Glossary list

Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)

Glossaries

Term Main definition
Brass¹

Copper coins; and by extension cash of any denomination

Hits - 672
breeches¹

The OED says that although "Breeches are distinguished from trousers by coming only just below the knee, dialectally (and humorously) breeches includes trousers.

Hits - 505
Brimstone
Alternative name for sulfer, here implying smoke and fire.
Hits - 582
Britannia¹

Britain personified as a woman; the figure representing this, depicted wearing a helmet, holding a shield and trident, and usually seated, emblematic of Britain (or England) esp. as an imperial or sea power, or as a symbol of nationalism.

Hits - 483
broadside¹

A single sheet with the text printed on one side. Often decorated with woodcut illustrations. Commonly bearing the text of songs - usually without musical notation. Sold cheaply by street vendors and pedlars. Also employed as a medium for articles copied from newspapers, election addresses etc.

Hits - 861
Synonyms - broadsides¹
broker¹

Broker: One who, for a commission, buys and sells stocks on behalf of clients. [OED].

Hits - 681
Synonyms - brokers¹
brose(1)

Oatmeal with boiling water added [Dictionary of the Scots Language]

Hits - 518
broughams¹

Brougham - A one-horse closed carriage, with two or four wheels, for two or four persons. [OED]

gloss.Brougham.png

Hits - 392
Synonyms - brougham¹
Brown(1)

Copper coin(s).

Hits - 566
Bruce¹

Robert the Bruce (1274-1329), King of Scots 1306-1329. led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England most famous for his viatory at Bannockburn, 1314

Hits - 664
Brummagem
Colloquial name for Birmingham mainly used in the midlands of England
Hits - 643
Brunel¹

Isambard Kingdom Brunel FRS (1806–1859) an English mechanical and civil engineer who desingedand oversaw the construction of; amopng other things : the Great Western Railway, the SS Great Western (1838), SS Great Britain (1843) and the SS Great Eastern (1858)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isambard_Kingdom_Brunel

Hits - 573
Synonyms - brunnel¹
bubbing

bubbing: To send (something) up in bubbles [OED]

Hits - 604
Bubble¹

From 17th c. onwards often applied to delusive commercial or financial schemes,

Hits - 562
Synonyms - bubbles¹
buck'd up¹

Buck up To dress up [OED]

Hits - 667
bucks
Buck = A gay, dashing fellow; a dandy, fop, ‘fast’ man. Used also as a form of familiar address. (OED)
Hits - 354
buffers(1)

Buffer: A mildly denigratory term for a bumbling, elderly person usually of the middle or upper classes. [CPB]

Hits - 576
buffers(2)

The apparatus for deadening the force of a concussion; as a round plate or cushion (usually supported by a strong spring) fixed in pairs at the front and back of railway carriages or engines, or on the face of a terminal wall of a line of railway. [OED]

Hits - 633
bugaboo

BAD bug, see bug (recursion!)

Hits - 317
Synonyms - bug,cock-up
bull¹

Bull: One who endeavours by speculative purchases, or otherwise, to raise the price of stocks. Bull was originally a speculative purchase for a rise. (OED)

Hits - 610
Synonyms - bulls¹

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.