Bundling. A man and woman sleeping in the
same bed, he
with his small clothes, and she with her
petticoats on; an
expedient practised in America on a scarcity
of beds, where,
on such an occasion, husbands and parents
frequently
permitted travellers to bundle with their
wives and daughters.
This custom is now abolished. See
Duke of Rochefoucalt’s
Travels in America,
Bung upwards. Said of a person lying on his face.
Bung your eye. Drink a dram; strictly
speaking, to
drink till one’s eye is bunged up
or closed.
Bunt. An apron.
Bunter. A low dirty prostitute, half whore and half beggar.
BUNTLINGS. Petticoats. Cant.
Burn crust. A jocular name for a baker.
Burn the ken. Strollers living
in an alehouse without paying
their quarters, are said to burn the ken.
Cant.
Burning shame. A lighted candle stuck
into the parts of a
woman, certainly not intended by nature
for a candlestick.
Burner. A clap. The blowen tipped the
swell a burner;
the girl gave the gentleman a clap.
Burner. He is no burner of navigable rivers;
i.e. he is no
conjuror, or man of extraordinary abilities;
or rather,
he is, but a simple fellow. See Thames.
Burnt. Poxed or clapped. He was sent
out a sacrifice, and
came home a burnt offering; a saying of
seamen who have
caught the venereal disease abroad.
He has burnt his
fingers; he has suffered by meddling.
Burr. A hanger on, or dependant; an allusion
to the field
burrs, which are not easily got rid of.
Also the Northumbrian
pronunciation: the people of that
country, but
chiefly about Newcastle and Morpeth, are
said to have a
burr in their throats, particularly called
the Newcastle
burr.
Bushel bubby. A full breasted woman.
Busk. A piece of whalebone or ivory, formerly
worn by
women, to stiffen the forepart of their
stays: hence the
toast—Both ends of the busk.
Buss beggar. An old superannuated fumbler,
whom none
but beggars will suffer to kiss them.
Bus-napper. A constable. Cant.
Bus-NAPPER’S kenchin. A watchman. Cant.
Busy. As busy is the devil in a high wind;
as busy as a hen
with one chick.
Butcher’s dog. To be like a butcher’s
dog, i.e. lie by the
beef without touching it; a simile often
applicable to
married men.
Butcher’s horse. That must have
been a butcher’s
horse, by his carrying a calf so well;
a vulgar joke on an
awkward rider.


