Исторический английский фразеологический словарь
Шрифт:
Booking Office. In the old coaching days passengers had to book their seats for a stage journey several days in advance at an office in the innyard whence the coaches set out. When railways came in the name was retained, though no “booking” was ever in evidence. Nearly all the old coaching innyards have been converted into railway goods and parcels receiving depots.
Bookmaker. From the way in which he adjusts his clients’ bets, so that, ordinarily, he cannot lose on the issue of a day’s racing.
Boot-jack. A wooden contrivance by which the wearer could help himself to take off his high-legged boots without the aid of a servant. Hence it was called a jack, which is the generic term for a man-servant or boy.
41Border Eagle State. Mississippi, on account of the Border Eagle in the arms of the state.
Bore. This name was first applied by the “Macaronies” to any person who disapproved of foppishness or dandyism. Nowadays it implies one whose conversation is uninteresting, and whose society becomes repugnant.
Borneo. A European application of the Sanskrit boorni, land.
Born in the Purple. Since purple was the Imperial colour of the Caesars and the Emperors of the East, the sons of the reigning monarch were said to be born in it. This expression had a literal truth, for the bed furniture was draped with purple.
Born with a Silver Spoon in his Mouth. In allusion to the silver apostle spoon formerly presented to an infant by its godfather at baptism. In the case of a child born lucky or rich such a gift of worldly goods was anticipated at the moment of entering life.
Borough. The Burgh or town which arose on the south side of Old London Bridge, long before the City of London became closely packed with streets and houses.
Borough English. A Saxon custom, whereby the youngest son of a burgher inherited everything from his father, instead of the eldest, as among the Normans.
Bosh. See “All Bosh.”
Bosphorus. From the Greek bos-porus, cow strait, agreeably to the fable that Io, transformed into a white cow, swam across it.
Boss. A term derived from the Dutch settlers of New York, in whose language baas (pronounced like the a in all), expressed an overseer or master.
Boston. Short for St Botolph’s Town. “The stump” of the church is seen from afar across the Boston Deeps.
Botany Bay. So called by Captain Cook on account of the variety of, to him, new plants found on its shores. This portion of New South Wales was the first British 42Convict Settlement; hence Botany Bay became a term synonymous with penal servitude.
Botolph Lane. From the church of St Botolph, situated in it.
Bottle of Hay. A corruption of “bundle of hay,” from the French botte, a bundle, of which the word bottle expresses the diminutive.
Bottom Dollar. An Americanism for one’s last coin.
Bovril. An adaptation of bovis, ox, and vril, strength–the latter being a word coined by Lord Lytton in “The Coming Race.”
Bow. From the ancient stone bridge over the Lea, which was the first ever built in this country on a bow or arch.
Bow Church. Properly the church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, the first in this country to be built on bows or arches.
Bowdlerise. In the year 1818 Thomas Bowdler brought out an expurgated edition of Shakespeare’s Plays; hence a “Bowdlerised Edition” of any work is one of which the original text has been unwarrantably tampered with.
Bowie Knife. After Colonel Jim Bowie, a famous fighter of the western states, who first armed himself with this weapon.
Bow Street. From its arc shape when first laid out.
Bow Street Runners. Primitive detectives sent out from their headquarters in Bow Street in highwayman days.
Bowyer Tower. Anciently the residence of the Tower bowyer or bowmaker. Here, according to tradition, the Duke of Clarence was drowned in a butt of “Malmsey.”
Boxing Day. See “Christmas-box.”
Box Office. At one time only the private boxes at a theatre could be booked in advance; hence the term.
43Box the Compass. To be able to repeat all the thirty-two degrees or points of the mariner’s compass; a mental exercise all round the compass-box.
Boycott. To ostracise a man. This word came into use in 1881, after Captain Boycott of Lough Mark Farm, co. Mayo, was cut off from all social and commercial intercourse with his neighbours for the crime of being an Irish landlord.
Boy King. Edward VI., who ascended the throne of England in his tenth, and died in his sixteenth, year.
Boz. Under this nom de plume Charles Dickens published his earliest “Sketches” of London life and character in The Morning Chronicle. He has told us himself that this was the pet name of a younger brother, after Moses Primrose in “The Vicar of Wakefield.” The infantile members of the family pronounced the name “Bozes,” and at last shortened it into “Boz.”
Bradford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bradenford, “broad ford.”
Braggadocio. After Braggadochio, a boasting character in Spenser’s “Faery Queene.”
Brahma Fowl. Originally from the district of the Brahmapootra River in India. Pootra is Sanskrit for Son; hence the river name means “The Son of Brahma.”
Brandy. From the German Brantwein, burnt wine. A spirituous distillation from wine.
Brazenose College. The brazen nose on the college gate notwithstanding, this name was derived from the fact that here stood an ancient brasenhuis, or “brew-house.” Oxford has always been famous for the excellent quality of its beer.