 2. † to lay claim to; to win, to rescue ...c1205
vb. 3. † to speak of, to declare, to narrate ...c1205
vb. 4. † to calumniate, to deride, to deceive ...a1225
BETHANK
n. thanks, indebtedness, acknowledgement ...1826 Sc.
vb. †* to thank ...1593
BE THE DAD OF ALL RING-TAILS
vb. to excel in mischief, to be the ringleader ...Bk1900 Eng. dial.
BETHEL
n. 1. a place of worship for seamen ...1840
n. 2. any place of worship other than those of the established church; a nonconformist chapel ...1865
BETHERAL
n. an inferior church officer in Scotland, often combining those of clerk, beadle, sexton, gravedigger, bellringer ...1815 Sc.
BETHERELL
n. a bedridden person; a helpless cripple ...1790 Ireland
BETHERSHIN!
int. an expletive, it may be so ...1888 Ireland
BE THE WORSE FOR WEAR
vb. to be tipsy ...20C colloq.
BETHINK
vb. 1. † to think of or about; to bear in mind; to call to mind, to recollect ...a1000 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to think of, to imagine, to conceive ...c1175
vb. 3. † to think over a thing with a view to decision or action; to consider ...c1220
vb. 4. † to devise, to contrive, to plan, to arrange ...a1225
vb. 5. to consider, to reflect, to meditate, to think ...c1300 arch.
vb. 6. † to think upon or remember a person ...c1320
vb. 7. † to regret, to repent, to grudge ...1682
vb. 8. to begrudge; to abstain from ...1842 Eng. dial.
vb. 9. to remind ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETHINKING
n. the act of thinking, considering, reflecting, or remembering ...1340
BETHOUGHT
adj. 1. † of a thing: intended, purposed, contrived ...c1200
adj. 2. † of a person: minded, disposed; chiefly in combination with well-, ill-, etc. ...c1205
BETHOUT
conj. unless ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
prep. without ...1800 Eng. dial.
BETHRALL
vb. †* to enthrall, to enslave ...1596
BE THRONG IN THE REED
vb. to be too much crowded ...1853-62 Ireland
BETHROUGH
prep. †* throughout ...c1425
BETHROW
vb. †* to twist about, to torture ...1393
BE THROWN BACK
vb. to suffer a relapse in illness ...1899 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETHUMP
vb. to thump soundly ...1595
BETHWACK
vb. to pelt, to thrash, to cudgel soundly ...1555
BETIDE
n. †* befalling, event, fortune, chance ...1590
vb. 1. to happen, to befall ...c1250
vb. 2. †* to become or befit anyone ...1554
BETIDER
n. †* that which befalls; an accident ...1674
BETIDING
n. † happening, occurrence ...c1374
BETIE
vb. † to tie round, to bind fast ...1578
BETIMBER
vb. † to build ...a1000
BETIME
adv. 1. † at an early hour, early in the day ...c1250 exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. † in good time, early, seasonably ...a1300
vb. † to betide, to happen, to befall ...a1225
BETIME
adv. early ...1875 Eng. dial.
BETIMED
adj. exhausted by fatigue ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETIMELY
adj. †* early ...1594
BETIMES
adv. 1. at an early time, period, or season; early in the year, early in life ...c1314 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. in good time, in due time; while there is yet time, before it is too late ...c1380
adv. 3. in a short time, soon, speedily, anon, forthwith ...c1400
adv. 4. at an early hour, early in the morning ...1481
adv. 5. occasionally, now and then ...Bk1911 Sc. & Amer. dial.
BETINE
vb. †* to set fire to ...1659
BET-LICK
n. the conquering blow ...1895 Sc.
BETOIL
vb. † to worry or exercise with toil ...1622
BETOKEN
vb. 1. † to signify, to mean; to denote, to express in words ...c1175
vb. 2. † to be a type or emblem of; to typify, to symbolize ...c1175
BET ONE'S BLUE BAR
vb. to be certain of something ...1970 Amer. dial.
BET ONE'S SHIRT ON
vb. to bet all one's money on, esp. a horse in a race ...1892
BETONGUE
vb. to assail with the tongue; to abuse ...1639
BE TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BRITCHES
vb. to assume more than one's proper authority; to feel important, independent, or disturbingly confident ...1835 Amer. dial.
BE TOOK
vb. 1. to be arrested ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to die ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BE TOOK BAD
adj. discomfited ...1900s sl.
vb. to have fallen ill ...M19 sl.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH A COLD
vb. to be extremely slow ...1966 Amer. dial.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH THE ITCH
vb. to be extremely slow ...1952 Amer. dial.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH
vb. to be extremely slow ...1966 Amer. dial.
BETORN
adj. † torn; torn about the sides, tattered ...a1300
BE TO THE DOOR
vb. to be taken by surprise ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BETOTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
BETOTTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
BETOUCH-US-TOO!
int. † alas! well-a-day! ...1725 Sc.
BET-PIYAN
n. a polecat or skunk ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETRADE
vb. † to betray ...c1375
BETRAISE
vb. 1. † to betray ...a1300
vb. 2. † to be a traitor to; to be treacherous; to deceive the trustful or innocent ...c1374
vb. 3. † to reveal, to disclose incidentally ...c1400
vb. 4. † to seize, entrap, ensnare the unsuspecting ...c1400
BETRAISH
vb. 1. † to betray ...a1300
vb. 2. † to be a traitor to; to be treacherous; to deceive the trustful or innocent ...c1374
vb. 3. † to reveal, to disclose incidentally ...c1400
vb. 4. † to seize, entrap, ensnare the unsuspecting ...c1400
BETRAISING
n. † betraying ...c1385
BETRAP
vb. 1. † to catch in a trap; to entrap, to ensnare, to circumvent, to enclose ...a1000
vb. 2. † to deck, to adorn ...1509
BETRAUT
vb. † to betray ...c1400 N. Eng. dial.
BETRAVAIL
vb. 1. † to work at; to compose a book, to be the author of, to write ...1387
vb. 2. † to do violence to, to violate, to rape ...1388
vb. 3. † to work for; to earn by labour ...1393
BETRAY
n. †* a treacherous giving up to an enemy; betrayal ...1600
vb. † to cheat, to disappoint ...1588
BETRAYMENT
n. * betrayal ...1548
BETRAYNTED
adj. †* over-excited, borne or carried away ...1583
BETRENCH
vb. †* to cut up, to carve, to slash ...1656
BETREND
vb. † to wind or draw round; to encompass ...c1374
BETROTHED
adj. † plighted, pledged ...1651
BETROW
vb. † to trust ...1556
BETRUMP
vb. †* to deceive, to cheat; to elude, to slip from ...1513
BETRUMPET
vb. * to trumpet the praises of, to commend or praise loudly ...1828
BETRUST
n. † an entrusting, a trust ...1656
vb. 1. † to trust, to place confidence in a person ...c1440
vb. 2. † to entrust ...1619
BETRUSTED
adj. † trusted in, or confided in ...a1461
BETRUSTMENT
n. † an entrusting, a trust ...Bk1888
BETSEY
n. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
BETSY
n. 1. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a cow or calf ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 3. an automobile ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETTAMY
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTANT
adj. † in a hurry, hastening eagerly ...c1400
BETTER
adj. 1. of the hand or foot: the right ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. greater, more higher in price ...Bk1911 Sc.
adv. repeatedly; with renewed efforts ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. the best ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to improve in health ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER A LATE THRIVE THAN NEVER DO WELL
phr. † applied to one who marries or otherwise prospers late in life ...1892 Eng. dial.
BETTER-CHEAP
adj. cheaper, at a less price ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER END
n. the higher classes; a superior kind; the greater part, majority ...1848 Eng. dial.
BETTER FASHION
adj. recovering from illness ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTER FRACTION
n. one's wife ...World War II Amer. sl.
BETTERGATES
adv. in a better way or manner ...1892 Sc.
BETTER HALF
n. a spouse ...1842 sl.
BETTER HAND, THE
n. † the upper hand, superiority ...1523
BETTER HAVE THE QUEEN FOR ONE'S AUNT THAN THE KING FOR ONE'S UNCLE
phr. used to express the relative value of male and female influence ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BETTER HOYLE
n. a parlour ...1879 Eng. dial.
BETTERING
n. amendment ...1863 Eng. dial.
BETTERINGS
n. superiors, those in a higher position ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTERISH
adj. somewhat better, of somewhat superior sort ...colloq.
BETTER-LIKE
adj. better-looking; looking better in health, etc. ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERLINS
adv. better ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERLY
adj. better; superior ...1882 Eng. dial.
BETTERMENT
n. improvement ...1885 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETTERMER
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTERMORE
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTERMOST
adj. best, superior, above the average ...1744 colloq.
n. the advantage, the upper hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTERMY
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTER PENNY
n. something in addition ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTER SIDE
n. what is more or older than ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERSOME
adj. † better ...1843 Amer. dial.
BETTER SORT
n. the upper classes ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE HIND-END
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE PANTS
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE
adj. adequate ...1852
BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A BURNT STICK
adj. adequate ...1852
BETTER-TO-DO
adj. 1. above the well-to-do in social condition or worldly circumstances; more prosperous ...1898
adj. 2. well-off ...1970 Amer. dial.
BETTING TOOL
n. a racehorse ...Bk1942 Amer. turf sl.
BETTLE
n. a blow, a stroke ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTY
n. 1. a nickname for the kettle ...1879 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a short crowbar, used by housebreakers ...Bk1896 sl.
n. 3. a country lass ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a chamber pot ...1912 Amer. dial.
n. 5. a woman; a schoolteacher ...1967 Amer. dial.
n. 6. a young attractive woman ...1989 US sl.
vb. to idle; to do petty work ...1882 Eng. dial.
BETTY ABOUT
vb. to fuss about, like a man who busies himself with a woman's duties ...1851 colloq.
BETTY-CAT
n. a she-cat ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTYFUSS
n. a fussbudget ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETWADDLED
adj. infatuated; so in love as to be unable to use good judgement ...1927 Amer. dial.
BETWATTLE
vb. to bewilder ...1844 Eng. dial.
BETWATTLED
adj. 1. in a distressed and confused state of mind; confounded, bewildered, stupefied, surprised ...1790 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. hardly sober ...19C Eng. dial.
adj. 3. infatuated; so in love as to be unable to use good judgement ...1927 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
phr. without a satisfactory alternative; in difficulty; bewildered; perplexed; baffled ...Bk1942 Amer. colloq.
BETWEEN BUZZARD AND HAWK
adj. neither good nor bad, nondescript ...Bk1902 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN DAYLIGHT AND DAYLIGHT
phr. during the night ...1969 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN GRASS AND HAY
phr. between summer and winter ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN-HANDS
adv. at intervals ...1801 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETWEEN HAWK AND BUZZARD
phr. 1. in a difficult or uncomfortable position ...1856 Amer. dial.
phr. 2. at twilight, when it is too dark to tell a hawk from a buzzard ...1912 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN HAY AND GRASS
phr. 1. between boyhood and manhood; not fully mature ...1848 Amer. dial.
phr. 2. vague; indefinite; inconclusive; colourless ...1928 Amer. dial.
phr. 3. between seasons of plenty, hence, in a difficult or uncomfortable position ...1939 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN JOBS
n. a short cigar ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN-MAID
n. a maidservant who assists both the cook and the housemaid ...1890
BETWEENS
n. intermediate things or events ...1872
BETWEENST
adv. between ...1887 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN THE BARK AND THE WOOD
phr. a well-adjusted bargain where neither party has the advantage ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE BEETLE AND THE BLOCK
adj. in a precarious or dangerous position ...1589
BETWEEN THE FACE AND EYES
phr. where a blow or shocking news hits ...1975 US sl.
BETWEEN THE LIGHTS
n. twilight ...1862 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE TINING AND THE WINNING
phr. said of being in a critical position, which may result either in ruin or in success ...1825 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS
adj. almost unconscious ...1893 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN TOWN AND TOWN
phr. while going from one place to another ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN TWO MINDS
adj. in doubt or suspense; undecided ...1862 Ireland & Sc.
BETWEENWHILES
adv. in the interval, at intervals ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND JACK MUM
adv. secretly, in confidence ...20C Irish sl.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE BED-POST
adv. told in confidence ...1830 sl.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE GATE-POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1871 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE LAMP POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1941 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE BED-POST
phr. in all confidence or secrecy ...1830
ׇBETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1796 Amer. dial.
BETWEESH
prep. between ...1768 Sc. & Ireland
vb. † to bespatter with filth ...1611
BESQUIRT
vb. 1. † to befoul by squirting, to splash, to splatter ...1611
vb. 2. † to slander, to calumniate, to defame ...1682
BESS
n. 1. a short crowbar, used by housebreakers ...Bk1896 sl.
n. 2. a cow or calf ...1965 Amer. dial.
vb. to sew slackly; to baste ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESSEN
vb. to stoop, to bend down; to weigh down ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSIE
n. 1. a cow or calf ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a shotgun or rifle ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 3. an automobile ...1967 Amer. dial.
BESS O' BEDLAM
n. a harmless vagrant or maniac formerly allowed to range the country; hence, any female of wild or disorderly appearance ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY
n. 1. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
n. 2. an ill-mannered, romping, or bad-tempered woman or girl; a light-headed girl; an idiot ...Bk1898 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. a man who meddles in woman's affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-BAB(S)
adj. childish, foolish ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 1. a petted, spoiled child; a child who cries for little cause ...1842 Eng. dial.
n. 2. one given to childish amusements or silly talk ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 3. a fantastically dressed female; a slovenly, but gaily-attired woman ...19C Eng. dial.
n. 4. a doll ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESSYBABISHNESS
n. the whimpering of a spoiled child ...1891 Eng. dial.
BESSY-CLOCKER
n. the black beetle ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-CODDLE
n. a man who meddles in woman's affairs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESSY-FRUGGAM
n. a female of slatternly appearance; a man dressed in woman's attire for mumming or 'guising' ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST
n. a girlfriend or female lover ...1904 sl., orig. US
vb. 1. to outwit, to outdo, to get the better of ...1863 colloq.
vb. 2. to take advantage of, to overreach, to cheat ...1881 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to consider ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTAND
vb. 1. † to stand by or near; to stand over; esp. to stand by the dead, to mourn for ...c1000
vb. 2. † to stand round in hostility; to beset, to press hard upon, to harass ...c1000
vb. 3. † to surround, to encompass, as a wall, water, etc. ...c1205
BE STANDING
vb. to stand up ...1906 Amer. dial.
BEST BIB AND TUCKER
n. someone's smartest clothes ...1747 sl.
BEST BOWER
n. in cards: the joker ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEST BUD
n. a close friend ...1967 Amer. dial.
BEST CARPENTERS MAKE THE FEWEST CHIPS, THE
phr. commenting that whores seldom have children ...1609 sl.
BEST-CONSULTED
adj. † most prudent or best-advised ...a1659
BESTEAD
adj. 1. † settled, constituted, arranged ...c1300
adj. 2. † placed, located, situated ...a1300
adj. 3. circumstanced, situated, generally in an evil sense; hence, destitute, forlorn; overcome, oppressed ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to help, to assist, to relieve ...1581
vb. 2. to be of service or use to; to avail ...1589
vb. 3. † to go instead of, to take the place of ...1596
BESTEAL
vb. † to move stealthily ...a725
BESTED
adj. 1. † settled, constituted, arranged ...c1300
adj. 2. † placed, located, situated ...a1300
BESTENTED
adj. †* distended ...1648
BESTER
n. 1. a cheater ...1851 Eng. sl.
n. 2. one who gets the better of others by fraudulent means; a sharper ...1862 sl.
BESTEST
adj. best of all ...1893 Amer. dial.
BEST-FASHION
adj. in good health ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST FEATHERS
n. one's best clothes ...1965 Amer. sl.
BEST FOOT
n. the right foot ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEST GIRL
n. 1. a girlfriend or female lover ...1887 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BEST-GOODEST
n. a favourite ...1948 Amer. dial.
BEST HALF
n. one's wife ...1965 Amer. sl.
BEST HAND
n. the right hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTIAL
adj. 1. brutish, savage, cruel, rude, barbarous, uncivilized ...c1400
adj. 2. like a beast in obeying and gratifying the animal instincts and sensual desires; debased, depraved, lustful, obscene ...1447
n. the livestock on a farm ...1818 Sc.
BESTIALITY
n. 1. want of intelligence; irrationality, stupidity, brutality ...c1374
n. 2. indulgence in the instincts of a beast; brutal lust; a disgusting vice, a beastly practice ...a1656
n. 3. filthy language, obscenity ...1879
BESTIALIZE
vb. to brutalize, to debase in character ...1684
BESTIATE
vb. †* to brutalize ...1628
BESTILL
vb. to make quiet, to still, to hush ...1770
BESTIOUS
adj. †* beast-like, monstrous ...1470
BESTIR ONE'S STUMPS
vb. † to move one's limbs actively, to exert oneself ...1549
BEST LADY
n. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BEST-LIKE
adj. best-looking, most comely ...1889 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BEST LOOKER
n. a very good-looking person ...1911 US
BEST MAID
n. a bridesmaid ...1864 Sc. & Amer. dial.
BESTMOST
n. one's best, utmost ...1887 Amer. dial.
BEST OF BUDS
n. a close friend ...1967 Amer. dial.
BE STONKERED
vb. 1. to be put out of action ...1914 military sl.
vb. 2. to be outwitted ...c1918 Aust. sl.
vb. 3. to be dead drunk ...1940s Aust. sl.
vb. 4. to be in a fix or dilemma ...World War II Aust. & NZ services' sl.
BESTOURN
vb. † to turn upside down, to overthrow ...1483
BESTOW
vb. 1. to place, to locate; to put in a position or situation ...c1374 arch.
vb. 2. † to settle or give in marriage ...c1386
vb. 3. to stow away; to place or deposit anywhere for storage, to store up ...1393 arch.
vb. 4. to lodge, to quarter; to put up; to provide with a resting place or sleeping place ...1577 arch.
vb. 5. to put a woman to bed in childbirth ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BESTOW THE ORDER OF THE SACK
vb. to dismiss from employment ...c1860 sl.
BEST PARLOUR
n. the old-fashioned front parlour of a house ...1950 Amer. dial.
BESTRACT
adj. †* distracted ...1581
BESTRAUGHT
adj. 1. † distracted, distraught ...a1547
adj. 2. † distracted, bereft of wits ...1580
BESTRAUGHTED
adj. †* distracted ...a1650
BESTRAUGHTING
n. † distracting, distraction of the wits ...1585
BEST RESPECTS
n. intimate friends ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESTRIDE
vb. 1. to ride, to mount a horse, etc. ...c1000
vb. 2. † to stand astride ...1526
vb. 3. to stand over a fallen man in order to defend him; to defend, to protect, to support ...1580
vb. 4. to stand over a place with the legs astride; to straddle over, to bestraddle ...1601
BESTRIKE
vb. †* to overspread, to do over, to anoint, to smear, to daub, to rub over with ...1527
BESTRIP
vb. † to strip clean; to deprive of or take away entirely ...1065
BEST ROOM
n. the old-fashioned front parlour of a house ...1907 Amer. dial.
BE STRUCK WITH A DART
vb. to be struck by the fairies ...1881 Ireland & Eng. dial.
BESTRUT
adj. † swollen ...1603
vb. to strut or walk pompously over ...1594
BESTRUTTED
adj. † swollen ...1648
BESTS
n. the best people ...c1050
BE STUCK IN A DAR
vb. † to be astonished or confounded ...Bk1900 Eng. dial.
BESTURTED
adj. startled, alarmed ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEST WAY
adj. better ...1892 Eng. dial.
BEST WAYS
adj. better ...1892 Eng. dial.
BEST WOMAN
n. a maid or matron of honour at a wedding ...1965 Amer. dial.
BESULLY
vb. to sully or soil badly ...a1635
BESWADDLE
vb. 1. †* to beat, to thrash, to 'swaddle' ...1598
vb. 2. †* to envelop in swaddling-clothes ...1755
BESWAK
vb. † to dash, to strike ...c1505 Sc.
