Glossary list
Glossaries
| Term | Main definition |
|---|---|
| beer and skittles | a pleasurable pastime [OED]
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| before I could Jack Robinson say |
In a very short time; before the speaker realised what was happening
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| begox¹ | Propbably a euphemism for "by God". Similar to the Irish begob. [CPB]
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| begum¹ | By (or my) gum: by (or my) God [OED]
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| Be_jabers¹ | Irish expletive
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| Billy Purvis | Conjurer, clown and performer on the Northumbrian bagpipes who became a freeman of Newcastle. Purvis was and was known for his performances as a clown at the Newcastle Races. Died Dec. 16, 1853 at age 73. [Ref: http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/sang/eccentrics.html]
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| Bits of blood |
Horses
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| black hole of calcutta¹ | The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small prison or dungeon where British prisoners of war were held for three days on 20 June 1756. in conditions so cramped that many people died from suffocation and heat exhaustion [i] Giving rise to the phrase "like the black hole of Calcutta" to describe any dark, cramped unpleasant place. The phrase was in general use into the first half of the 20th century. References:
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black hole¹ |
| black legs(1) | black leg is "a swindler in gambling" [OED]
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| blacking | A preparation for giving a shining black surface to boots and shoes; a shoe polish. [OED]
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| blackleg | A person who continues to work despite a ban or strike by a trade union; a person who takes a striker's place [OED]
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| blaych(1) | meaning uncertain. Possibly blast
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| blether(1) | bladder or purse
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blethers |
| blinker¹ | Probably a blind or poorly sighted horse
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| Block ornaments |
“They buy block-ornaments..as they call the small dark-coloured pieces of meat exposed on the ..butchers' blocks.”
1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour I. 52 (London)
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| Blood_and_‘ouns¹ | Blood and wounds of Christ. an oath
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| blood_horse¹ | a horse of good stock or breed; especially a thoroughbred [OED]
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| blown up(1) | to be the object of anger; to be admonished fiercely [OED]
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blow'd up |
| Blueberry¹ | European Blueberry: Vaccinium myrtillus is a species of shrub with edible fruit of blue colour, commonly called "bilberry", "wimberry", "whortleberry". Related to, but not the same as the American Blueberry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_myrtillus
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bloeberry¹ |
| blue_bag¹ | blue bag - A barrister's (originally a solicitor's) brief bag made of blue fabric, now typically carried by a junior barrister.
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blue_bags¹ |
