BOEMOND, the Christian king of Antioch, who tried to teach his subjects arts, law, and religion.  He is of the Norman race, Rogero’s brother, and son of Roberto Guiscardo.—­Tasso, Jerusalem Delivered (1575).

BOEUF (Front de), a gigantic, ferocious follower of prince John.—­Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

BOFFIN (Nicodemus), “the golden dustman,” foreman of old John Harmon, dustman and miser.  He was “a broad, round-shouldered, one-sided old fellow, whose face was of the rhinoceros build, with overlapping ears.”  A kind, shrewd man was Mr. Boffin, devoted to his wife, whom he greatly admired.  Being residuary legatee of John Harmon, dustman, he came in for L100,000.  Afterwards, John Harmon, the son, being discovered, Mr. Boffin surrendered the property to him, and lived with him.

Mrs. Boffin, wife of Mr. N. Boffin, and daughter of a cat’s-meatman.  She was a fat, smiling, good-tempered creature, the servant of old John Harmon, dustman and miser, and very kind to the miser’s son (young John Harmon).  After Mr. Boffin came into his fortune she became “a high flyer at fashion,” wore black velvet and sable, but retained her kindness of heart and love for her husband.  She was devoted to Bella Wilfer, who ultimately became the wife of young John Harmon, alias Rokesmith.—­C.  Dickens, Our Mutual Friend (1864).

BO’GIO, one of the allies of Charlemagne.  He promised his wife to return within six months, but was slain by Dardinello.—­Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).

BOHEMIAN (A), a gipsy, from the French notion that the first gipsies came from Bohemia.

A Literary Bohemian, an author of desultory works and irregular life.

Never was there an editor with less about him of the literary Bohemian.—­Fortnightly Review ("Paston Letters").

Bohemian Literature, desultory reading.

A Bohemian Life, an irregular, wandering, restless way of living, like that of a gipsy.

BO’HEMOND, prince of Antioch, a crusader.—­Sir W. Scott, Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

BOIS’GRELIN (The young countess de), introduced in the ball given by king Rene at Aix.—­Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

BOIS-GUILBERT (Sir Brian de), a preceptor of the Knights Templars.  Ivanhoe vanquishes him in a tournament.  He offers insult to Rebecca, and she threatens to cast herself from the battlements if he touches her.  “When the castle is set on fire by the sibyl, sir Brian carries off Rebecca from the flames.  The Grand-Master of the Knights Templars charges Rebecca with sorcery, and she demands a trial by combat.  Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert is appointed to sustain the charge against her, and Ivanhoe is her champion.  Sir Brian being found dead in the lists, Rebecca is declared innocent.”—­Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe time, (Richard I.).