BESWAPE
vb. †* to envelop, to entangle ...c980
BESWEAT
adj. † covered with sweat ...c1205
BESWEIK
vb. to cheat, to deceive ...Bk1898 Sc.
BESWIKE
vb. † to betray, to cheat, to deceive ...971
BESWIKER
n. † a deceiver ...1340
BESWIKING
n. † cheating, deception ...1340
BESWING
vb. † to swing about; to hang ...1571
BESWINGE
vb. † to beat soundly ...1568
BESWINK
vb. 1. †* to chastise ...c1175 (probably for beswinge)
vb. 2. † to labour for, to work for ...1377
BESWINKFUL
adj. †* toilsome ...a1225
BET
adj. 1. beaten, exhausted ...1843 Ireland & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. beaten, bruised ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adv. † better ...c888
n. a letter of the alphabet ...1969 Amer. dial.
BET, THE
n. the advantage ...c1340
BETAINT
vb. † to tinge ...1594
BETAKE
vb. 1. † to hand over, to deliver, to give up, to grant, to place at a person's disposal ...c1205 exc. Sc.
vb. 2. † to hand over to the care of; to entrust, to commit, to give in charge to ...1297
vb. 3. † to allot, to assign ...c1300
vb. 4. † to give in marriage ...1382
vb. 5. † to bid adieu, to say goodbye ...1642
vb. 6. to overtake, to capture, to recover ...1865 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 7. to resort, to have recourse to ...Bk1898 Sc.
BE TAKEN AWAY
vb. to die ...1898 Eng. dial.
BE TAKEN BAD
adj. discomfited ...1900s sl.
vb. to have fallen ill ...M19 sl.
BE TAKEN SHORT
vb. to have an urgent need to urinate or defecate ...1890 sl.
BETAKE ONESELF TO ONE'S HEELS
vb. to retreat in flight, to run away ...1598
BETALL
vb. † to pay ...1630
BETANGLEMENT
n. tangled condition ...1881
BE TARRED WITH THE SAME STICK
vb. to share undesirable qualities ...1817 Sc.
BETATTERED
adj. all in tatters, ragged ...1618
BETAWDER
vb. † to bedizen with tawdry finery, to adorn gaudily ...a1689
BETEACH
vb. 1. † to show, to point out ...c1000
vb. 2. † to hand over as a trust; to entrust, to commit, to give in charge to ...c1000
vb. 3. † to hand over, to deliver, to give up, to yield ...a1000
vb. 4. † to teach, to instruct ...a1300
vb. 5. † to allot, to assign ...a1300
vb. 6. † to bid adieu or goodbye ....c1314
BETEACH ONE GOOD DAY
vb. † to wish or bid one good day ...c1400
BETEAR
vb. † to suffuse with tears ...1580
BETCHELL
vb. to beat ...1857 Sc.
BETCHELLAN
n. a beating ...Bk1898 Sc.
BETCHELLIN'
n. a beating, a drubbing ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETEE
vb. 1. † to draw over as a covering; to cover, to veil ...c893
vb. 2. † to employ, to spend, to bestow time, pains, etc. ...c1175
vb. 3. † to pull or tug at ...c1205
vb. 4. † to bring about, to manage, to arrange ...c1205
BETEEM
vb. 1. † to think fit or proper; to vouchsafe, to grant, to consent ...1565
vb. 2. † to vouchsafe, to accord, to grant, to concede ...1590
vb. 3. †* to allow or permit to do something ...1602
vb. 4. †* to pour all about ...1618
vb. 5. † to think a person worthy, to admit the worth of ...1627
vb. 6. to bestow, to indulge with ...1790 Eng. dial.
vb. 7. * to give birth to ...1855
vb. 8. to demean, to lower ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETEEMING
n. * copious outpouring, profusion ...1871
BETELING BLOCK
n. a block of wood on which to beat clothes while washing ...1966 Amer. dial.
BETELL
vb. 1. † to speak for, to answer for, to justify ...1048
vb. 2. † to lay claim to; to win, to rescue ...c1205
vb. 3. † to speak of, to declare, to narrate ...c1205
vb. 4. † to calumniate, to deride, to deceive ...a1225
BETHANK
n. thanks, indebtedness, acknowledgement ...1826 Sc.
vb. †* to thank ...1593
BE THE DAD OF ALL RING-TAILS
vb. to excel in mischief, to be the ringleader ...Bk1900 Eng. dial.
BETHEL
n. 1. a place of worship for seamen ...1840
n. 2. any place of worship other than those of the established church; a nonconformist chapel ...1865
BETHERAL
n. an inferior church officer in Scotland, often combining those of clerk, beadle, sexton, gravedigger, bellringer ...1815 Sc.
BETHERELL
n. a bedridden person; a helpless cripple ...1790 Ireland
BETHERSHIN!
int. an expletive, it may be so ...1888 Ireland
BE THE WORSE FOR WEAR
vb. to be tipsy ...20C colloq.
BETHINK
vb. 1. † to think of or about; to bear in mind; to call to mind, to recollect ...a1000 obs. exc. Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. † to think of, to imagine, to conceive ...c1175
vb. 3. † to think over a thing with a view to decision or action; to consider ...c1220
vb. 4. † to devise, to contrive, to plan, to arrange ...a1225
vb. 5. to consider, to reflect, to meditate, to think ...c1300 arch.
vb. 6. † to think upon or remember a person ...c1320
vb. 7. † to regret, to repent, to grudge ...1682
vb. 8. to begrudge; to abstain from ...1842 Eng. dial.
vb. 9. to remind ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETHINKING
n. the act of thinking, considering, reflecting, or remembering ...1340
BETHOUGHT
adj. 1. † of a thing: intended, purposed, contrived ...c1200
adj. 2. † of a person: minded, disposed; chiefly in combination with well-, ill-, etc. ...c1205
BETHOUT
conj. unless ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
prep. without ...1800 Eng. dial.
BETHRALL
vb. †* to enthrall, to enslave ...1596
BE THRONG IN THE REED
vb. to be too much crowded ...1853-62 Ireland
BETHROUGH
prep. †* throughout ...c1425
BETHROW
vb. †* to twist about, to torture ...1393
BE THROWN BACK
vb. to suffer a relapse in illness ...1899 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETHUMP
vb. to thump soundly ...1595
BETHWACK
vb. to pelt, to thrash, to cudgel soundly ...1555
BETIDE
n. †* befalling, event, fortune, chance ...1590
vb. 1. to happen, to befall ...c1250
vb. 2. †* to become or befit anyone ...1554
BETIDER
n. †* that which befalls; an accident ...1674
BETIDING
n. † happening, occurrence ...c1374
BETIE
vb. † to tie round, to bind fast ...1578
BETIMBER
vb. † to build ...a1000
BETIME
adv. 1. † at an early hour, early in the day ...c1250 exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. † in good time, early, seasonably ...a1300
vb. † to betide, to happen, to befall ...a1225
BETIME
adv. early ...1875 Eng. dial.
BETIMED
adj. exhausted by fatigue ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETIMELY
adj. †* early ...1594
BETIMES
adv. 1. at an early time, period, or season; early in the year, early in life ...c1314 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. in good time, in due time; while there is yet time, before it is too late ...c1380
adv. 3. in a short time, soon, speedily, anon, forthwith ...c1400
adv. 4. at an early hour, early in the morning ...1481
adv. 5. occasionally, now and then ...Bk1911 Sc. & Amer. dial.
BETINE
vb. †* to set fire to ...1659
BET-LICK
n. the conquering blow ...1895 Sc.
BETOIL
vb. † to worry or exercise with toil ...1622
BETOKEN
vb. 1. † to signify, to mean; to denote, to express in words ...c1175
vb. 2. † to be a type or emblem of; to typify, to symbolize ...c1175
BET ONE'S BLUE BAR
vb. to be certain of something ...1970 Amer. dial.
BET ONE'S SHIRT ON
vb. to bet all one's money on, esp. a horse in a race ...1892
BETONGUE
vb. to assail with the tongue; to abuse ...1639
BE TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BRITCHES
vb. to assume more than one's proper authority; to feel important, independent, or disturbingly confident ...1835 Amer. dial.
BE TOOK
vb. 1. to be arrested ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to die ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BE TOOK BAD
adj. discomfited ...1900s sl.
vb. to have fallen ill ...M19 sl.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH A COLD
vb. to be extremely slow ...1966 Amer. dial.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH THE ITCH
vb. to be extremely slow ...1952 Amer. dial.
BE TOO SLOW TO CATCH THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH
vb. to be extremely slow ...1966 Amer. dial.
BETORN
adj. † torn; torn about the sides, tattered ...a1300
BE TO THE DOOR
vb. to be taken by surprise ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BETOTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
BETOTTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
BETOUCH-US-TOO!
int. † alas! well-a-day! ...1725 Sc.
BET-PIYAN
n. a polecat or skunk ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETRADE
vb. † to betray ...c1375
BETRAISE
vb. 1. † to betray ...a1300
vb. 2. † to be a traitor to; to be treacherous; to deceive the trustful or innocent ...c1374
vb. 3. † to reveal, to disclose incidentally ...c1400
vb. 4. † to seize, entrap, ensnare the unsuspecting ...c1400
BETRAISH
vb. 1. † to betray ...a1300
vb. 2. † to be a traitor to; to be treacherous; to deceive the trustful or innocent ...c1374
vb. 3. † to reveal, to disclose incidentally ...c1400
vb. 4. † to seize, entrap, ensnare the unsuspecting ...c1400
BETRAISING
n. † betraying ...c1385
BETRAP
vb. 1. † to catch in a trap; to entrap, to ensnare, to circumvent, to enclose ...a1000
vb. 2. † to deck, to adorn ...1509
BETRAUT
vb. † to betray ...c1400 N. Eng. dial.
BETRAVAIL
vb. 1. † to work at; to compose a book, to be the author of, to write ...1387
vb. 2. † to do violence to, to violate, to rape ...1388
vb. 3. † to work for; to earn by labour ...1393
BETRAY
n. †* a treacherous giving up to an enemy; betrayal ...1600
vb. † to cheat, to disappoint ...1588
BETRAYMENT
n. * betrayal ...1548
BETRAYNTED
adj. †* over-excited, borne or carried away ...1583
BETRENCH
vb. †* to cut up, to carve, to slash ...1656
BETREND
vb. † to wind or draw round; to encompass ...c1374
BETROTHED
adj. † plighted, pledged ...1651
BETROW
vb. † to trust ...1556
BETRUMP
vb. †* to deceive, to cheat; to elude, to slip from ...1513
BETRUMPET
vb. * to trumpet the praises of, to commend or praise loudly ...1828
BETRUST
n. † an entrusting, a trust ...1656
vb. 1. † to trust, to place confidence in a person ...c1440
vb. 2. † to entrust ...1619
BETRUSTED
adj. † trusted in, or confided in ...a1461
BETRUSTMENT
n. † an entrusting, a trust ...Bk1888
BETSEY
n. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
BETSY
n. 1. a gun; often applied to one's favourite gun ...1832 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a cow or calf ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 3. an automobile ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETTAMY
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTANT
adj. † in a hurry, hastening eagerly ...c1400
BETTER
adj. 1. of the hand or foot: the right ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. greater, more higher in price ...Bk1911 Sc.
adv. repeatedly; with renewed efforts ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. the best ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to improve in health ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER A LATE THRIVE THAN NEVER DO WELL
phr. † applied to one who marries or otherwise prospers late in life ...1892 Eng. dial.
BETTER-CHEAP
adj. cheaper, at a less price ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER END
n. the higher classes; a superior kind; the greater part, majority ...1848 Eng. dial.
BETTER FASHION
adj. recovering from illness ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTER FRACTION
n. one's wife ...World War II Amer. sl.
BETTERGATES
adv. in a better way or manner ...1892 Sc.
BETTER HALF
n. a spouse ...1842 sl.
BETTER HAND, THE
n. † the upper hand, superiority ...1523
BETTER HAVE THE QUEEN FOR ONE'S AUNT THAN THE KING FOR ONE'S UNCLE
phr. used to express the relative value of male and female influence ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BETTER HOYLE
n. a parlour ...1879 Eng. dial.
BETTERING
n. amendment ...1863 Eng. dial.
BETTERINGS
n. superiors, those in a higher position ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTERISH
adj. somewhat better, of somewhat superior sort ...colloq.
BETTER-LIKE
adj. better-looking; looking better in health, etc. ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERLINS
adv. better ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERLY
adj. better; superior ...1882 Eng. dial.
BETTERMENT
n. improvement ...1885 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETTERMER
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTERMORE
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTERMOST
adj. best, superior, above the average ...1744 colloq.
n. the advantage, the upper hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTERMY
adj. superior, better ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETTER PENNY
n. something in addition ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTER SIDE
n. what is more or older than ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTERSOME
adj. † better ...1843 Amer. dial.
BETTER SORT
n. the upper classes ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE HIND-END
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BETTER THAN A KICK IN THE PANTS
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE
adj. adequate ...1852
BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A BURNT STICK
adj. adequate ...1852
BETTER-TO-DO
adj. 1. above the well-to-do in social condition or worldly circumstances; more prosperous ...1898
adj. 2. well-off ...1970 Amer. dial.
BETTING TOOL
n. a racehorse ...Bk1942 Amer. turf sl.
BETTLE
n. a blow, a stroke ...Bk1911 Sc.
BETTY
n. 1. a nickname for the kettle ...1879 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a short crowbar, used by housebreakers ...Bk1896 sl.
n. 3. a country lass ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a chamber pot ...1912 Amer. dial.
n. 5. a woman; a schoolteacher ...1967 Amer. dial.
n. 6. a young attractive woman ...1989 US sl.
vb. to idle; to do petty work ...1882 Eng. dial.
BETTY ABOUT
vb. to fuss about, like a man who busies himself with a woman's duties ...1851 colloq.
BETTY-CAT
n. a she-cat ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETTYFUSS
n. a fussbudget ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETWADDLED
adj. infatuated; so in love as to be unable to use good judgement ...1927 Amer. dial.
BETWATTLE
vb. to bewilder ...1844 Eng. dial.
BETWATTLED
adj. 1. in a distressed and confused state of mind; confounded, bewildered, stupefied, surprised ...1790 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. hardly sober ...19C Eng. dial.
adj. 3. infatuated; so in love as to be unable to use good judgement ...1927 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
phr. without a satisfactory alternative; in difficulty; bewildered; perplexed; baffled ...Bk1942 Amer. colloq.
BETWEEN BUZZARD AND HAWK
adj. neither good nor bad, nondescript ...Bk1902 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN DAYLIGHT AND DAYLIGHT
phr. during the night ...1969 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN GRASS AND HAY
phr. between summer and winter ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN-HANDS
adv. at intervals ...1801 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BETWEEN HAWK AND BUZZARD
phr. 1. in a difficult or uncomfortable position ...1856 Amer. dial.
phr. 2. at twilight, when it is too dark to tell a hawk from a buzzard ...1912 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN HAY AND GRASS
phr. 1. between boyhood and manhood; not fully mature ...1848 Amer. dial.
phr. 2. vague; indefinite; inconclusive; colourless ...1928 Amer. dial.
phr. 3. between seasons of plenty, hence, in a difficult or uncomfortable position ...1939 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN JOBS
n. a short cigar ...1967 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN-MAID
n. a maidservant who assists both the cook and the housemaid ...1890
BETWEENS
n. intermediate things or events ...1872
BETWEENST
adv. between ...1887 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN THE BARK AND THE WOOD
phr. a well-adjusted bargain where neither party has the advantage ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE BEETLE AND THE BLOCK
adj. in a precarious or dangerous position ...1589
BETWEEN THE FACE AND EYES
phr. where a blow or shocking news hits ...1975 US sl.
BETWEEN THE LIGHTS
n. twilight ...1862 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE TINING AND THE WINNING
phr. said of being in a critical position, which may result either in ruin or in success ...1825 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS
adj. almost unconscious ...1893 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN TOWN AND TOWN
phr. while going from one place to another ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN TWO MINDS
adj. in doubt or suspense; undecided ...1862 Ireland & Sc.
BETWEENWHILES
adv. in the interval, at intervals ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND JACK MUM
adv. secretly, in confidence ...20C Irish sl.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE BED-POST
adv. told in confidence ...1830 sl.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE GATE-POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1871 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE LAMP POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1941 Amer. dial.
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE BED-POST
phr. in all confidence or secrecy ...1830
ׇBETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE POST
adv. secretly; in confidence ...1796 Amer. dial.
BETWEESH
prep. between ...1768 Sc. & Ireland
BETWI - BIBZ
BETWIT
vb. to upbraid, to taunt ...1678 Eng. dial.
BETWITCHELLED
adj. overcome with inquisitiveness ...19C Eng. dial.
BETWITTERED
adj. excited, frightened, overcome with pleasing excitement ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWITTING
n. upbraiding, reproach ...1869 Eng. dial.
BETWIX
prep. between ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETWIXEN
prep. between ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWIXT A BALK AND A BREAKDOWN
phr. of health; about average ...1884 Amer, dial.
BETWIXT AND BETWEEN
adj. mediocre ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
phr. a temporary insignificant task between more important jobs ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETWIXT AND BETWEENTIMES
adv. meanwhile ...1954 Amer. dial.
BETWIXT YOU AND ME AND THE GATE
phr. between ourselves ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEUCH
n. a person ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEUGH
n. a branch or bough of a tree ...1859 Eng. dial.
BE UH-UH
vb. to be friends with ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE UNCO
vb. to feel oneself a stranger ...Bk1905 Sc.
BE UNDER FULL STEAM
vb. to go at full speed ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE UNDER THE DAISY-MORES
vb. to be under the ground, to be buried ...1893 Eng. dial.
BE UP CACK STREET
vb. to be in trouble ...20C Brit. sl.
BE UP HER LIKE A RAT UP A DRAINPIPE
phr. the assumption that a woman will be freely, easily and speedily sexually available to the speaker ...1960s sl., orig. Aust.
BE UP HER LIKE A RAT UP A RHODODENDRON
phr. the assumption that a woman will be freely, easily and speedily sexually available to the speaker ...1960s sl., orig. Aust.
BE UP IN THE RALS
vb. to be in a great passion ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE UPON THEIR JACKS
vb. to have an advantage ...Bk1896 sl.
BE UPON VELVET
vb. to have an advantage ...1785
BE-U-TIFUL
adj. resplendently beautiful; gorgeous ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEVAAR
vb. to protect, to guard ...Bk1898 Sc.
BE VAST AGAINST ANYONE
vb. to be very much opposed to anyone ...Bk1905 N. Ireland
BEVEL
adj. aslant, not straight ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a strong push; a staggering blow ...1715 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a slope, a declivity ...1869 Eng. dial.
vb. to fit, to apply, to suit ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEVELLING
n. a beating ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVER
n. 1. light refreshment between meals; a snack ...E16 now chiefly colloq. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. any drink ...1851 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a shiver, a tremor; a state of trembling ...1854 Eng. dial.
n. 4. the quivering of the under-lip, which precedes crying ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to shake, to quiver, to tremble, esp. with cold or fear ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. of cold: to shrivel up, to pinch ..Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. of the lips or chin; to quiver, to tremble ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVERAGE
n. a fine, either in money, drink, or kisses, demanded of anyone on the first wearing of new clothes; esp. used in the phrase "to pay beverage" ...1870 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BEVERING
adj. trembling, quivering, shaking ...1863 Eng. dial.
n. the quivering of an infant's under-jaw when yawning ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVERLEY CROP
n. close-cropped hair ...1890 Eng. dial.
BEVER-TIME
n. an interval allowed for refreshment, in the morning and afternoon ...1859 Eng. dial.
BEVERY
adj. shivery, tremulous ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVIE
n. 1. a drink; usually applied specifically to a drink of beer ...1889 Brit. sl.
n. 2. a jog, a push ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 3. a large fire ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to drink alcohol ...1934 Brit. sl.
BEVIL
vb. to manage, to arrange ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEVIS
vb. to jump about; to stagger; to walk unsteadily ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVISH
n. unnecessary fuss or show; uncalled-for energy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to jump about; to stagger; to walk unsteadily ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVISING
adj. leaping, jumping ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVVER
vb. to quiver ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEVVIED
adj. drunk ...1960 sl.
BEVVY
n. a drink; usually applied specifically to a drink of beer ...1889 Brit. sl.
vb. to drink alcohol ...1934 Brit. sl.
BEVY
n. a drink, esp. of beer or other alcoholic liquor ...1889 sl.
vb. to drink, esp. beer or other alcoholic liquor ...1934 sl.
BEW
vb. to bend, to twist ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEWATTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
int. an exclamation of anger or vexation ...Bk1898 Eng. dial. 082
BEWAVE
vb. to lay wait for; to overcome by mean stratagem ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEWCASTLE
n. a term of reproach ...1883 Eng. dial.
BEWEEP
vb. to bewail ...1898 Eng. dial.
BEWER
n. a woman, esp. one seen as sexually appealing and/or of loose character ...E19 sl., orig. tramp
BEWEST
adv. to the west of ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEWRAY
vb. to defile with ordure, to dirty ...1678 Eng. dial.
BEWHAPPED
adj. † utterly confounded; bewildered, amazed, astonished ...c1320
BEWHATLED
adj. †* bewildered, out of one's wits ...1641
BEWHIVERED
adj. bewildered, confounded ...1790 Eng. dial.
BEWIDDIED
adj. bewildered; deranged ...1822 Sc.
BEWILDERED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWILL
vb. to cause to go astray ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE WILLING TO GIVE ONE'S EARS
vb. to be ready to make any sacrifice ...1883
BEWITCHED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITCHER
n. an attractive young woman ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITCHTRESS
n. an attractive young woman ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITH
n. a temporary substitute, a makeshift ...1724 Sc.
BEWIVERED
adj. bewildered, confounded ...1790 Eng. dial.
BE WORN TO THE BACK-HALF
vb. to be nearly worn out ...1825 Sc.
BE WORTH A PLUM
vb. to be rich ...c1710 colloq.
BE WORTH ONE'S CORN
vb. to be worth one's wages, one's keep ...M19 colloq., orig. farmers'
BEWOTTLE
vb. to confuse or render light-headed ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE WRAPPED IN HIS MOTHER'S SMOCK
vb. to be born lucky ...18C
BEWRAYED
adj. seized with a foolish fit of talking ...1790 Eng. dial.
BEWREAK
vb. † to revenge ...1422-61
BE WRONG IN ONE'S GARRET
vb. to be foolish or wanting in intellect, or suffering from temporary delirium ...1869 sl.
BEY
n. a room of a cottage or house ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYOND ONE'S DEPTH
phr. beyond the range of one's competence or understanding
BEYOND THE BEYOND
adj. unexpected, incredible, out of the way ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
n. a very out-of-the-way place ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
BEYONT
adv. beyond, yonder ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYON'-THE-BEYONT
adj. quite incredible; quite out of the way ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE YOUR AGE!
int. a term of contempt based on condemning someone who the speaker considers is acting childishly ...1920s sl., orig. US
BEYSAND
adj. quite at a loss; benumbed; stupefied ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYURN
vb. to raise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEYZLESS
adj. extreme ...Bk1911 Sc.
adv. extremely ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEZLE
vb. to talk ignorantly or at random ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEZOM-HEAD
n. a foolish, stupid person ...1889 Eng. dial.
BEZONIAN
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1592
n. 2. † as a term of contempt: a needy beggar, a poor wretch; a base fellow, a mean, low person; a knave, a rascal, a scoundrel ...1592
BEZONTER ME!
int. an expletive denoting surprise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZOOMS
n. breasts ...1928 sl., orig. US
BEZZLE
vb. 1. to waste, to squander; also, to embezzle ...1703 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to drink immoderately; occasionally, to be gluttonous ...1746 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to slope, to bevel ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLED
adj. drunk, besotted with drink ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLER
n. 1. a drunkard ...1886 Eng. dial.
n. 2. anything very large of its kind ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLING
adj. gluttonous, intemperate ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
B.F.
n. 1. a foolish person, a 'bloody fool' ...1925 sl., orig. Brit. services' usage
n. 2. a boyfriend ...1920s US college sl.
n. 3. a pimp ...1930s sl.
n. 4. in a lesbian couple: the 'male' ...1970s US homosexual sl.
vb. 1. to subject to anal intercourse ...1960s US sl.
vb. 2. to treat unfairly; to cheat; to deceive ...1970s sl.
vb. 3. to injure ...1980s US sl.
B.F.A.
n. somewhere very far away (Butt Fucking Africa) ...1980s US college sl.
B.F.D.!
int. so what! I should care less! (Big Fucking Deal) ...1960s US sl.
B.F.E.
n. somewhere very far away (Butt Fucking Egypt) ...1980s US college sl.
B FLAT
n. a bug; a bedbug ...1853
B.G.
n. a Baby Gangster, one who is a member of a gang, but has yet to shoot or kill anyone ...1980s sl., orig. US Black & teen sl.
phr. before girls enlisted and complicated the army ...Bk1944 service sl.
B-GIRL
n. 1. a woman employed to encourage customers to buy drinks in a bar ...1936 US sl.
n. 2. a part-time prostitute, who frequents bars and uses them as a base for soliciting ...1930s sl., orig. US
n. 3. a homosexual who frequents bars and uses them as a base for soliciting ...1960s US homosexual sl.
n. 4. a Black female teenager, focused on rap music and the ghetto street lifestyle ...1980s US Black sl.
B-HEAD
n. a user of Benzedrine ...1950s drugs sl.
B'HOY
n. a rough or rowdy ...1846 US
BI
adj. bisexual ...1956 sl.
BIAS
adv. 1. † off the straight, awry ...E17
adv. 2. very ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. accustomed place or direction; also, usual procedure or habit ...1892 Eng. dial.
BIB
n. 1. a small drink; a sip; a small quantity of food ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the stomach ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to drink continuously, but in small quantities; to tipple ...1781 Eng. dial.
BIBACIOUS
adj. given to drinking ...L17
BIBACITY
n. addiction to drinking, tippling ...L16
BIB-ALL-NIGHT
n. a heavy drinker, a drunkard, a confirmed toper ...1612 colloq.
BIB AND TUCKER
n. smart, holiday clothes ...1890 Eng. dial.
BIBATION
n. tippling; a drinking bout ...M19
BIBBED
adj. dressed up, decked out ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIBBED UP
adj. dressed up, decked out ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIBBER
n. 1. a tippler ...M16
n. 2. a tremor, a state of trembling ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to tremble, to shake ...1790 Eng. dial.
BIBBERING
adj. quaking, trembling ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBBLE
n. 1. a pebble, stone, fossil ...1895 Eng. dial.
n. 2. nonsense ...19C Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. tipple, drink, beverage ...19C Eng. dial.
vb. 1. † to drink frequently, to tipple ...a1529 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to eat like a duck, gathering up food and water together ...1552
vb. 3. to shed tears; to cry and sob; to snivel ...19C Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIBBLE-BABBLE
n. idle talk, prating ...M16
vb. to indulge in idle talk ...1888
BIBBLER
n. a tippler ...M16
BIBBLES
n. 1. mucus from the nose ...19C Sc.
n. 2. nonsensical talk ...19C Irish
BIBBLIE
adj. snotty; blubbering ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBBLIE-GAUGER
n. the nose ...1881 Sc.
BIBBLIN
n. a nearly fledged chick of any bird ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBBLING
adj. drinking ...1867 Eng. dial.
BIBELOT
n. a small curio or artistic trinket ...L19
BIBITION
n. drinking; a bout of drinking ...L15
BIBITORY
adj. * pertaining to drinking or tippling ...1696
BIBLE
n. 1. a book of any kind ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 2. the truth ...1920s US Black sl.
n. 3. the Army Field Manual ...Bk1944 service sl.
vb. to administer a flogging ...1859 Winchester School sl.
BIBLE-BACK
n. a hump-backed or round-shouldered person ...1890 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BIBLE-BACKED
adj. hump-backed or round-shouldered ...1857
BIBLE-BANGER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy; an enthusiastically religious person ...1885 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ
BIBLE-BANGING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...colloq.
BIBLE-BASHER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy; an enthusiastically religious person ...1885 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ
BIBLE-BASHING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...colloq.
BIBLE-OATH
n. a very solemn oath ...1836 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-POUNDER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-POUNDING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLE-PUNCHER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-PUNCHING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLER
n. a great Bible reader ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-SCANT
adj. neglected in a religious sense ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-THUMPER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-THUMPING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLE-TRUTH
n. God's truth ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLIOGRAPH
n. * a bibliographer ...E19
vb. to compile a bibliography of; to provide with a bibliography ...M20
BIBLIOGRAPHER
n. 1. † a writer of books; a copyist ...M17
n. 2. a practitioner of bibliography ...L18
BIBLIOGRAPHIZE
vb. to compile a bibliography of ...E19
BIBLIOGRAPHY
n. 1. † the writing of books ...L17
n. 2. a list of books of a particular author, printer, etc.; a list of works consulted in a scholarly work; a reading list ...E19
n. 3. the history or systematic description of books ...E19
BIBLIOKLEPT
n. a book thief ...L19
BIBLIOLATRY
n. extravagant admiration of a book or for books ...M18
BIBLIOLOGY
n. the branch of knowledge dealing with books, book-lore, bibliography ...E19
BIBLIOMANCY
n. divination by books; divination by verses of the Bible ...M18
BIBLIOMANE
n. one who has a passion for collecting and possessing books ...a1824
BIBLIOMANIA
n. a passion for the collecting and possession of books ...M18
BIBLIOMANIAC
adj. given to bibliomania ...E19
n. a person afflicted with bibliomania ...E19
BIBLIOPEGY
n. bookbinding as a fine art ...L19
BIBLIOPHIL; BIBLIOPHILE
n. a lover of books; a book collector ...E19
BIBLIOPHILIST
n. a lover of books ...1819
BIBLIOPHILY
n. love of books ...L19
BIBLIOPOLE
n. a dealer in books, esp. rare books ...L18
BIBLIOPOLIST
n. a dealer in books, esp. rare books; a bookseller ...1541
BIBLIOPOLY
n. bookselling ...M19
BIBLIOTHEC
adj. belonging to a library or librarian ...M17
n. a librarian ...M17
BIBLIOTHECA
n. 1. † the Bible ...OE
n. 2. a collection of books; a library; a bibliographer's catalogue ...E19
BIBLIOTHECAL
adj. belonging to a library ...E19
BIBLIOTHECAR
n. a librarian ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBLIOTHECARY
n. 1. † a library ...L16
n. 2. a librarian ...E17
BIBLIOTHECK
n. a library ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBLIOTHÈQUE
n. a library ...M16
BIBLIOTHERAPY
n. the use of reading matter for therapeutic purposes ...E20
BIBLIOTHETIC
adj. relating to the placing and arrangement of books on the shelves of a library ...1901
BIBLOPHILIC
adj. pert. to bibliophiles or bibliophily ...L19
BIBSTER
n. † a seller of ale ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBULATE
vb. to bibble or tipple ...1767
BIBULOSITY
n. addictedness to tippling ...1901
BIBULOUS
adj. 1. absorbent of moisture ...L17
adj. 2. relating to drink ...E19
adj. 3. given to drinking alcoholic liquors ...M19
BIBULOUSNESS
n. addictedness to tippling ...1844
vb. to upbraid, to taunt ...1678 Eng. dial.
BETWITCHELLED
adj. overcome with inquisitiveness ...19C Eng. dial.
BETWITTERED
adj. excited, frightened, overcome with pleasing excitement ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWITTING
n. upbraiding, reproach ...1869 Eng. dial.
BETWIX
prep. between ...1843 Eng. dial.
BETWIXEN
prep. between ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BETWIXT A BALK AND A BREAKDOWN
phr. of health; about average ...1884 Amer, dial.
BETWIXT AND BETWEEN
adj. mediocre ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
phr. a temporary insignificant task between more important jobs ...1968 Amer. dial.
BETWIXT AND BETWEENTIMES
adv. meanwhile ...1954 Amer. dial.
BETWIXT YOU AND ME AND THE GATE
phr. between ourselves ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEUCH
n. a person ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEUGH
n. a branch or bough of a tree ...1859 Eng. dial.
BE UH-UH
vb. to be friends with ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE UNCO
vb. to feel oneself a stranger ...Bk1905 Sc.
BE UNDER FULL STEAM
vb. to go at full speed ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BE UNDER THE DAISY-MORES
vb. to be under the ground, to be buried ...1893 Eng. dial.
BE UP CACK STREET
vb. to be in trouble ...20C Brit. sl.
BE UP HER LIKE A RAT UP A DRAINPIPE
phr. the assumption that a woman will be freely, easily and speedily sexually available to the speaker ...1960s sl., orig. Aust.
BE UP HER LIKE A RAT UP A RHODODENDRON
phr. the assumption that a woman will be freely, easily and speedily sexually available to the speaker ...1960s sl., orig. Aust.
BE UP IN THE RALS
vb. to be in a great passion ...Bk1905 Eng. dial.
BE UPON THEIR JACKS
vb. to have an advantage ...Bk1896 sl.
BE UPON VELVET
vb. to have an advantage ...1785
BE-U-TIFUL
adj. resplendently beautiful; gorgeous ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEVAAR
vb. to protect, to guard ...Bk1898 Sc.
BE VAST AGAINST ANYONE
vb. to be very much opposed to anyone ...Bk1905 N. Ireland
BEVEL
adj. aslant, not straight ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a strong push; a staggering blow ...1715 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a slope, a declivity ...1869 Eng. dial.
vb. to fit, to apply, to suit ...Bk1898 Sc.
BEVELLING
n. a beating ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVER
n. 1. light refreshment between meals; a snack ...E16 now chiefly colloq. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. any drink ...1851 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a shiver, a tremor; a state of trembling ...1854 Eng. dial.
n. 4. the quivering of the under-lip, which precedes crying ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to shake, to quiver, to tremble, esp. with cold or fear ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. of cold: to shrivel up, to pinch ..Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. of the lips or chin; to quiver, to tremble ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVERAGE
n. a fine, either in money, drink, or kisses, demanded of anyone on the first wearing of new clothes; esp. used in the phrase "to pay beverage" ...1870 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BEVERING
adj. trembling, quivering, shaking ...1863 Eng. dial.
n. the quivering of an infant's under-jaw when yawning ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVERLEY CROP
n. close-cropped hair ...1890 Eng. dial.
BEVER-TIME
n. an interval allowed for refreshment, in the morning and afternoon ...1859 Eng. dial.
BEVERY
adj. shivery, tremulous ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVIE
n. 1. a drink; usually applied specifically to a drink of beer ...1889 Brit. sl.
n. 2. a jog, a push ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 3. a large fire ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to drink alcohol ...1934 Brit. sl.
BEVIL
vb. to manage, to arrange ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEVIS
vb. to jump about; to stagger; to walk unsteadily ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVISH
n. unnecessary fuss or show; uncalled-for energy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to jump about; to stagger; to walk unsteadily ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVISING
adj. leaping, jumping ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEVVER
vb. to quiver ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEVVIED
adj. drunk ...1960 sl.
BEVVY
n. a drink; usually applied specifically to a drink of beer ...1889 Brit. sl.
vb. to drink alcohol ...1934 Brit. sl.
BEVY
n. a drink, esp. of beer or other alcoholic liquor ...1889 sl.
vb. to drink, esp. beer or other alcoholic liquor ...1934 sl.
BEW
vb. to bend, to twist ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEWATTLED
adj. confused, distressed, bewildered, stupid ...1790 Eng. dial.
int. an exclamation of anger or vexation ...Bk1898 Eng. dial. 082
BEWAVE
vb. to lay wait for; to overcome by mean stratagem ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEWCASTLE
n. a term of reproach ...1883 Eng. dial.
BEWEEP
vb. to bewail ...1898 Eng. dial.
BEWER
n. a woman, esp. one seen as sexually appealing and/or of loose character ...E19 sl., orig. tramp
BEWEST
adv. to the west of ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEWRAY
vb. to defile with ordure, to dirty ...1678 Eng. dial.
BEWHAPPED
adj. † utterly confounded; bewildered, amazed, astonished ...c1320
BEWHATLED
adj. †* bewildered, out of one's wits ...1641
BEWHIVERED
adj. bewildered, confounded ...1790 Eng. dial.
BEWIDDIED
adj. bewildered; deranged ...1822 Sc.
BEWILDERED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWILL
vb. to cause to go astray ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE WILLING TO GIVE ONE'S EARS
vb. to be ready to make any sacrifice ...1883
BEWITCHED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITCHER
n. an attractive young woman ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITCHTRESS
n. an attractive young woman ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BEWITH
n. a temporary substitute, a makeshift ...1724 Sc.
BEWIVERED
adj. bewildered, confounded ...1790 Eng. dial.
BE WORN TO THE BACK-HALF
vb. to be nearly worn out ...1825 Sc.
BE WORTH A PLUM
vb. to be rich ...c1710 colloq.
BE WORTH ONE'S CORN
vb. to be worth one's wages, one's keep ...M19 colloq., orig. farmers'
BEWOTTLE
vb. to confuse or render light-headed ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BE WRAPPED IN HIS MOTHER'S SMOCK
vb. to be born lucky ...18C
BEWRAYED
adj. seized with a foolish fit of talking ...1790 Eng. dial.
BEWREAK
vb. † to revenge ...1422-61
BE WRONG IN ONE'S GARRET
vb. to be foolish or wanting in intellect, or suffering from temporary delirium ...1869 sl.
BEY
n. a room of a cottage or house ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYOND ONE'S DEPTH
phr. beyond the range of one's competence or understanding
BEYOND THE BEYOND
adj. unexpected, incredible, out of the way ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
n. a very out-of-the-way place ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
BEYONT
adv. beyond, yonder ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYON'-THE-BEYONT
adj. quite incredible; quite out of the way ...Bk1911 Sc.
BE YOUR AGE!
int. a term of contempt based on condemning someone who the speaker considers is acting childishly ...1920s sl., orig. US
BEYSAND
adj. quite at a loss; benumbed; stupefied ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEYURN
vb. to raise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEYZLESS
adj. extreme ...Bk1911 Sc.
adv. extremely ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEZLE
vb. to talk ignorantly or at random ...Bk1911 Sc.
BEZOM-HEAD
n. a foolish, stupid person ...1889 Eng. dial.
BEZONIAN
n. 1. † a raw recruit ...1592
n. 2. † as a term of contempt: a needy beggar, a poor wretch; a base fellow, a mean, low person; a knave, a rascal, a scoundrel ...1592
BEZONTER ME!
int. an expletive denoting surprise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZOOMS
n. breasts ...1928 sl., orig. US
BEZZLE
vb. 1. to waste, to squander; also, to embezzle ...1703 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to drink immoderately; occasionally, to be gluttonous ...1746 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to slope, to bevel ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLED
adj. drunk, besotted with drink ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLER
n. 1. a drunkard ...1886 Eng. dial.
n. 2. anything very large of its kind ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BEZZLING
adj. gluttonous, intemperate ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
B.F.
n. 1. a foolish person, a 'bloody fool' ...1925 sl., orig. Brit. services' usage
n. 2. a boyfriend ...1920s US college sl.
n. 3. a pimp ...1930s sl.
n. 4. in a lesbian couple: the 'male' ...1970s US homosexual sl.
vb. 1. to subject to anal intercourse ...1960s US sl.
vb. 2. to treat unfairly; to cheat; to deceive ...1970s sl.
vb. 3. to injure ...1980s US sl.
B.F.A.
n. somewhere very far away (Butt Fucking Africa) ...1980s US college sl.
B.F.D.!
int. so what! I should care less! (Big Fucking Deal) ...1960s US sl.
B.F.E.
n. somewhere very far away (Butt Fucking Egypt) ...1980s US college sl.
B FLAT
n. a bug; a bedbug ...1853
B.G.
n. a Baby Gangster, one who is a member of a gang, but has yet to shoot or kill anyone ...1980s sl., orig. US Black & teen sl.
phr. before girls enlisted and complicated the army ...Bk1944 service sl.
B-GIRL
n. 1. a woman employed to encourage customers to buy drinks in a bar ...1936 US sl.
n. 2. a part-time prostitute, who frequents bars and uses them as a base for soliciting ...1930s sl., orig. US
n. 3. a homosexual who frequents bars and uses them as a base for soliciting ...1960s US homosexual sl.
n. 4. a Black female teenager, focused on rap music and the ghetto street lifestyle ...1980s US Black sl.
B-HEAD
n. a user of Benzedrine ...1950s drugs sl.
B'HOY
n. a rough or rowdy ...1846 US
BI
adj. bisexual ...1956 sl.
BIAS
adv. 1. † off the straight, awry ...E17
adv. 2. very ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. accustomed place or direction; also, usual procedure or habit ...1892 Eng. dial.
BIB
n. 1. a small drink; a sip; a small quantity of food ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. the stomach ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to drink continuously, but in small quantities; to tipple ...1781 Eng. dial.
BIBACIOUS
adj. given to drinking ...L17
BIBACITY
n. addiction to drinking, tippling ...L16
BIB-ALL-NIGHT
n. a heavy drinker, a drunkard, a confirmed toper ...1612 colloq.
BIB AND TUCKER
n. smart, holiday clothes ...1890 Eng. dial.
BIBATION
n. tippling; a drinking bout ...M19
BIBBED
adj. dressed up, decked out ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIBBED UP
adj. dressed up, decked out ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIBBER
n. 1. a tippler ...M16
n. 2. a tremor, a state of trembling ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. to tremble, to shake ...1790 Eng. dial.
BIBBERING
adj. quaking, trembling ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBBLE
n. 1. a pebble, stone, fossil ...1895 Eng. dial.
n. 2. nonsense ...19C Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. tipple, drink, beverage ...19C Eng. dial.
vb. 1. † to drink frequently, to tipple ...a1529 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to eat like a duck, gathering up food and water together ...1552
vb. 3. to shed tears; to cry and sob; to snivel ...19C Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIBBLE-BABBLE
n. idle talk, prating ...M16
vb. to indulge in idle talk ...1888
BIBBLER
n. a tippler ...M16
BIBBLES
n. 1. mucus from the nose ...19C Sc.
n. 2. nonsensical talk ...19C Irish
BIBBLIE
adj. snotty; blubbering ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBBLIE-GAUGER
n. the nose ...1881 Sc.
BIBBLIN
n. a nearly fledged chick of any bird ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBBLING
adj. drinking ...1867 Eng. dial.
BIBELOT
n. a small curio or artistic trinket ...L19
BIBITION
n. drinking; a bout of drinking ...L15
BIBITORY
adj. * pertaining to drinking or tippling ...1696
BIBLE
n. 1. a book of any kind ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 2. the truth ...1920s US Black sl.
n. 3. the Army Field Manual ...Bk1944 service sl.
vb. to administer a flogging ...1859 Winchester School sl.
BIBLE-BACK
n. a hump-backed or round-shouldered person ...1890 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BIBLE-BACKED
adj. hump-backed or round-shouldered ...1857
BIBLE-BANGER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy; an enthusiastically religious person ...1885 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ
BIBLE-BANGING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...colloq.
BIBLE-BASHER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy; an enthusiastically religious person ...1885 sl., chiefly Aust. & NZ
BIBLE-BASHING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...colloq.
BIBLE-OATH
n. a very solemn oath ...1836 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-POUNDER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-POUNDING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLE-PUNCHER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-PUNCHING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLER
n. a great Bible reader ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-SCANT
adj. neglected in a religious sense ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLE-THUMPER
n. a person who expounds or follows the Bible in an aggressive way, esp. an evangelical member of the clergy ...1889 colloq.
BIBLE-THUMPING
adj. aggressively expounding or following the Bible ...1951 colloq.
BIBLE-TRUTH
n. God's truth ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBLIOGRAPH
n. * a bibliographer ...E19
vb. to compile a bibliography of; to provide with a bibliography ...M20
BIBLIOGRAPHER
n. 1. † a writer of books; a copyist ...M17
n. 2. a practitioner of bibliography ...L18
BIBLIOGRAPHIZE
vb. to compile a bibliography of ...E19
BIBLIOGRAPHY
n. 1. † the writing of books ...L17
n. 2. a list of books of a particular author, printer, etc.; a list of works consulted in a scholarly work; a reading list ...E19
n. 3. the history or systematic description of books ...E19
BIBLIOKLEPT
n. a book thief ...L19
BIBLIOLATRY
n. extravagant admiration of a book or for books ...M18
BIBLIOLOGY
n. the branch of knowledge dealing with books, book-lore, bibliography ...E19
BIBLIOMANCY
n. divination by books; divination by verses of the Bible ...M18
BIBLIOMANE
n. one who has a passion for collecting and possessing books ...a1824
BIBLIOMANIA
n. a passion for the collecting and possession of books ...M18
BIBLIOMANIAC
adj. given to bibliomania ...E19
n. a person afflicted with bibliomania ...E19
BIBLIOPEGY
n. bookbinding as a fine art ...L19
BIBLIOPHIL; BIBLIOPHILE
n. a lover of books; a book collector ...E19
BIBLIOPHILIST
n. a lover of books ...1819
BIBLIOPHILY
n. love of books ...L19
BIBLIOPOLE
n. a dealer in books, esp. rare books ...L18
BIBLIOPOLIST
n. a dealer in books, esp. rare books; a bookseller ...1541
BIBLIOPOLY
n. bookselling ...M19
BIBLIOTHEC
adj. belonging to a library or librarian ...M17
n. a librarian ...M17
BIBLIOTHECA
n. 1. † the Bible ...OE
n. 2. a collection of books; a library; a bibliographer's catalogue ...E19
BIBLIOTHECAL
adj. belonging to a library ...E19
BIBLIOTHECAR
n. a librarian ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBLIOTHECARY
n. 1. † a library ...L16
n. 2. a librarian ...E17
BIBLIOTHECK
n. a library ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIBLIOTHÈQUE
n. a library ...M16
BIBLIOTHERAPY
n. the use of reading matter for therapeutic purposes ...E20
BIBLIOTHETIC
adj. relating to the placing and arrangement of books on the shelves of a library ...1901
BIBLOPHILIC
adj. pert. to bibliophiles or bibliophily ...L19
BIBSTER
n. † a seller of ale ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIBULATE
vb. to bibble or tipple ...1767
BIBULOSITY
n. addictedness to tippling ...1901
BIBULOUS
adj. 1. absorbent of moisture ...L17
adj. 2. relating to drink ...E19
adj. 3. given to drinking alcoholic liquors ...M19
BIBULOUSNESS
n. addictedness to tippling ...1844
BIC - BIGLZ
BIC
vb. to understand ...1980 US military in Vietnam usage
BICHO
n. the penis ...1967 US sl. (Spanish)
BICK
n. a sluttish woman ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. to leave alone ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. 2. to pat gently ...Bk1898 Sc.
BICKER
n. 1. a quick movement; the noise caused by a succession of rapid strokes ...1785 Sc.
n. 2. a skirmish, a fight; a scrimmage ...1824 Sc.
n. 3. a wooden beaker or drinking cup; a porridge dish; a bowl ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. to move quickly; of a stream: to ripple, to flow ...1789 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to attack with repeated strokes, to pelt with stones; to strike repeatedly ...1827 Sc.
vb. 3. to indulge in rough or indelicate horseplay ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to move quickly and noisily ...Bk1911 Sc.
BICKER-CUT
n. hair-cutting by means of a bowl placed on the head ...Bk1911 Sc.
BICKERING
adj. hurrying, rushing ...1865 Sc.
BICKNING
n. a beacon, the summit of a hill ...1888 Eng. dial.
BICKY
n. 1. the game of hide and seek ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a child's word for a biscuit ...E20
vb. in the game of hide and seek: to hide one's eyes in order not to see where the others go to conceal themselves ...1887 Eng. dial.
BICYCLE
n. 1. a published translation of a foreign language work ...1900 US students' usage
n. 2. a motorcycle ...1937 US sl.
n. 3. a bisexual ...1982 US sl.
vb. in boxing: to jog backward from an opponent in the ring ...1949 US sl.
BID
n. 1. a request or an invitation ...1892 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an Irish servant-girl ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 3. a prison sentence ...1965 US prison sl.
vb. 1. to invite, esp. to a wedding or funeral, at which attendance is regarded as compulsory ...1805 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to desire, to wish ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to pray ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BID A BEAD
vb. to offer a prayer ...c1250
BIDACIOUSLY
adv. thoroughly, completely, extremely ...1915 Amer. dial.
BID BASE
vb. † to challenge ...1548
BIDDABLE
adj. obedient, docile ...1892 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIDDABLENESS
n. docility; compliance ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDDABLY
adv. obediently, meekly ...1895 Sc.
BIDDELS
n. † the guests invited to a funeral ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDENABLE
adj. obedient, docile ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDDER
n. a person sent to invite the guests to a funeral, or occasionally to a wedding ...1825 Eng. dial.
BIDDIE
n. an attractive little girl or small old woman ...1940s US Black sl.
BIDDING
n. 1. an invitation, esp. to a funeral or wedding ...1655 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a wedding party at which a collection, in money or kind, is made for the bride and bridegroom ...1849 Sc.
BIDDING-BELL
n. the funeral bell, a small bell used immediately before the commencement of service ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDING-FEAST
n. a funeral repast ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDLE-BADDLE
adj. trifling, of small account ...1886 Eng. dial.
BIDDY
n. 1. † a chicken; a fowl ...E17 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. (now mainly derogatory except in US Black use) an Irish maidservant ...1785 sl.
n. 3. (somewhat derogatory) a woman, esp. a young woman ...1785 sl.
n. 4. a louse; occasionally, a flea ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a fussy, mean or quarrelsome old woman (usually as 'old biddy') ...1938 sl.
n. 6. an old ewe ...1939 Amer. dial.
n. 7. an attractive little girl or small old woman ...1940s US Black sl.
int. a call to fowls, ducks, or swans ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDY-BASE
vb. of children: to run backwards and forwards, to patter about ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDY COOP
n. a chicken coop ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-HEN
n. a hen ...1907 Amer. dial.
BIDDYKIN
n. 1. a little chicken...1952 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a little person ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-PECK
vb. to nag, to hen-peck ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-PECKED
adj. henpecked ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIDDY PEN
n. a chicken coop ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIDDY'S EYES
n. the pansy, Viola tricolor ...1825 Eng. dial.
BIDE
n. pain, suffering ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to tolerate, to endure ...1914 Amer. dial.
BIDEABLE
adj. bearable, tolerable ...1923 Amer. dial.
BIDE-ABOUT
vb. 1. to be given to drinking ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to loiter ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDE A WEE
vb. to stay a while ...1918 Sc.
BIDGE
vb. to buy ...1388 Eng. dial.
BIDGEE WHALER
n. an itinerant tramp whose 'beat' focuses on the rivers of New South Wales ...M19 Aust. sl.
BIDING
prep. excepting, except; in spite of ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. endurance; enduring ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDINGS
n. sufferings ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDNESS
n. business ...1850s US Black sl.
BIDSTAND
n. † a highwayman
BID THE TIME OF DAY
vb. to wish good-morning ...1892 Eng. dial.
BIE!
int. come!; used as a call to chickens ...1924 Amer. dial.
BIEL
n. a shelter, refuge; a home, house; anything that shelters or shades ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to shelter, to protect; to take shelter ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIELD
adj. sheltered ...1801 Sc.
n. shelter, refuge; also, a house, any object with shelters ...1725 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. to shelter, to protect; also, to take shelter ...1865 Eng. dial.
BIELDING
n. shelter; protection ...1724 Sc.
BIELDY
adj. snug, sheltered; affording shelter or warmth ...1789 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIELY
adj. furnishing shelter; snug ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIEN
adj. 1. good; excellent; first-rate ...16C sl.
adj. 2. snug, comfortable, cosy ...1725 Sc.
adj. 3. thriving, well-to-do ...1816 Sc.
n. £1 ... Bk1903 sl.
BIEN-LIKE
adj. having an appearance of comfort and well-being ...1808 Sc.
BIENLY
adv. comfortably, easily, happily ...1788 Sc.
BIENNESS
n. prosperity, comfort, the condition of being well-to-do ...1818 Sc.
BIER
n. 1. †* a wave, a billow ...1250
n. 2. a shout; a complaint ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to roar as a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIERLY
adj. big, burly ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIF
n. a sharp or quick blow ...1890 Amer. dial.
vb. to strike or hit ...1890 Amer. dial.
int. exclamation uttered when something strikes an object ...1905
BIFARIOUS
adj. † two-fold, double, ambiguous; capable of being interpreted in two ways; that may be understood two ways ...1656 arch. or obs.
BIFF
adv. with a short, sharp blow ...1847 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a whack, a hard punch or blow; a slap ...1847 Amer. sl.
n. 2. the bough of a tree ...1884 Eng. dial.
n. 3. in baseball: a base hit ...1908 US sl.
n. 4. zest; liveliness; zip ...1918 US sl.
n. 5. an offensive, unattractive, or promiscuous woman ...1929-32 US sl., chiefly Black usage
n. 6. a dumb, dunce-like girl ...1929-32 US sl.
n. 7. a lavatory ...1956 US sl.
n. 8. a black eye ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to whack, to hit hard, to strike ...1888 sl.
vb. 2. to refuse; to repulse ...1895 US students' sl.
vb. 3. to do a thing well ...1894 US Naval Academy usage
vb. 4. to study hard ...1900 US students' sl.
vb. 5. to fail ...1989 US students' sl.
int. used to describe the sound of a blow with the fist ...1924 Amer. dial.
BIFF-BANG
adv. noisily ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIFF-BOOM-BANG
adv. noisily ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIFFED
adj. drunk ...1925 US sl.
BIFFER
n. an offensive, unattractive, or promiscuous woman ...1929-32 US sl., chiefly Black usage
BIFFING
n. a beating ...1975 US sl.
BIFFY
adj. intoxicated with alcohol ...20C Brit. sl.
n. 1. a nickname for a short, pursy fellow ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 2. a lavatory ...1942 US sl.
BIG
adj. 1. great, important; of high position or standing ...1597 colloq.
adj. 2. of the wind: strong, violent ...1641 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. proud, haughty, consequential, conceited ...1828 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 4. great with young, pregnant ...1855 Eng. dial.
adj. 5. of money: in large amounts ...1887 US colloq.
adj. 6. of a river or water: swollen, in flood ...1890 Eng. dial.
adj. 7. friendly, intimate, 'thick' ...Bk1898 Sc.
adj. 8. of a frost: severe ...1967 Amer. dial.
adj. 9. well-known, as by word of mouth ...1970 US sl.
adv. conspicuously; notably; also, with great success, to a great extent ...1865
n. 1. a pap, or teat ...1682 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an influential, important, or celebrated person; a big shot ...1948 US sl.
vb. 1. to build ...1737 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to make big, to magnify ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to build a nest ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to make pregnant ...1917 Amer. dial.
vb. 5. to exaggerate ...1972 Amer. dial.
BIG 8
n. one eighth kilogram of crack ...20C drugs sl.
BIG A
n. 1. an Atlas ICBM ...1959 US Air Force usage
n. 2. Atlanta, Georgia ...1976 US sl.
n. 3. Australia ...1987 US sl.
BIG A, THE
n. 1. a city or other named entity that bears the initial A ...1955 US sl.
n. 2. New York City ...1980 US sl.
n. 3. the disease AIDS ...1986 US sl.
BIG AMERICA
n. the United States ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGAMIZE
vb. to commit bigamy ...a1861 US
BIG AND PRONTO
adv. immediately; shortly ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ANIMAL
n. a bull ...19C US rural euphemism
BIG APPLE
n. any big city or town ...1944 US sl.
BIG APPLE, THE
n. 1. Broadway and the jazz and entertainment centres of New York City; hence, New York City itself ...1909 US sl.
n. 2. in horse racing: the New York metropolitan racing circuit, including the major Long Island tracks ...1921 US sl.
n. 3. a dance popular in the late 1930s ...1937
n. 4. the highest prize ...1971 US sl.
BIG AS A BARN DOOR
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS A BARN SIDE
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS A BEE'S KNEE
adj. of a very small size; trifling, insignificant ...1838
BIG AS A BUSHEL
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS, AS
n. something in the extreme ...1825 Amer. dial.
BIG AS BULL BEEF
adj. as proud as a peacock, vain, self-centred ...Bk1898 Eng.
BIG ASK
n. 1. the asking price for a racehorse that is considered over-priced ...1989 Aust. sl.
n. 2. a request ...1994 Aust. sl.
BIG AS S
adj. as proud as a peacock, vain, self-centred ...Bk1898 Eng.
BIG-ASS
adj. big, important, or overly important ...1955 US sl.
n. (usually as 'big ass') an influential, important or celebrated person; a big shot; used derisively ...1963 US sl.
vb. to make a fool of ...1984 US sl.
BIG-ASS BIRD
n. a usually multi-engine airplane having very large tail surfaces; the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress ...1961 US aviation usage
BIG-ASSED
adj. large ...1945 US sl.
BIG-ASSED BIRD
n. a usually multi-engine airplane having very large tail surfaces; the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress ...1965 US aviation usage
BIG AS THE SIDE OF A MEETINGHOUSE, AS
adj. very fat ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG AUGER
n. an important person; a boss; a foreman ...1868 US West usage
BIG B
n. 1. a nickname for Berlin; also with 'the' ...1944 US Air Force usage
n. 2. Baltimore, Maryland ...1974 US sl.
BIG BABOON
n. an oaf; a jerk ...20C sl.
BIG BAG
n. a large bag of heroin; heroin ...1969 US sl.
BIG BANANA
n. an important or influential person; a boss ...1984 US sl.
BIG BANANA, THE
n. the top prize or recognition; the focus of interest or attention ...1980 US sl.
BIG BANG, THE
n. the deregulation of the London Stock Exchange on 27 October, 1986, when a number of complex changes in trading practices were put into effect simultaneously ...1983 sl.
BIG BEAN
n. a person of importance ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG-BEE
n. a drone ...1893 Eng. dial.
BIG-BELLIED
adj. having a big belly, corpulent; hence, pregnant ...1803
BIG BEN
n. 1. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. in craps: the point ten ...1962 US sl.
BIG BENCH, THE
n. the United States Supreme Court ...1929 US journalists' usage
BIG BERTHA
n. 1. a German long-range gun of the heaviest calibre; broadly, a heavy artillery piece ...1914 military usage
n. 2. a heavy artillery shell fired by a Big Bertha gun ...1915
n. 3. an overweight or heavy woman; often used as a derisive nickname ...1921 US sl.
n. 4. something unusually large or impressive ...1931 US sl.
BIG BILL
n. $1000 ...1930s US criminals' sl.
BIG BIT
n. a long prison sentence ...1940s US criminals' sl.
BIG BITCH
n. a conviction under any crime that carries a mandatory life sentence, or a sentence so long that it is an equivalent ...1960s US prison sl.
BIG BLINK
n. death ...1970s sl.
BIG BLOKE
n. 1. a boss, a superior ...1910s Aust. sl.
n. 2. cocaine ...1930s drugs rhyming sl.
BIG BLOW
n. 1. a boaster, a braggart ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a hurricane ...20C Aust. & US sl.
BIG BLUE
n. 1. IBM corporation ...1984 US sl.
n. 2. the University of Michigan; a sports team. esp. the football team, of the University of Michigan ...1987 US students' sl.
BIG BOARD
n. any major stock exchange ...1934 US sl.
BIG BOARD, THE
n. the New York Stock Exchange Inc. ...1984 US sl.
BIG BOAT
n. a large, traditional American car, esp. a large station wagon ...1910s sl.
BIG BOB
n. an aristocrat; a notable person ...L19 sl.
BIG BOOB
n. a stupid fellow ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BIG BOOT
n. 1. the General ...Bk1944 service sl.
n. 2. a powerful person; an important or influential person ...1969 US sl.
BIG BOPPER
n. a superior person or one who claims to be ...1980s US sl.
BIG BOPPER, THE
n. a person holding paramount authority ...1966 US sl.
BIG-BORE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG BOSS, THE
n. God ...1926 US sl.
BIG BOUT YAH
adj. of a person: important ...1980s W. Indies usage
BIG BOW-WOW
n. 1. a regimental sergeant major ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. an important person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BOY
n. 1. a large gun, generally of an eight-inch bore or more ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
n. 2. a term of address to a male; usually used ironically ...1918 sl., orig. US
n. 3. a high-ranking or important person ...1924 sl., orig. US
n. 4. a foolish, reckless, devil-may-care young man; a loveable idiot ...1920s US Black sl.
n. 5. the head of an organized crime syndicate or some equivalent figure ...1920s US criminals' sl.
n. 6. a judge of a high court ...1929 US sl.
n. 7. a stout fellow ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 8. a shotgun ...1970s US sl.
vb. (usually as 'big-boy') to take advantage of someone; to bully or tease ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG BOY, THE
n. God ...1962 US sl.
BIG BOY WITH A FEVER
n. 1. a man with a venereal disease ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. a passionate man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BOZO
n. a corpulent man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BRAG
n. a braggart ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG BRASS
n. applied to officers of high rank in the armed services; hence, any group of people of high rank ...1899 sl., orig. US
BIG BRAWL
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BROOK
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG BROTHER
n. the penis ...1960s US gay sl.
BIG BROWN EYES
n. attractive female breasts ...1930s sl.
BIG BROWNIES
n. attractive female breasts ...1930s sl.
BIG BROWN ONES
n. MDMA ...1990s drugs sl.
BIG-BUCK
adj. expensive ...1990s US Black sl.
n. (usually as 'big buck') a large amount of money, esp. as earned by performers or stolen by criminals, or as a large, but non-specific price ...1950s sl., orig. US
BIG BUCKS
n. a large amount of money, esp. as earned by performers or stolen by criminals, or as a large, but non-specific price ...1950s sl., orig. US
BIG BUG
n. (often derogatory) a high-ranking or important person; a person of consequence ...1817 US. orig. & chiefly US
BIG-BUGGISH
adj. important, self-important ...1843 Amer. dial.
BIG BULL
n. a nickname for a camp foreman ...1925 Amer. loggers' sl.
BIG BULLET
n. an air-launched guided missile ...1985 US military usage
BIG BURG
n. a big city ...1918 US sl.
BIG BURG, THE
n. New York City ...1918 US sl.
BIG BUS
n. a large airplane ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BUTT
n. 1. an important person ...1912 US sl.
n. 2. an aristocrat ...1912 Amer. sl.
BIG C, THE
n. 1. cocaine ...1959 drugs sl.
n. 2. cancer ...1964 euphemism
n. 3. Chicago, Illinois ...1976 US sl.
n. 4. cirrhosis of the liver ...2000s sl.
BIG CASINO
adv. in an important, committed manner ...1990s US sl.
n. 1. the most important or influential person in a place etc. ...1893 US sl.
n. 2. a big or large person ...1900s US sl.
n. 3. one's best resource or asset ...1922 US sl.
n. 4. the best; the ultimate; the most important ...1920s US sl.
n. 5. anything terminal or fatal, esp. a disease, as cancer; also syphilis ...1930s US sl.
BIG CHARLEY
n. 1. a Chinook helicopter ...1966 US military usage
n. 2. the Federal Communications Commission ...1977 US sl.
BIG CHEESE
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1914 sl., orig. US
BIG-CHESTED
adj. conceited ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG CHIEF
n. mescaline ...20C US drugs sl.
BIG CHILL
n. an unfortunate or depressing state of affairs; death ...1984 US sl.
BIG CHUMP
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG CHURCH, THE
n. no church at all ...1897 Amer. dial.
BIG CLUCK
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG CLUNK
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG-COCK
adj. big, huge ...1965 US sl.
BIG COUGH
n. a bomb ...1929 US criminals' sl.
BIG CURTAIN
n. death ...1904 US theatre usage
BIG D
n. 1. LSD ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. Dallas, Texas ...1930 US sl.
n. 3. Dilaudid, a synthetic opiate ...1954 US sl.
n. 4. Denver, Colorado ...1969 US sl.
n. 5. Detroit, Michigan ...1961 US sl.
n. 6. in sports: defense ...1979 US sl.
int. damn! ,,,19C euphemism
BIG D, THE
n. 1. death ...1977 US sl.
n. 2. Dallas, Texas ...1978 US sl.
BIGD
n. a building, a house ...Bk1898 Sc.
BIG DAD
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG DADDY
n. 1. a husband; a sweetheart ...1909 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a high-ranking or important person ...1948 sl., orig. US
n. 3. one's grandfather ...1955 Amer. dial.
n. 4. the penis ...Bk1998 sl.
BIG DAME HUNTER
n. a philanderer; one fond of women ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG DARK
n. outer space ...Bk1998 sl.
BIG DAY
n. broad daylight ...1927 Amer. dial.
BIG DAYLIGHT
n. broad daylight ...1927 Amer. dial.
BIG DEAL!
int. used to indicate one is not impressed ...1951 sl., orig. US
BIG DITCH
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG DOG
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1843 US sl.
BIG DOINGS
adj. haughty, conceited, high-and-mighty ...1928 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a celebration, a party; a formal social ceremony or gathering ...1932 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a person who likes to brag ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-DOME
adj. intellectual ...1950s sl.
n. (usually as 'big dome') an intellectual, a scholar, esp. one who seems to hold eccentric or impractical opinions ...1930s sl.
BIG DRINK
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG DUDE
n. a self-important person; a person who tries to appear important ...c1960 Amer. dial.
BIG E, THE
n. dismissal (E = elbow, dismissal) ...1982 Brit. sl.
BIG-EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG EARS
n. eavesdropping ears ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ENCHILADA
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1973 US sl.
BIG END
n. the greater or most important part ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGENOUS
adj. inherited from both parents ...1894
BIGENT
n. a first year's student at a Scotch university ...1812 Sc.
BIGETY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIG EYE
adj. greedy; covetous ...1947 US Black sl.
n. 1. television ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 2. insomnia ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-EYED
adj. 1. greedy, covetous ...1947 Amer. Black usage
adj. 2. self-important ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG FEELER
n. an arrogant or haughty person; a person who acts important ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-FEELING
adj. haughty, proud, conceited, putting on airs ...1887 Amer. dial.
BIG FELLOW
adj. large, a quantity ...Bk1892 Aust. aboriginal usage
n. the head of an organized crime syndicate or some equivalent figure ...1920s US criminals' sl.
BIG FISH
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1836 sl., orig. US
BIG FLAKE
n. cocaine ...20C drugs sl.
BIG FRACAS
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG FRIEND
n. a bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGG
vb. to build; to build a nest ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGGED
adj. pregnant ...1936 Amer. dial.
BIGGEDY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIGGEN
vb. 1. to recover strength after lying-in ...1811 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to grow big, to increase in size ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to give oneself airs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGENING
n. the recovery of a woman after confinement ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGER
n. a builder ...1862 Sc.
vb. 1. to build ...1860 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to increase in size; to grow bigger ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGER AND BETTER
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIGGER HALF
n. one's husband ...1965 Amer. sl.
BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE
n. an important or self-important person ...1851 Amer. dial.
BIGGETY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1933 Amer. dial.
BIGGIE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1926 sl., orig. US
BIGGIES
n. defecation ...1953 Brit. sl., a children's word or euphemism
BIGGIN
n. 1. a building; a house; a cottage; the act of building ...1811 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 2. † an afternoon meal ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGING
n. the act of building ...1816 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIG GIRL'S BLOUSE
n. an ineffectual male, often with suggestion of effeminacy ...1983 Brit. sl.
BIG GIRL WITH THE TORCH
n. the Statue of Liberty ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGGIT
adj. 1. built ...1813 Sc.
adj. 2. wealthy ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGGITY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1880 Amer. dial.
BIGGLE
vb. to blindfold ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIGGLY
n. the game of blindman's buff ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGOTY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1943 Amer. dial.
BIGGUMS
adj. overweight ...20C teen & high school sl.
BIG GUN
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1834 sl.
BIG GUY
n. 1. a corpulent man ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. an important man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGGY
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG H
n. heroin ...20C drugs sl.
BIG HAIR
n. long hair teased and lacquered into a large bouffant ...1988 sl., orig. US
BIG HALF-PINT
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HARRY
n. heroin ...20C drugs sl.
BIG HAT
n. 1. a self-important person; one who acts important ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a law enforcement officer; a policeman; a sheriff ...1967 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a person of Mexican heritage ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-HEAD
n. 1. arrogance, conceit ...1853 US
n. 2. one having an inflated opinion of himself; a conceited person ...Bk1913-17 Amer. sl.
n. 3. a headache ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. (usually as 'bighead') a tadpole ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 5. (usually as 'bighead') a kind of cigar ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-HEADED
adj. conceited ...1942 sl.
BIG-HEARTED
adj. generous ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HERB
n. an important person; used sarcastically ...c1905 Amer. dial.
BIGHES
n. jewels, ornaments ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG HIT
n. something excellent ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HOLE
n. 1. in railroading: an emergency stop ...1930 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the lowest gear of a truck or other vehicle ...1947 Amer. dial.
vb. in railroading, logging, and trucking: to stop quickly ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIG HOLE IT
vb. in trucking: to apply brakes for an emergency stop ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG HOLE THE AIR
vb. in railroading, and logging: to stop quickly ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIGHORNIE
n. the devil ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG HOUSE
n. 1. the main house on a plantation ...1811 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the workhouse ...1868 Eng. dial.
n. 3. the principal room of a house; the living room ...1903 Amer. dial.
BIG HOUSE, THE
n. prison ...1916 sl., orig. US
BIGHT
n. 1. a bend, esp. a curve in the animal or human body ...1691 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a bay, a creek; a projection in a river ...1891 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIGHTSOME
adj. having an air of ease combined with activity; light, active ...1790 Sc.
BIG I
n. an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIGIFIED
adj. conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, egotistic ...c1960 Amer. dial.
BIG IKE
n. a self-important, conceited or pretentious person ...1902 Amer. dial.
BIG I, LITTLE YOU
n. an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag ...1967 Amer. dial. online
BIG INJUN
n. a nickname for a coarse, boastful man ...1907 Amer. dial.
BIGITE
n. a conceited person ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG JEEP
n. a large bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG JOHN
n. a recruit from the country ...Bk1944 service sl.
BIG JUMP, THE
n. death ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG KAHUNA, THE
n. a large or important person or thing ...1980s US sl.
BIG KNIFE
n. † a White man, esp. a Virginian ...1750 US Indian usage
BIG LAKE
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG LAZIES, THE
n. laziness; a strong inclination to idleness ...1898 Amer. dial.
BIG-LEAGUE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG LOOP
n. the lasso of a cattle thief ...1940 Amer. dial., Western usage
BIGLY
adj. 1. † pleasant, delightful, commodious ...1802 Sc.
adj. 2. in a haughty manner ...1942 Amer. dial.
vb. to understand ...1980 US military in Vietnam usage
BICHO
n. the penis ...1967 US sl. (Spanish)
BICK
n. a sluttish woman ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. to leave alone ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. 2. to pat gently ...Bk1898 Sc.
BICKER
n. 1. a quick movement; the noise caused by a succession of rapid strokes ...1785 Sc.
n. 2. a skirmish, a fight; a scrimmage ...1824 Sc.
n. 3. a wooden beaker or drinking cup; a porridge dish; a bowl ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. to move quickly; of a stream: to ripple, to flow ...1789 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to attack with repeated strokes, to pelt with stones; to strike repeatedly ...1827 Sc.
vb. 3. to indulge in rough or indelicate horseplay ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to move quickly and noisily ...Bk1911 Sc.
BICKER-CUT
n. hair-cutting by means of a bowl placed on the head ...Bk1911 Sc.
BICKERING
adj. hurrying, rushing ...1865 Sc.
BICKNING
n. a beacon, the summit of a hill ...1888 Eng. dial.
BICKY
n. 1. the game of hide and seek ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a child's word for a biscuit ...E20
vb. in the game of hide and seek: to hide one's eyes in order not to see where the others go to conceal themselves ...1887 Eng. dial.
BICYCLE
n. 1. a published translation of a foreign language work ...1900 US students' usage
n. 2. a motorcycle ...1937 US sl.
n. 3. a bisexual ...1982 US sl.
vb. in boxing: to jog backward from an opponent in the ring ...1949 US sl.
BID
n. 1. a request or an invitation ...1892 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an Irish servant-girl ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
n. 3. a prison sentence ...1965 US prison sl.
vb. 1. to invite, esp. to a wedding or funeral, at which attendance is regarded as compulsory ...1805 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to desire, to wish ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to pray ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BID A BEAD
vb. to offer a prayer ...c1250
BIDACIOUSLY
adv. thoroughly, completely, extremely ...1915 Amer. dial.
BID BASE
vb. † to challenge ...1548
BIDDABLE
adj. obedient, docile ...1892 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIDDABLENESS
n. docility; compliance ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDDABLY
adv. obediently, meekly ...1895 Sc.
BIDDELS
n. † the guests invited to a funeral ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDENABLE
adj. obedient, docile ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDDER
n. a person sent to invite the guests to a funeral, or occasionally to a wedding ...1825 Eng. dial.
BIDDIE
n. an attractive little girl or small old woman ...1940s US Black sl.
BIDDING
n. 1. an invitation, esp. to a funeral or wedding ...1655 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a wedding party at which a collection, in money or kind, is made for the bride and bridegroom ...1849 Sc.
BIDDING-BELL
n. the funeral bell, a small bell used immediately before the commencement of service ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDING-FEAST
n. a funeral repast ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDLE-BADDLE
adj. trifling, of small account ...1886 Eng. dial.
BIDDY
n. 1. † a chicken; a fowl ...E17 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
n. 2. (now mainly derogatory except in US Black use) an Irish maidservant ...1785 sl.
n. 3. (somewhat derogatory) a woman, esp. a young woman ...1785 sl.
n. 4. a louse; occasionally, a flea ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a fussy, mean or quarrelsome old woman (usually as 'old biddy') ...1938 sl.
n. 6. an old ewe ...1939 Amer. dial.
n. 7. an attractive little girl or small old woman ...1940s US Black sl.
int. a call to fowls, ducks, or swans ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDY-BASE
vb. of children: to run backwards and forwards, to patter about ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDDY COOP
n. a chicken coop ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-HEN
n. a hen ...1907 Amer. dial.
BIDDYKIN
n. 1. a little chicken...1952 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a little person ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-PECK
vb. to nag, to hen-peck ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIDDY-PECKED
adj. henpecked ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIDDY PEN
n. a chicken coop ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIDDY'S EYES
n. the pansy, Viola tricolor ...1825 Eng. dial.
BIDE
n. pain, suffering ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to tolerate, to endure ...1914 Amer. dial.
BIDEABLE
adj. bearable, tolerable ...1923 Amer. dial.
BIDE-ABOUT
vb. 1. to be given to drinking ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to loiter ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIDE A WEE
vb. to stay a while ...1918 Sc.
BIDGE
vb. to buy ...1388 Eng. dial.
BIDGEE WHALER
n. an itinerant tramp whose 'beat' focuses on the rivers of New South Wales ...M19 Aust. sl.
BIDING
prep. excepting, except; in spite of ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. endurance; enduring ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDINGS
n. sufferings ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIDNESS
n. business ...1850s US Black sl.
BIDSTAND
n. † a highwayman
BID THE TIME OF DAY
vb. to wish good-morning ...1892 Eng. dial.
BIE!
int. come!; used as a call to chickens ...1924 Amer. dial.
BIEL
n. a shelter, refuge; a home, house; anything that shelters or shades ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to shelter, to protect; to take shelter ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIELD
adj. sheltered ...1801 Sc.
n. shelter, refuge; also, a house, any object with shelters ...1725 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. to shelter, to protect; also, to take shelter ...1865 Eng. dial.
BIELDING
n. shelter; protection ...1724 Sc.
BIELDY
adj. snug, sheltered; affording shelter or warmth ...1789 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIELY
adj. furnishing shelter; snug ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIEN
adj. 1. good; excellent; first-rate ...16C sl.
adj. 2. snug, comfortable, cosy ...1725 Sc.
adj. 3. thriving, well-to-do ...1816 Sc.
n. £1 ... Bk1903 sl.
BIEN-LIKE
adj. having an appearance of comfort and well-being ...1808 Sc.
BIENLY
adv. comfortably, easily, happily ...1788 Sc.
BIENNESS
n. prosperity, comfort, the condition of being well-to-do ...1818 Sc.
BIER
n. 1. †* a wave, a billow ...1250
n. 2. a shout; a complaint ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to roar as a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIERLY
adj. big, burly ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIF
n. a sharp or quick blow ...1890 Amer. dial.
vb. to strike or hit ...1890 Amer. dial.
int. exclamation uttered when something strikes an object ...1905
BIFARIOUS
adj. † two-fold, double, ambiguous; capable of being interpreted in two ways; that may be understood two ways ...1656 arch. or obs.
BIFF
adv. with a short, sharp blow ...1847 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a whack, a hard punch or blow; a slap ...1847 Amer. sl.
n. 2. the bough of a tree ...1884 Eng. dial.
n. 3. in baseball: a base hit ...1908 US sl.
n. 4. zest; liveliness; zip ...1918 US sl.
n. 5. an offensive, unattractive, or promiscuous woman ...1929-32 US sl., chiefly Black usage
n. 6. a dumb, dunce-like girl ...1929-32 US sl.
n. 7. a lavatory ...1956 US sl.
n. 8. a black eye ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to whack, to hit hard, to strike ...1888 sl.
vb. 2. to refuse; to repulse ...1895 US students' sl.
vb. 3. to do a thing well ...1894 US Naval Academy usage
vb. 4. to study hard ...1900 US students' sl.
vb. 5. to fail ...1989 US students' sl.
int. used to describe the sound of a blow with the fist ...1924 Amer. dial.
BIFF-BANG
adv. noisily ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIFF-BOOM-BANG
adv. noisily ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIFFED
adj. drunk ...1925 US sl.
BIFFER
n. an offensive, unattractive, or promiscuous woman ...1929-32 US sl., chiefly Black usage
BIFFING
n. a beating ...1975 US sl.
BIFFY
adj. intoxicated with alcohol ...20C Brit. sl.
n. 1. a nickname for a short, pursy fellow ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 2. a lavatory ...1942 US sl.
BIG
adj. 1. great, important; of high position or standing ...1597 colloq.
adj. 2. of the wind: strong, violent ...1641 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. proud, haughty, consequential, conceited ...1828 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 4. great with young, pregnant ...1855 Eng. dial.
adj. 5. of money: in large amounts ...1887 US colloq.
adj. 6. of a river or water: swollen, in flood ...1890 Eng. dial.
adj. 7. friendly, intimate, 'thick' ...Bk1898 Sc.
adj. 8. of a frost: severe ...1967 Amer. dial.
adj. 9. well-known, as by word of mouth ...1970 US sl.
adv. conspicuously; notably; also, with great success, to a great extent ...1865
n. 1. a pap, or teat ...1682 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an influential, important, or celebrated person; a big shot ...1948 US sl.
vb. 1. to build ...1737 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to make big, to magnify ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to build a nest ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to make pregnant ...1917 Amer. dial.
vb. 5. to exaggerate ...1972 Amer. dial.
BIG 8
n. one eighth kilogram of crack ...20C drugs sl.
BIG A
n. 1. an Atlas ICBM ...1959 US Air Force usage
n. 2. Atlanta, Georgia ...1976 US sl.
n. 3. Australia ...1987 US sl.
BIG A, THE
n. 1. a city or other named entity that bears the initial A ...1955 US sl.
n. 2. New York City ...1980 US sl.
n. 3. the disease AIDS ...1986 US sl.
BIG AMERICA
n. the United States ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGAMIZE
vb. to commit bigamy ...a1861 US
BIG AND PRONTO
adv. immediately; shortly ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ANIMAL
n. a bull ...19C US rural euphemism
BIG APPLE
n. any big city or town ...1944 US sl.
BIG APPLE, THE
n. 1. Broadway and the jazz and entertainment centres of New York City; hence, New York City itself ...1909 US sl.
n. 2. in horse racing: the New York metropolitan racing circuit, including the major Long Island tracks ...1921 US sl.
n. 3. a dance popular in the late 1930s ...1937
n. 4. the highest prize ...1971 US sl.
BIG AS A BARN DOOR
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS A BARN SIDE
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS A BEE'S KNEE
adj. of a very small size; trifling, insignificant ...1838
BIG AS A BUSHEL
adj. very large ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS, AS
n. something in the extreme ...1825 Amer. dial.
BIG AS BULL BEEF
adj. as proud as a peacock, vain, self-centred ...Bk1898 Eng.
BIG ASK
n. 1. the asking price for a racehorse that is considered over-priced ...1989 Aust. sl.
n. 2. a request ...1994 Aust. sl.
BIG AS S
adj. as proud as a peacock, vain, self-centred ...Bk1898 Eng.
BIG-ASS
adj. big, important, or overly important ...1955 US sl.
n. (usually as 'big ass') an influential, important or celebrated person; a big shot; used derisively ...1963 US sl.
vb. to make a fool of ...1984 US sl.
BIG-ASS BIRD
n. a usually multi-engine airplane having very large tail surfaces; the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress ...1961 US aviation usage
BIG-ASSED
adj. large ...1945 US sl.
BIG-ASSED BIRD
n. a usually multi-engine airplane having very large tail surfaces; the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress ...1965 US aviation usage
BIG AS THE SIDE OF A MEETINGHOUSE, AS
adj. very fat ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG AUGER
n. an important person; a boss; a foreman ...1868 US West usage
BIG B
n. 1. a nickname for Berlin; also with 'the' ...1944 US Air Force usage
n. 2. Baltimore, Maryland ...1974 US sl.
BIG BABOON
n. an oaf; a jerk ...20C sl.
BIG BAG
n. a large bag of heroin; heroin ...1969 US sl.
BIG BANANA
n. an important or influential person; a boss ...1984 US sl.
BIG BANANA, THE
n. the top prize or recognition; the focus of interest or attention ...1980 US sl.
BIG BANG, THE
n. the deregulation of the London Stock Exchange on 27 October, 1986, when a number of complex changes in trading practices were put into effect simultaneously ...1983 sl.
BIG BEAN
n. a person of importance ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG-BEE
n. a drone ...1893 Eng. dial.
BIG-BELLIED
adj. having a big belly, corpulent; hence, pregnant ...1803
BIG BEN
n. 1. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. in craps: the point ten ...1962 US sl.
BIG BENCH, THE
n. the United States Supreme Court ...1929 US journalists' usage
BIG BERTHA
n. 1. a German long-range gun of the heaviest calibre; broadly, a heavy artillery piece ...1914 military usage
n. 2. a heavy artillery shell fired by a Big Bertha gun ...1915
n. 3. an overweight or heavy woman; often used as a derisive nickname ...1921 US sl.
n. 4. something unusually large or impressive ...1931 US sl.
BIG BILL
n. $1000 ...1930s US criminals' sl.
BIG BIT
n. a long prison sentence ...1940s US criminals' sl.
BIG BITCH
n. a conviction under any crime that carries a mandatory life sentence, or a sentence so long that it is an equivalent ...1960s US prison sl.
BIG BLINK
n. death ...1970s sl.
BIG BLOKE
n. 1. a boss, a superior ...1910s Aust. sl.
n. 2. cocaine ...1930s drugs rhyming sl.
BIG BLOW
n. 1. a boaster, a braggart ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a hurricane ...20C Aust. & US sl.
BIG BLUE
n. 1. IBM corporation ...1984 US sl.
n. 2. the University of Michigan; a sports team. esp. the football team, of the University of Michigan ...1987 US students' sl.
BIG BOARD
n. any major stock exchange ...1934 US sl.
BIG BOARD, THE
n. the New York Stock Exchange Inc. ...1984 US sl.
BIG BOAT
n. a large, traditional American car, esp. a large station wagon ...1910s sl.
BIG BOB
n. an aristocrat; a notable person ...L19 sl.
BIG BOOB
n. a stupid fellow ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BIG BOOT
n. 1. the General ...Bk1944 service sl.
n. 2. a powerful person; an important or influential person ...1969 US sl.
BIG BOPPER
n. a superior person or one who claims to be ...1980s US sl.
BIG BOPPER, THE
n. a person holding paramount authority ...1966 US sl.
BIG-BORE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG BOSS, THE
n. God ...1926 US sl.
BIG BOUT YAH
adj. of a person: important ...1980s W. Indies usage
BIG BOW-WOW
n. 1. a regimental sergeant major ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. an important person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BOY
n. 1. a large gun, generally of an eight-inch bore or more ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
n. 2. a term of address to a male; usually used ironically ...1918 sl., orig. US
n. 3. a high-ranking or important person ...1924 sl., orig. US
n. 4. a foolish, reckless, devil-may-care young man; a loveable idiot ...1920s US Black sl.
n. 5. the head of an organized crime syndicate or some equivalent figure ...1920s US criminals' sl.
n. 6. a judge of a high court ...1929 US sl.
n. 7. a stout fellow ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 8. a shotgun ...1970s US sl.
vb. (usually as 'big-boy') to take advantage of someone; to bully or tease ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG BOY, THE
n. God ...1962 US sl.
BIG BOY WITH A FEVER
n. 1. a man with a venereal disease ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. a passionate man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BOZO
n. a corpulent man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BRAG
n. a braggart ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG BRASS
n. applied to officers of high rank in the armed services; hence, any group of people of high rank ...1899 sl., orig. US
BIG BRAWL
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BROOK
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG BROTHER
n. the penis ...1960s US gay sl.
BIG BROWN EYES
n. attractive female breasts ...1930s sl.
BIG BROWNIES
n. attractive female breasts ...1930s sl.
BIG BROWN ONES
n. MDMA ...1990s drugs sl.
BIG-BUCK
adj. expensive ...1990s US Black sl.
n. (usually as 'big buck') a large amount of money, esp. as earned by performers or stolen by criminals, or as a large, but non-specific price ...1950s sl., orig. US
BIG BUCKS
n. a large amount of money, esp. as earned by performers or stolen by criminals, or as a large, but non-specific price ...1950s sl., orig. US
BIG BUG
n. (often derogatory) a high-ranking or important person; a person of consequence ...1817 US. orig. & chiefly US
BIG-BUGGISH
adj. important, self-important ...1843 Amer. dial.
BIG BULL
n. a nickname for a camp foreman ...1925 Amer. loggers' sl.
BIG BULLET
n. an air-launched guided missile ...1985 US military usage
BIG BURG
n. a big city ...1918 US sl.
BIG BURG, THE
n. New York City ...1918 US sl.
BIG BUS
n. a large airplane ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG BUTT
n. 1. an important person ...1912 US sl.
n. 2. an aristocrat ...1912 Amer. sl.
BIG C, THE
n. 1. cocaine ...1959 drugs sl.
n. 2. cancer ...1964 euphemism
n. 3. Chicago, Illinois ...1976 US sl.
n. 4. cirrhosis of the liver ...2000s sl.
BIG CASINO
adv. in an important, committed manner ...1990s US sl.
n. 1. the most important or influential person in a place etc. ...1893 US sl.
n. 2. a big or large person ...1900s US sl.
n. 3. one's best resource or asset ...1922 US sl.
n. 4. the best; the ultimate; the most important ...1920s US sl.
n. 5. anything terminal or fatal, esp. a disease, as cancer; also syphilis ...1930s US sl.
BIG CHARLEY
n. 1. a Chinook helicopter ...1966 US military usage
n. 2. the Federal Communications Commission ...1977 US sl.
BIG CHEESE
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1914 sl., orig. US
BIG-CHESTED
adj. conceited ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG CHIEF
n. mescaline ...20C US drugs sl.
BIG CHILL
n. an unfortunate or depressing state of affairs; death ...1984 US sl.
BIG CHUMP
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG CHURCH, THE
n. no church at all ...1897 Amer. dial.
BIG CLUCK
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG CLUNK
n. a stupid person ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG-COCK
adj. big, huge ...1965 US sl.
BIG COUGH
n. a bomb ...1929 US criminals' sl.
BIG CURTAIN
n. death ...1904 US theatre usage
BIG D
n. 1. LSD ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. Dallas, Texas ...1930 US sl.
n. 3. Dilaudid, a synthetic opiate ...1954 US sl.
n. 4. Denver, Colorado ...1969 US sl.
n. 5. Detroit, Michigan ...1961 US sl.
n. 6. in sports: defense ...1979 US sl.
int. damn! ,,,19C euphemism
BIG D, THE
n. 1. death ...1977 US sl.
n. 2. Dallas, Texas ...1978 US sl.
BIGD
n. a building, a house ...Bk1898 Sc.
BIG DAD
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG DADDY
n. 1. a husband; a sweetheart ...1909 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a high-ranking or important person ...1948 sl., orig. US
n. 3. one's grandfather ...1955 Amer. dial.
n. 4. the penis ...Bk1998 sl.
BIG DAME HUNTER
n. a philanderer; one fond of women ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG DARK
n. outer space ...Bk1998 sl.
BIG DAY
n. broad daylight ...1927 Amer. dial.
BIG DAYLIGHT
n. broad daylight ...1927 Amer. dial.
BIG DEAL!
int. used to indicate one is not impressed ...1951 sl., orig. US
BIG DITCH
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG DOG
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1843 US sl.
BIG DOINGS
adj. haughty, conceited, high-and-mighty ...1928 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a celebration, a party; a formal social ceremony or gathering ...1932 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a person who likes to brag ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-DOME
adj. intellectual ...1950s sl.
n. (usually as 'big dome') an intellectual, a scholar, esp. one who seems to hold eccentric or impractical opinions ...1930s sl.
BIG DRINK
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG DUDE
n. a self-important person; a person who tries to appear important ...c1960 Amer. dial.
BIG E, THE
n. dismissal (E = elbow, dismissal) ...1982 Brit. sl.
BIG-EAR
vb. to listen intently ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG EARS
n. eavesdropping ears ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ENCHILADA
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1973 US sl.
BIG END
n. the greater or most important part ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGENOUS
adj. inherited from both parents ...1894
BIGENT
n. a first year's student at a Scotch university ...1812 Sc.
BIGETY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIG EYE
adj. greedy; covetous ...1947 US Black sl.
n. 1. television ...1965 Amer. dial.
n. 2. insomnia ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-EYED
adj. 1. greedy, covetous ...1947 Amer. Black usage
adj. 2. self-important ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG FEELER
n. an arrogant or haughty person; a person who acts important ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-FEELING
adj. haughty, proud, conceited, putting on airs ...1887 Amer. dial.
BIG FELLOW
adj. large, a quantity ...Bk1892 Aust. aboriginal usage
n. the head of an organized crime syndicate or some equivalent figure ...1920s US criminals' sl.
BIG FISH
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1836 sl., orig. US
BIG FLAKE
n. cocaine ...20C drugs sl.
BIG FRACAS
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG FRIEND
n. a bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGG
vb. to build; to build a nest ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGGED
adj. pregnant ...1936 Amer. dial.
BIGGEDY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1952 Amer. dial.
BIGGEN
vb. 1. to recover strength after lying-in ...1811 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to grow big, to increase in size ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 3. to give oneself airs ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGENING
n. the recovery of a woman after confinement ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGER
n. a builder ...1862 Sc.
vb. 1. to build ...1860 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to increase in size; to grow bigger ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGER AND BETTER
adj. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIGGER HALF
n. one's husband ...1965 Amer. sl.
BIGGEST TOAD IN THE PUDDLE
n. an important or self-important person ...1851 Amer. dial.
BIGGETY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1933 Amer. dial.
BIGGIE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1926 sl., orig. US
BIGGIES
n. defecation ...1953 Brit. sl., a children's word or euphemism
BIGGIN
n. 1. a building; a house; a cottage; the act of building ...1811 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 2. † an afternoon meal ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGING
n. the act of building ...1816 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIG GIRL'S BLOUSE
n. an ineffectual male, often with suggestion of effeminacy ...1983 Brit. sl.
BIG GIRL WITH THE TORCH
n. the Statue of Liberty ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGGIT
adj. 1. built ...1813 Sc.
adj. 2. wealthy ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIGGITY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1880 Amer. dial.
BIGGLE
vb. to blindfold ...1876 Eng. dial.
BIGGLY
n. the game of blindman's buff ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIGGOTY
adj. conceited, vain, self-important; impudent, boastful ...1943 Amer. dial.
BIGGUMS
adj. overweight ...20C teen & high school sl.
BIG GUN
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1834 sl.
BIG GUY
n. 1. a corpulent man ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. an important man ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGGY
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG H
n. heroin ...20C drugs sl.
BIG HAIR
n. long hair teased and lacquered into a large bouffant ...1988 sl., orig. US
BIG HALF-PINT
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HARRY
n. heroin ...20C drugs sl.
BIG HAT
n. 1. a self-important person; one who acts important ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a law enforcement officer; a policeman; a sheriff ...1967 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a person of Mexican heritage ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-HEAD
n. 1. arrogance, conceit ...1853 US
n. 2. one having an inflated opinion of himself; a conceited person ...Bk1913-17 Amer. sl.
n. 3. a headache ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. (usually as 'bighead') a tadpole ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 5. (usually as 'bighead') a kind of cigar ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG-HEADED
adj. conceited ...1942 sl.
BIG-HEARTED
adj. generous ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HERB
n. an important person; used sarcastically ...c1905 Amer. dial.
BIGHES
n. jewels, ornaments ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG HIT
n. something excellent ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG HOLE
n. 1. in railroading: an emergency stop ...1930 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the lowest gear of a truck or other vehicle ...1947 Amer. dial.
vb. in railroading, logging, and trucking: to stop quickly ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIG HOLE IT
vb. in trucking: to apply brakes for an emergency stop ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG HOLE THE AIR
vb. in railroading, and logging: to stop quickly ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIGHORNIE
n. the devil ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG HOUSE
n. 1. the main house on a plantation ...1811 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the workhouse ...1868 Eng. dial.
n. 3. the principal room of a house; the living room ...1903 Amer. dial.
BIG HOUSE, THE
n. prison ...1916 sl., orig. US
BIGHT
n. 1. a bend, esp. a curve in the animal or human body ...1691 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a bay, a creek; a projection in a river ...1891 Sc. & Eng. dial.
BIGHTSOME
adj. having an air of ease combined with activity; light, active ...1790 Sc.
BIG I
n. an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIGIFIED
adj. conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, egotistic ...c1960 Amer. dial.
BIG IKE
n. a self-important, conceited or pretentious person ...1902 Amer. dial.
BIG I, LITTLE YOU
n. an important or self-important person; a person who likes to brag ...1967 Amer. dial. online
BIG INJUN
n. a nickname for a coarse, boastful man ...1907 Amer. dial.
BIGITE
n. a conceited person ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG JEEP
n. a large bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG JOHN
n. a recruit from the country ...Bk1944 service sl.
BIG JUMP, THE
n. death ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG KAHUNA, THE
n. a large or important person or thing ...1980s US sl.
BIG KNIFE
n. † a White man, esp. a Virginian ...1750 US Indian usage
BIG LAKE
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG LAZIES, THE
n. laziness; a strong inclination to idleness ...1898 Amer. dial.
BIG-LEAGUE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG LOOP
n. the lasso of a cattle thief ...1940 Amer. dial., Western usage
BIGLY
adj. 1. † pleasant, delightful, commodious ...1802 Sc.
adj. 2. in a haughty manner ...1942 Amer. dial.
BIGM - BIOZ
BIG MAMA
n. one's grandmother ...1946 Amer. dial.
BIG MAMMA
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MAN
n. 1. a drug supplier ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. a gallon of wine ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG ME
n. a person who likes to brag ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG MISS
n. a great loss by death, or by the departure of a friend ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG MISTER
n. one's husband ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MIX-UP
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG MONEY
n. a large amount of money, high wages or salary ...1888 orig. US
BIG MOTHER
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MOUTH
n. 1. a loquacious talker; also implying boastfulness or lack of discretion ...1889 sl., orig. & chiefly US
n. 2. loquacity, talkativeness ...1890 sl., orig. & chiefly US
BIG-MOUTHED
adj. talkative ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG MUCKY-MUCK
n. a superior or important person, whether actually or through pretension ...M19 US sl.
BIG MUDDY
n. the Missouri river ...1857 US
BIG NANA
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG NECK
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIGNET
n. a bayonet ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG-NIECE
n. the daughter of a nephew or niece ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG NIGGER
n. (derogatory) an important, often self-important person ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG NOISE
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1906 sl., orig. US
BIG O.
n. 1. opium ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. in railroading: the conductor ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIG O, THE
n. orgasm, esp. female orgasm ...Aust. sl.
BIG OLD TIME
n. an uproarious time; a spree ...M19 US sl.
BIG ON
adj. fond of; enthusiastic about; liking ...1867 orig. & chiefly US
BIG ONE
n. 1. an incredible story; a whopper ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a thousand dollars or a thousand-dollar bill ...1935 US sl.
n. 3. in cards: the joker ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ONES
n. men of consequence ...Bk1890 sl.
BIGOT
n. highly secret information; a code word ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGOTED
adj. 1. stupid, self-willed (without reference to any religious intolerance) ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, haughty ...1902 Amer. dial.
BIGOTICAL
adj. † bigoted ...1678
BIGOTTY
adj. haughty, conceited, bumptious, overbearing, self-willed ...1873 Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. pride, conceit, haughtiness ...1884 Eng. dial.
BIG OX
n. in railroading: the conductor ...1943
BIG PA
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PAPA
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PASTURE
n. a penitentiary ...1968 Amer. dial., Western usage
BIG PAY
n. high wages or salary ...1915 US
BIG PIG
n. a person who saves in a mean way or is greedy in money matters; a stingy person ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PLACE
n. a jail or penitentiary ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG POND
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG POOL
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG PRETZEL, THE
n. Philadelphia ...Amer. sl.
BIG PUDDLE
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG READY
n. a thorough state of preparation; a good start ...1897 Amer. dial.
BIG RING
n. a square dance ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG ROAD
n. a public driveway ...1818 Amer. dial.
BIG ROCK
n. a jail or penitentiary ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG ROD
n. a machine gun ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ROOM
n. the principal room of a house; the living room ...a1883 Amer. dial.
BIG ROW
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG RUMPUS
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG RUSH
n. cocaine ...20C drugs sl.
BIGS
n. a major sports league ...1973 US sl.
BIG SAVAGE
n. in logging: the general superintendent; a foreman ...1942 Amer. dial.
BIG SET-TO
n. a major engagement ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG SHIP
n. a large airplane; a bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG SHOAT
n. a boar ...1954 Amer. dial.
BIG SHORTY
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG SHOT
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1927 sl., orig. US
BIG SHOW
n. 1. a major engagement ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 3. an important or self-important person ...1966 Amer. dial.
BIGSIE
adj. 1. rather large ...Bk1911 Sc.
adj. 2. proud, conceited; used contemptuously ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG SLEEP, THE
n. death ...1938 sl., orig. US
BIG SMELL
n. a seal ...Bk1942 Amer. circus sl.
BIG SMOKE
n. 1. aboriginal name for a town ...1848 Aust.
n. 2. London ...Bk1904
BIG-SORTED
adj. proud, stuck-up ...1890 Eng. dial.
BIG SQUEEZE
n. a boss or foreman; an important person; the leader of a gang; the head of any organization ...1966 Amer. dial.
BIG STAR
n. a law enforcement officer, a sheriff ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG STICK
n. 1. military power ...Bk2004 Spanish-American War era
n. 2. a display of force ...1904 US
n. 3. a machine gun ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a fireman's ladder ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 5. person of authority, as a police officer or foreman; a marshal ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 6. an important or self-important person ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG STICKS
n. in logging: the woods ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG STIFF
n. an uncouth person who is self-opinionated ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BIG SUCKER-AND-EGG MAN
n. a person of wealth who is easily fleeced ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG SUGAR
n. the owner of a ranch, a cattleman ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG-TALK
adj. boastful, blustering ...1935 Amer. dial.
n. (as 'big talk') boasting ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG TEX
n. Texas ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG THING
n. any potentially notable event or achievement that does not come off as notable ...US Civil War usage
BIG THING ON ICE, A
n. a profitable venture; a good thing; something excellent ...1890 sl.
BIG TICKET
n. an honourable discharge from military service ...US Civil War usage
BIG TIDE
n. a flood ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG-TIME
adj. 1. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
adj. 2. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
adv. (usually as 'big time') totally, very ...20C teen & high school sl.
n. a convivial party or celebration; a social gathering; an enjoyable time ...1863 Amer. dial.
BIG TOTER
n. a shotgun ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-TRUCE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG TURKEY
n. an ostrich ...Bk1942 Amer. circus sl.
BIG 'UNS
n. large trees ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG UP
vb. to confirm in an opinion; to devote one's self to an opinion, idea, purpose, or person ...Bk1911 Sc.
BI-GUY
n. a bisexual male ...1973 sl.
BIG WATER, THE
n. 1. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a flood ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG WHEEL
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1942 sl., orig. & chiefly US
BIGWIG
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1703 sl.
BIG WIND
n. boasting ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG WOW
n. 1. something beautiful or attractive ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
n. 2. something excellent ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIJEN!
int. truly! an exclamation of surprise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIKE
n. 1. a gathering, an assembly of people ...1785 Sc.
n. 2. a nest of wild bees, wasps, etc.; a nestful of bees, a swarm ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. a habitation, a building ...1827 Sc.
n. 4. a windfall, an unexpected good fortune ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 5. the hook of the crook from which pots hang over a fire in cooking ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 6. a motorcycle ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 7. (derogatory) a promiscuous woman ...1945 sl., orig. Aust.
vb. to swarm like bees; also, to gather, to assemble, to crowd ...1790 Sc.
BIKER'S SPEED
n. methamphetamines ...20C drugs sl.
BIKING
n. a hive, a swarm ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIKINI STUFFERS
n. the breasts ...Bk1998 sl.
BIKKY
n. a child's word for a biscuit ...E20
BILBIE
n. shelter, residence ...1891 Sc.
BILBO
n. † the penis
BILCH
n. 1. a very fat or lusty person, breathless from corpulence ...1768 Sc.
n. 2. a brat; a contemptuous term for a child ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 3. a monster ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 4. a little, crooked, insignificant person ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to limp, to halt ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILCHER
n. one who limps ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILDER
n. a scab ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. to work hard ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILDERING
adj. lumbering, clumsy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILDERT
n. † a term of contempt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILE
vb. to boil ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BILED AS AN OWL
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BILF
n. 1. a large, clumsy person ...1819 Sc.
n. 2. a blunt stroke, a hit ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a term of contempt for a pursy person; a monster ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILGE
n. 1. nonsense, rubbish ...1921 sl.
n. 2. a drinking spree; a binge ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. to be dismissed or obliged to resign ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
BILIMENTS
n. † clothing, habiliments ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILINGUOUS
adj. † bilingual, speaking two languages ...1730
BILIVE
adv. 1. † speedily, hastily, quickly, eagerly ...c1200 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. † at once, immediately, directly ...c1220
vb. † to remain ...c1000
BILK
n. 1. a cheat, one who cheats ...1848 Eng. sl.
n. 2. a belch, eructation ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to cheat, to refuse to pay; to frustrate, to disappoint ...1820 Eng. sl.
vb. 2. to throw down or strike heavily; to thump ...1844 Eng. dial.
BILKER
n. 1. one who practises cheating ...1717 sl.
n. 2. one who hires a hackney carriage and slips off without paying ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILL
n. 1. a banknote ...1826
n. 2. a divorce ...1894 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 4. a letter, a missive ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 5. (derogatory) a person's nose ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 6. the police ...1950s sl.
n. 7. a police station ...1950s sl.
vb. 1. to work hard ...1790 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to divorce one's spouse ...1885 Amer. dial.
vb. 3. of a bird: to strike with the beak ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILL, THE
n. the police force in general; the law personified ...1969 Brit. sl.
BILL AND COO
vb. to caress and make other displays of affection ...1854 sl.
BILLARD
n. no-man's-land ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BILLATORY
n. a restless bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-BLO
n. a bull ...1806 Sc.
BILLBOOK
n. a pocketbook ...1895 Amer. dial.
BILLED
adj. distracted, half mad ...1869 Eng. dial.
BILLET
n. 1. a chunk of wood; a log, a piece of wood ...1750 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 2. a note, letter, or document ...1847 Amer. dial.
n. 3. wood cut to a convenient size for burning ...1863 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a mess, a scrape ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLETING
n. firewood ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLETT
n. a chunk of wood; a small log, often used for firewood ...1837 Amer. dial.
BILLFOLD
n. a pocketbook to carry folded paper money; a wallet ...1950 Amer. dial.
BILLFOLDER
n. a pocketbook to carry folded paper money; a wallet ...1909 Amer. dial.
BILL FROM THE HILL
n. police officers serving at Notting Hill police station in London ...1950s sl.
BILLIARD SLUM, THE
n. false pretenses ...Bk1892 Aust. sl.
BILLIBUE
n. a hullabaloo; a commotion, fuss, disturbance ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLIE
n. a brother; a comrade ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLIES
n. overalls and blouse ...1905 Amer. dial.
BILLIKIN
n. a small 'billy' or tin can used as a kettle ...1926 colloq.
BILLIZING
n. a thrashing, a buffeting ...1882 Eng. dial.
BILL-JOCK
n. a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-JUMP
n. a person who doesn't pay his bills ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILL OF SALE
n. a widow's weeds ...Bk1890 sl.
BILLOWS
n. snowdrifts ...1867 Eng. dial.
BILLSEAG
n. an old, castrated bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-SHOW
n. a wild west show such as Buffalo Bill's ...1944 Amer. Western usage
BILL-SHOW COWBOY
n. a show-off cowboy of the Buffalo Bill show type ...1944 Amer. Western usage
BILL-SWEATER
n. a money-lender ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLUS
vb. to beat, to flog ...1865 Eng. dial.
BILL-WAGON
n. a police patrol wagon ...L19 US sl.
BILLY
n. 1. a brother ...1686 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a young fellow ...1768 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 3. a comrade, a friend ...1785 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 4. a policeman's baton ...a1859 US
n. 5. a life-preserver (a short club with a heavy weighted end used as a weapon) ...1864 sl.
n. 6. a silk pocket handkerchief ...Bk1890 sl.
n. 7. a bull ...1896 Eng. dial.
n. 8. a lover ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 9. a binge; a drinking spree ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 10. a grasshopper ...1968 Amer. dial.
n. 11. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. to bellow; to low ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLY BARLOW
n. a pocket knife ...1916 Amer. dial.
BILLY BENTIE
n. a smart roguish boy ...1825 Sc.
BILLY-BLIN
n. a benevolent sprite ...1806 Sc.
BILLY-BLIND
n. the game of blindman's buff; also, the one that is blindfolded in the game ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILLYBLINDER
n. 1. the person who hoodwinks another in the game of blindman's buff ...1822 Sc.
n. 2. a 'blind', an imposture ...1822 Sc.
BILLY BORN DRUNK
n. a drunkard ...1895 Eng. sl.
BILLY BOY
n. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY BUMKIN
n. a name for the first toe (the one beside the big toe) ...19C Eng. dial.
BILLY-BUTTONS
n. a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY CALL FATHER
n. weak tea ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLYCOCK HAT
n. a Derby hat ...1906 Amer. dial.
BILLY DEVIL
n. the devil ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILLY GOAT
n. effrontery, nerve, pushiness, boldness ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY-GOAT ALLEY
n. the run-down or poor section of a town; a slummy place ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILLY-GOAT HILL
n. the run-down or poor section of a town; a slummy place ...1935 Amer. dial.
BILLY GO NIMBLES
n. an imaginary disease ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY HELL
n. a desolate place; hell ...1903 Amer. dial.
BILLYHOOD
n. brotherhood ...1818 Sc.
BILLY KNIFE
n. a pocket knife ...1916 Amer. dial.
BILLY-LAMB
n. a lamb reared by hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY MAN
n. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY-MARIA
n. a countrified or rustic person ...1908 Amer. dial.
BILLY-MINAWKY
n. a foolish or stupid fellow ...19C Eng. dial.
BILLY-OF-THE-WISP
n. will-o'-the-wisp ...1855 Eng. dial.
BILLY WHICKER
n. a woodpecker ...1970 Amer. dial.
BILLY-WHIFFLER
n. a fool; a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WHIFFLING
adj. playing the fool ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WINKER
n. the elfin who closes the eyes of children at bedtime ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WI'-T'-WISP
n. will-o'-the-wisp ...1855 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WIX
n. an owl; especially the barn owl ...1832 Eng. dial.
BILOQUIST
n. one who can speak with two different voices ...a1810
BILOU
n. nasal mucus ...1969 Amer. dial., nursery usage
BILPERING
adj. cheating; dishonest ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILSH
n. a short, plump person; a thriving, stout person or animal ...1823 Sc.
BILSHIE
adj. short and stout; plump and thriving ...19C Sc.
BILT
n. 1. a blow, a thud ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 2. a limp ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 3. a short, thickset person ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to go lame; to limp; to walk with crutches ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILTER
n. a child ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILTIE
adj. thickset; clubbish; clumsy ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILTIENESS
n. clumsiness ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILTING
adj. moving like a short, thickset person ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIM
adv. with a sharp blow ...1888 Amer. dial.
n. 1. an inhabitant of Barbados ...1852 colloq.
n. 2. the act of humming or buzzing ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 3. a young woman, often with an implication of promiscuity; a woman of loose morals or a prostitute ...1925 US sl.
n. 4. the buttocks ...1935 sl.
vb. to hum, to buzz ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIMARICAL
adj. † belonging to two seas ...1692
BIMBETTE
n. an adolescent or teenager considered sexually attractive but of limited intelligence ...1982 sl., orig. US
BIMBO
n. 1. (mainly derogatory) a male person; a fellow ...1918 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a woman, often with an implication of promiscuity ...1920 sl., orig. US
n. 3. a young woman considered sexually attractive but of limited intelligence ...1927 sl., orig. US
n. 4. a woman of loose morals or a prostitute ...1929 sl.
BIMBO DOUGH
n. money for a date ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMBO DUST
n. face powder ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMBOMS
n. church bells; hence, applied to anything hanging, as icicles, tags of a bonnet or dress, mucus hanging from the nose, cobwebs, etc. ...1679 Eng. dial.
BIMBO NUTS
adj. fond of girls or women ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMEBY
adv. presently, soon, before long ...1722 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BIMM
n. an inhabitant of Barbados ...1852 colloq.
BIMMER
n. anything that hums or buzzes ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIMMY
n. a prostitute ...20C sl.
BIN
n. 1. a hill, a mountain, a mountain-peak ...1788
n. 2. mood, humour ...1809 Sc.
vb. 1. to go ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. 2. to bind ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 3. to curse ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to move or run swiftly ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 5. to dispose of ...1991 Brit. sl.
BIN, THE
n. a mental hospital ...1938 sl.
BIND
n. 1. capacity, ability, power ...1824 Sc.
n. 2. something boring or tiresome ...1930 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
vb. 1. to swerve, to turn in a certain direction ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to bore ...1929 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
vb. 3. to complain ...1943 Brit. sl., orig. services' sl.
BIND, A
n. something very troublesome or annoying ...1930 sl., chiefly Brit.
BINDER
n. 1. a large quantity, esp. of food ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. something boring or tiresome ...1930 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
n. 3. cheese ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a complainer ...1944 Brit. sl., orig. services' sl.
n. 5. constipating food ...Bk1998 sl.
BINDERER
n. anything very large and good of its kind ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
BINDERS
n. brakes, esp. a hand brake ...1943 Amer. dial., orig. railroad usage
BINDLE
n. 1. a vagrant's bedding-roll ...1900 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a package containing narcotic drugs ...1921 sl.
n. 3. a small amount; a bit ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BINDLE MAN
n. a tramp, a vagrant ...1900 Amer. sl.
BINDLE STIFF
n. a tramp, a vagrant ...1900 Amer. sl.
BIND-POCK
n. a niggard ...Bk1911 Sc.
BINE-BINE
adv. by and by ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BINEY
n. a goblin; a bugaboo ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BING
n. 1. a heap, a pile; also, a crowd ...1860 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a thump or blow ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 3. the sea beach ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. † to go ...1567 gypsy sl.
vb. 2. to pile in a heap; to accumulate ...1804 Sc. & N. Ireland
vb. 3. of milk or cream: to curdle, to turn sour ...1860 Eng. dial.
vb. 4. to knock or strike ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 5. to slap, to hit ...1952 Amer. dial.
BING-BANG
n. expressing a repeated heavy thump or a continued banging noise ...1914 colloq.
BING BOY
n. a Canadian soldier ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BINGE
n. a drinking spree ...1854 sl.
vb. 1. to bow; to cringe ...1724 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to drink alcohol excessively ...1854 sl.
vb. 3. to sneak, to cringe; to fawn; to bow ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to raise the spirits of ...1915 sl.
BINGED
adj. 1. drunk ...1916 sl.
adj. 2. vaccinated ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BINGEE
n. the stomach ...1832 Aust. sl.
BINGER
n. 1. something sharp or pungent, as a keen wind or frost, a draught of potent beer, or ardent spirits ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an advanced state of intoxication ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BINGEY
n. the stomach ...1832 Aust. sl.
BINGHI
n. (derogatory) an Australian Aboriginal ...1902 Aust. sl.
BINGIE
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINGLE
n. 1921 Amer. dial. - a coin of little value
BINGLE-BANGLE
adj. 1825 Eng. dial. - fickle, vacillating, irresolute
BINGLY
adv. Bk1911 Sc. - comfortably
BINGO
n. 1861 sl. - brandy
BING SPOT
n. Bk2004 Amer. sl. - a vaccination mark (World War I usage)
BINGY
adj. 1863 Eng. dial. - sour
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINJY
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINK
n. 1. 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial. - a bank, an acclivity
n. 2. 1816 Sc. & Eng. dial. - a shelf; a frame of wooden shelves for holding earthenware in a kitchen; a plate-rack
n. 3. 1823 Sc. - a wasp's or wild bees' nest
n. 4. 1828 Sc. - a bending movement
n. 5. Bk1911 Sc. - a bench
n. 6. Bk1911 Sc. - a crease, a fold
vb. 1. 1895 Sc. - to bend, to bow down, to lean forward awkwardly; to curtsy
vb. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - to press down, to destroy the shape, esp. of shoes
BINKART
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a heap of stones, clay, dirt, etc.
BINKER
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a heap of stones or dirt
vb. Bk1898 Sc. - to pile up in a heap
BINKIE
adj. Bk1898 Sc. - gaudy, trimly-dressed, smart
BINKY
n. 1. 1912 Amer. dial. - any little mechanical contrivance
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. - the buttocks
BINMAN
n. c1966 sl. - a refuse collector
BINN
n. Bk1911 Sc. - strength; excellence
vb. Bk1911 Sc. - to bind
BINNE-BINNE
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. - by and by
BINNER
adj. Bk1911 Sc. - more comfortable
adv. Bk1898 Sc. - with much noise and force
n. 1. 1809 Sc. - a quick movement accompanied by much noise; a sounding blow
n. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - a quantity of work done
n. 3. Bk1911 Sc. - the boiling-point
vb. 1. 1803 Sc. & N. Ireland - to move swiftly, to dash, to rush; to work with noise and energy
vb. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - to strike so as to produce a humming or buzzing sound; also, to whirr, to buzz
BINNERAN
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a noisy movement, noise
BINNEWATER
n. 1901 Amer. dial. - a small lake
BINNTHERER
n. Bk1898 N. Ireland - anything very large and good of its kind
BINNY
n. 1. 1908 Amer. dial. - the belly (nursery usage)
n. 2. 1924 Amer. dial. - a man's overcoat
BINOCS
n. 1943 sl. - binoculars
BINS
n. 1. 1971 sl. - binoculars
n. 2. 1981 sl. - glasses
BINT
n. 1. 1855 sl. - (mainly derogatory) a (young) woman, esp. non-Caucasian
n. 2. L19 sl. - (mainly derogatory) a woman regarded as a sex object
BINXER
n. 1897 sl. - a vulgar, loud-talking, blustering person; especially a commercial traveller of this kind
BIONIC
adj. 1976 sl. - highly skilled or capable
BIOSCOPE
n. 1812 obs. - a view or survey of life
BIOT
n. 1818 Eng. dial. - any kind of support; a walking-stick
n. one's grandmother ...1946 Amer. dial.
BIG MAMMA
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MAN
n. 1. a drug supplier ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. a gallon of wine ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG ME
n. a person who likes to brag ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG MISS
n. a great loss by death, or by the departure of a friend ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG MISTER
n. one's husband ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MIX-UP
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG MONEY
n. a large amount of money, high wages or salary ...1888 orig. US
BIG MOTHER
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG MOUTH
n. 1. a loquacious talker; also implying boastfulness or lack of discretion ...1889 sl., orig. & chiefly US
n. 2. loquacity, talkativeness ...1890 sl., orig. & chiefly US
BIG-MOUTHED
adj. talkative ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG MUCKY-MUCK
n. a superior or important person, whether actually or through pretension ...M19 US sl.
BIG MUDDY
n. the Missouri river ...1857 US
BIG NANA
n. one's grandmother ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG NECK
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIGNET
n. a bayonet ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG-NIECE
n. the daughter of a nephew or niece ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIG NIGGER
n. (derogatory) an important, often self-important person ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG NOISE
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1906 sl., orig. US
BIG O.
n. 1. opium ...20C drugs sl.
n. 2. in railroading: the conductor ...1930 Amer. dial.
BIG O, THE
n. orgasm, esp. female orgasm ...Aust. sl.
BIG OLD TIME
n. an uproarious time; a spree ...M19 US sl.
BIG ON
adj. fond of; enthusiastic about; liking ...1867 orig. & chiefly US
BIG ONE
n. 1. an incredible story; a whopper ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a thousand dollars or a thousand-dollar bill ...1935 US sl.
n. 3. in cards: the joker ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ONES
n. men of consequence ...Bk1890 sl.
BIGOT
n. highly secret information; a code word ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIGOTED
adj. 1. stupid, self-willed (without reference to any religious intolerance) ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. conceited, vain, stuck-up, self-important; impudent, boastful, haughty ...1902 Amer. dial.
BIGOTICAL
adj. † bigoted ...1678
BIGOTTY
adj. haughty, conceited, bumptious, overbearing, self-willed ...1873 Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. pride, conceit, haughtiness ...1884 Eng. dial.
BIG OX
n. in railroading: the conductor ...1943
BIG PA
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PAPA
n. one's grandfather ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PASTURE
n. a penitentiary ...1968 Amer. dial., Western usage
BIG PAY
n. high wages or salary ...1915 US
BIG PIG
n. a person who saves in a mean way or is greedy in money matters; a stingy person ...1965 Amer. dial.
BIG PLACE
n. a jail or penitentiary ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG POND
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG POOL
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG PRETZEL, THE
n. Philadelphia ...Amer. sl.
BIG PUDDLE
n. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG READY
n. a thorough state of preparation; a good start ...1897 Amer. dial.
BIG RING
n. a square dance ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG ROAD
n. a public driveway ...1818 Amer. dial.
BIG ROCK
n. a jail or penitentiary ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG ROD
n. a machine gun ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG ROOM
n. the principal room of a house; the living room ...a1883 Amer. dial.
BIG ROW
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG RUMPUS
n. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG RUSH
n. cocaine ...20C drugs sl.
BIGS
n. a major sports league ...1973 US sl.
BIG SAVAGE
n. in logging: the general superintendent; a foreman ...1942 Amer. dial.
BIG SET-TO
n. a major engagement ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG SHIP
n. a large airplane; a bomber ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIG SHOAT
n. a boar ...1954 Amer. dial.
BIG SHORTY
n. a nickname for a fat person ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG SHOT
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1927 sl., orig. US
BIG SHOW
n. 1. a major engagement ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 2. war ...World War II Amer. sl.
n. 3. an important or self-important person ...1966 Amer. dial.
BIGSIE
adj. 1. rather large ...Bk1911 Sc.
adj. 2. proud, conceited; used contemptuously ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIG SLEEP, THE
n. death ...1938 sl., orig. US
BIG SMELL
n. a seal ...Bk1942 Amer. circus sl.
BIG SMOKE
n. 1. aboriginal name for a town ...1848 Aust.
n. 2. London ...Bk1904
BIG-SORTED
adj. proud, stuck-up ...1890 Eng. dial.
BIG SQUEEZE
n. a boss or foreman; an important person; the leader of a gang; the head of any organization ...1966 Amer. dial.
BIG STAR
n. a law enforcement officer, a sheriff ...1967 Amer. dial.
BIG STICK
n. 1. military power ...Bk2004 Spanish-American War era
n. 2. a display of force ...1904 US
n. 3. a machine gun ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a fireman's ladder ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 5. person of authority, as a police officer or foreman; a marshal ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 6. an important or self-important person ...1968 Amer. dial.
BIG STICKS
n. in logging: the woods ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG STIFF
n. an uncouth person who is self-opinionated ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BIG SUCKER-AND-EGG MAN
n. a person of wealth who is easily fleeced ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG SUGAR
n. the owner of a ranch, a cattleman ...1942 Amer. sl.
BIG-TALK
adj. boastful, blustering ...1935 Amer. dial.
n. (as 'big talk') boasting ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG TEX
n. Texas ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG THING
n. any potentially notable event or achievement that does not come off as notable ...US Civil War usage
BIG THING ON ICE, A
n. a profitable venture; a good thing; something excellent ...1890 sl.
BIG TICKET
n. an honourable discharge from military service ...US Civil War usage
BIG TIDE
n. a flood ...1969 Amer. dial.
BIG-TIME
adj. 1. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
adj. 2. excellent; first-rate ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
adv. (usually as 'big time') totally, very ...20C teen & high school sl.
n. a convivial party or celebration; a social gathering; an enjoyable time ...1863 Amer. dial.
BIG TOTER
n. a shotgun ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG-TRUCE
adj. important ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG TURKEY
n. an ostrich ...Bk1942 Amer. circus sl.
BIG 'UNS
n. large trees ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIG UP
vb. to confirm in an opinion; to devote one's self to an opinion, idea, purpose, or person ...Bk1911 Sc.
BI-GUY
n. a bisexual male ...1973 sl.
BIG WATER, THE
n. 1. the ocean ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a flood ...1970 Amer. dial.
BIG WHEEL
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1942 sl., orig. & chiefly US
BIGWIG
n. a high-ranking or important person ...1703 sl.
BIG WIND
n. boasting ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
BIG WOW
n. 1. something beautiful or attractive ...Bk1892 Amer. sl.
n. 2. something excellent ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BIJEN!
int. truly! an exclamation of surprise ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BIKE
n. 1. a gathering, an assembly of people ...1785 Sc.
n. 2. a nest of wild bees, wasps, etc.; a nestful of bees, a swarm ...1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. a habitation, a building ...1827 Sc.
n. 4. a windfall, an unexpected good fortune ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 5. the hook of the crook from which pots hang over a fire in cooking ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 6. a motorcycle ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 7. (derogatory) a promiscuous woman ...1945 sl., orig. Aust.
vb. to swarm like bees; also, to gather, to assemble, to crowd ...1790 Sc.
BIKER'S SPEED
n. methamphetamines ...20C drugs sl.
BIKING
n. a hive, a swarm ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIKINI STUFFERS
n. the breasts ...Bk1998 sl.
BIKKY
n. a child's word for a biscuit ...E20
BILBIE
n. shelter, residence ...1891 Sc.
BILBO
n. † the penis
BILCH
n. 1. a very fat or lusty person, breathless from corpulence ...1768 Sc.
n. 2. a brat; a contemptuous term for a child ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 3. a monster ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 4. a little, crooked, insignificant person ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to limp, to halt ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILCHER
n. one who limps ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILDER
n. a scab ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. to work hard ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILDERING
adj. lumbering, clumsy ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILDERT
n. † a term of contempt ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILE
vb. to boil ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILED
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BILED AS AN OWL
adj. drunk ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BILF
n. 1. a large, clumsy person ...1819 Sc.
n. 2. a blunt stroke, a hit ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 3. a term of contempt for a pursy person; a monster ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILGE
n. 1. nonsense, rubbish ...1921 sl.
n. 2. a drinking spree; a binge ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. to be dismissed or obliged to resign ...Bk1904 Amer. college sl.
BILIMENTS
n. † clothing, habiliments ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILINGUOUS
adj. † bilingual, speaking two languages ...1730
BILIVE
adv. 1. † speedily, hastily, quickly, eagerly ...c1200 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
adv. 2. † at once, immediately, directly ...c1220
vb. † to remain ...c1000
BILK
n. 1. a cheat, one who cheats ...1848 Eng. sl.
n. 2. a belch, eructation ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 1. to cheat, to refuse to pay; to frustrate, to disappoint ...1820 Eng. sl.
vb. 2. to throw down or strike heavily; to thump ...1844 Eng. dial.
BILKER
n. 1. one who practises cheating ...1717 sl.
n. 2. one who hires a hackney carriage and slips off without paying ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILL
n. 1. a banknote ...1826
n. 2. a divorce ...1894 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 4. a letter, a missive ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 5. (derogatory) a person's nose ...1942 Amer. dial.
n. 6. the police ...1950s sl.
n. 7. a police station ...1950s sl.
vb. 1. to work hard ...1790 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to divorce one's spouse ...1885 Amer. dial.
vb. 3. of a bird: to strike with the beak ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILL, THE
n. the police force in general; the law personified ...1969 Brit. sl.
BILL AND COO
vb. to caress and make other displays of affection ...1854 sl.
BILLARD
n. no-man's-land ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BILLATORY
n. a restless bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-BLO
n. a bull ...1806 Sc.
BILLBOOK
n. a pocketbook ...1895 Amer. dial.
BILLED
adj. distracted, half mad ...1869 Eng. dial.
BILLET
n. 1. a chunk of wood; a log, a piece of wood ...1750 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
n. 2. a note, letter, or document ...1847 Amer. dial.
n. 3. wood cut to a convenient size for burning ...1863 Eng. dial.
n. 4. a mess, a scrape ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLETING
n. firewood ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLETT
n. a chunk of wood; a small log, often used for firewood ...1837 Amer. dial.
BILLFOLD
n. a pocketbook to carry folded paper money; a wallet ...1950 Amer. dial.
BILLFOLDER
n. a pocketbook to carry folded paper money; a wallet ...1909 Amer. dial.
BILL FROM THE HILL
n. police officers serving at Notting Hill police station in London ...1950s sl.
BILLIARD SLUM, THE
n. false pretenses ...Bk1892 Aust. sl.
BILLIBUE
n. a hullabaloo; a commotion, fuss, disturbance ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLIE
n. a brother; a comrade ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLIES
n. overalls and blouse ...1905 Amer. dial.
BILLIKIN
n. a small 'billy' or tin can used as a kettle ...1926 colloq.
BILLIZING
n. a thrashing, a buffeting ...1882 Eng. dial.
BILL-JOCK
n. a bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-JUMP
n. a person who doesn't pay his bills ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILL OF SALE
n. a widow's weeds ...Bk1890 sl.
BILLOWS
n. snowdrifts ...1867 Eng. dial.
BILLSEAG
n. an old, castrated bull ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILL-SHOW
n. a wild west show such as Buffalo Bill's ...1944 Amer. Western usage
BILL-SHOW COWBOY
n. a show-off cowboy of the Buffalo Bill show type ...1944 Amer. Western usage
BILL-SWEATER
n. a money-lender ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLUS
vb. to beat, to flog ...1865 Eng. dial.
BILL-WAGON
n. a police patrol wagon ...L19 US sl.
BILLY
n. 1. a brother ...1686 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a young fellow ...1768 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 3. a comrade, a friend ...1785 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
n. 4. a policeman's baton ...a1859 US
n. 5. a life-preserver (a short club with a heavy weighted end used as a weapon) ...1864 sl.
n. 6. a silk pocket handkerchief ...Bk1890 sl.
n. 7. a bull ...1896 Eng. dial.
n. 8. a lover ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 9. a binge; a drinking spree ...1966 Amer. dial.
n. 10. a grasshopper ...1968 Amer. dial.
n. 11. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
vb. to bellow; to low ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILLY BARLOW
n. a pocket knife ...1916 Amer. dial.
BILLY BENTIE
n. a smart roguish boy ...1825 Sc.
BILLY-BLIN
n. a benevolent sprite ...1806 Sc.
BILLY-BLIND
n. the game of blindman's buff; also, the one that is blindfolded in the game ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILLYBLINDER
n. 1. the person who hoodwinks another in the game of blindman's buff ...1822 Sc.
n. 2. a 'blind', an imposture ...1822 Sc.
BILLY BORN DRUNK
n. a drunkard ...1895 Eng. sl.
BILLY BOY
n. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY BUMKIN
n. a name for the first toe (the one beside the big toe) ...19C Eng. dial.
BILLY-BUTTONS
n. a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY CALL FATHER
n. weak tea ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLYCOCK HAT
n. a Derby hat ...1906 Amer. dial.
BILLY DEVIL
n. the devil ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILLY GOAT
n. effrontery, nerve, pushiness, boldness ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY-GOAT ALLEY
n. the run-down or poor section of a town; a slummy place ...1969 Amer. dial.
BILLY-GOAT HILL
n. the run-down or poor section of a town; a slummy place ...1935 Amer. dial.
BILLY GO NIMBLES
n. an imaginary disease ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY HELL
n. a desolate place; hell ...1903 Amer. dial.
BILLYHOOD
n. brotherhood ...1818 Sc.
BILLY KNIFE
n. a pocket knife ...1916 Amer. dial.
BILLY-LAMB
n. a lamb reared by hand ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY MAN
n. a law enforcement officer; a policeman ...1968 Amer. dial.
BILLY-MARIA
n. a countrified or rustic person ...1908 Amer. dial.
BILLY-MINAWKY
n. a foolish or stupid fellow ...19C Eng. dial.
BILLY-OF-THE-WISP
n. will-o'-the-wisp ...1855 Eng. dial.
BILLY WHICKER
n. a woodpecker ...1970 Amer. dial.
BILLY-WHIFFLER
n. a fool; a simpleton ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WHIFFLING
adj. playing the fool ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WINKER
n. the elfin who closes the eyes of children at bedtime ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WI'-T'-WISP
n. will-o'-the-wisp ...1855 Eng. dial.
BILLY-WIX
n. an owl; especially the barn owl ...1832 Eng. dial.
BILOQUIST
n. one who can speak with two different voices ...a1810
BILOU
n. nasal mucus ...1969 Amer. dial., nursery usage
BILPERING
adj. cheating; dishonest ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BILSH
n. a short, plump person; a thriving, stout person or animal ...1823 Sc.
BILSHIE
adj. short and stout; plump and thriving ...19C Sc.
BILT
n. 1. a blow, a thud ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 2. a limp ...Bk1898 Sc.
n. 3. a short, thickset person ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. to go lame; to limp; to walk with crutches ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILTER
n. a child ...Bk1898 Sc.
BILTIE
adj. thickset; clubbish; clumsy ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILTIENESS
n. clumsiness ...Bk1911 Sc.
BILTING
adj. moving like a short, thickset person ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIM
adv. with a sharp blow ...1888 Amer. dial.
n. 1. an inhabitant of Barbados ...1852 colloq.
n. 2. the act of humming or buzzing ...Bk1911 Sc.
n. 3. a young woman, often with an implication of promiscuity; a woman of loose morals or a prostitute ...1925 US sl.
n. 4. the buttocks ...1935 sl.
vb. to hum, to buzz ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIMARICAL
adj. † belonging to two seas ...1692
BIMBETTE
n. an adolescent or teenager considered sexually attractive but of limited intelligence ...1982 sl., orig. US
BIMBO
n. 1. (mainly derogatory) a male person; a fellow ...1918 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a woman, often with an implication of promiscuity ...1920 sl., orig. US
n. 3. a young woman considered sexually attractive but of limited intelligence ...1927 sl., orig. US
n. 4. a woman of loose morals or a prostitute ...1929 sl.
BIMBO DOUGH
n. money for a date ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMBO DUST
n. face powder ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMBOMS
n. church bells; hence, applied to anything hanging, as icicles, tags of a bonnet or dress, mucus hanging from the nose, cobwebs, etc. ...1679 Eng. dial.
BIMBO NUTS
adj. fond of girls or women ...World War II Amer. sl.
BIMEBY
adv. presently, soon, before long ...1722 Eng. & Amer. dial.
BIMM
n. an inhabitant of Barbados ...1852 colloq.
BIMMER
n. anything that hums or buzzes ...Bk1911 Sc.
BIMMY
n. a prostitute ...20C sl.
BIN
n. 1. a hill, a mountain, a mountain-peak ...1788
n. 2. mood, humour ...1809 Sc.
vb. 1. to go ...Bk1898 Sc.
vb. 2. to bind ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 3. to curse ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to move or run swiftly ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 5. to dispose of ...1991 Brit. sl.
BIN, THE
n. a mental hospital ...1938 sl.
BIND
n. 1. capacity, ability, power ...1824 Sc.
n. 2. something boring or tiresome ...1930 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
vb. 1. to swerve, to turn in a certain direction ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to bore ...1929 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
vb. 3. to complain ...1943 Brit. sl., orig. services' sl.
BIND, A
n. something very troublesome or annoying ...1930 sl., chiefly Brit.
BINDER
n. 1. a large quantity, esp. of food ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. something boring or tiresome ...1930 Brit. sl., chiefly services' sl.
n. 3. cheese ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a complainer ...1944 Brit. sl., orig. services' sl.
n. 5. constipating food ...Bk1998 sl.
BINDERER
n. anything very large and good of its kind ...Bk1898 N. Ireland
BINDERS
n. brakes, esp. a hand brake ...1943 Amer. dial., orig. railroad usage
BINDLE
n. 1. a vagrant's bedding-roll ...1900 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a package containing narcotic drugs ...1921 sl.
n. 3. a small amount; a bit ...Bk1942 Amer. sl.
BINDLE MAN
n. a tramp, a vagrant ...1900 Amer. sl.
BINDLE STIFF
n. a tramp, a vagrant ...1900 Amer. sl.
BIND-POCK
n. a niggard ...Bk1911 Sc.
BINE-BINE
adv. by and by ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BINEY
n. a goblin; a bugaboo ...Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
BING
n. 1. a heap, a pile; also, a crowd ...1860 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a thump or blow ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 3. the sea beach ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 1. † to go ...1567 gypsy sl.
vb. 2. to pile in a heap; to accumulate ...1804 Sc. & N. Ireland
vb. 3. of milk or cream: to curdle, to turn sour ...1860 Eng. dial.
vb. 4. to knock or strike ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
vb. 5. to slap, to hit ...1952 Amer. dial.
BING-BANG
n. expressing a repeated heavy thump or a continued banging noise ...1914 colloq.
BING BOY
n. a Canadian soldier ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BINGE
n. a drinking spree ...1854 sl.
vb. 1. to bow; to cringe ...1724 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to drink alcohol excessively ...1854 sl.
vb. 3. to sneak, to cringe; to fawn; to bow ...Bk1911 Sc.
vb. 4. to raise the spirits of ...1915 sl.
BINGED
adj. 1. drunk ...1916 sl.
adj. 2. vaccinated ...Bk2004 Amer. World War I sl.
BINGEE
n. the stomach ...1832 Aust. sl.
BINGER
n. 1. something sharp or pungent, as a keen wind or frost, a draught of potent beer, or ardent spirits ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
n. 2. an advanced state of intoxication ...Bk1898 Eng. dial.
BINGEY
n. the stomach ...1832 Aust. sl.
BINGHI
n. (derogatory) an Australian Aboriginal ...1902 Aust. sl.
BINGIE
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINGLE
n. 1921 Amer. dial. - a coin of little value
BINGLE-BANGLE
adj. 1825 Eng. dial. - fickle, vacillating, irresolute
BINGLY
adv. Bk1911 Sc. - comfortably
BINGO
n. 1861 sl. - brandy
BING SPOT
n. Bk2004 Amer. sl. - a vaccination mark (World War I usage)
BINGY
adj. 1863 Eng. dial. - sour
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINJY
n. 1832 Aust. sl. - the stomach
BINK
n. 1. 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial. - a bank, an acclivity
n. 2. 1816 Sc. & Eng. dial. - a shelf; a frame of wooden shelves for holding earthenware in a kitchen; a plate-rack
n. 3. 1823 Sc. - a wasp's or wild bees' nest
n. 4. 1828 Sc. - a bending movement
n. 5. Bk1911 Sc. - a bench
n. 6. Bk1911 Sc. - a crease, a fold
vb. 1. 1895 Sc. - to bend, to bow down, to lean forward awkwardly; to curtsy
vb. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - to press down, to destroy the shape, esp. of shoes
BINKART
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a heap of stones, clay, dirt, etc.
BINKER
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a heap of stones or dirt
vb. Bk1898 Sc. - to pile up in a heap
BINKIE
adj. Bk1898 Sc. - gaudy, trimly-dressed, smart
BINKY
n. 1. 1912 Amer. dial. - any little mechanical contrivance
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. - the buttocks
BINMAN
n. c1966 sl. - a refuse collector
BINN
n. Bk1911 Sc. - strength; excellence
vb. Bk1911 Sc. - to bind
BINNE-BINNE
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. - by and by
BINNER
adj. Bk1911 Sc. - more comfortable
adv. Bk1898 Sc. - with much noise and force
n. 1. 1809 Sc. - a quick movement accompanied by much noise; a sounding blow
n. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - a quantity of work done
n. 3. Bk1911 Sc. - the boiling-point
vb. 1. 1803 Sc. & N. Ireland - to move swiftly, to dash, to rush; to work with noise and energy
vb. 2. Bk1898 Sc. - to strike so as to produce a humming or buzzing sound; also, to whirr, to buzz
BINNERAN
n. Bk1898 Sc. - a noisy movement, noise
BINNEWATER
n. 1901 Amer. dial. - a small lake
BINNTHERER
n. Bk1898 N. Ireland - anything very large and good of its kind
BINNY
n. 1. 1908 Amer. dial. - the belly (nursery usage)
n. 2. 1924 Amer. dial. - a man's overcoat
BINOCS
n. 1943 sl. - binoculars
BINS
n. 1. 1971 sl. - binoculars
n. 2. 1981 sl. - glasses
BINT
n. 1. 1855 sl. - (mainly derogatory) a (young) woman, esp. non-Caucasian
n. 2. L19 sl. - (mainly derogatory) a woman regarded as a sex object
BINXER
n. 1897 sl. - a vulgar, loud-talking, blustering person; especially a commercial traveller of this kind
BIONIC
adj. 1976 sl. - highly skilled or capable
BIOSCOPE
n. 1812 obs. - a view or survey of life
BIOT
n. 1818 Eng. dial. - any kind of support; a walking-stick