B
b...
, abbreviation of bougre.
Babet
, Bessie.
babiller
,
v.
to prattle, chatter.
babouche
,
f.
Turkish slipper.
badaud
,
m.
idler, gaper, booby.
bagage
,
m.
baggage, luggage (also in
pl.
).
bagarre
,
f.
scuffie, fray, hubbub.
bagatelle
,
f.
mere trifle.
Bagdad
, city of Asiatic Turkey on the Tigris.
bah
,
interj.
ah!, pshaw!
bahut
,
m.
chest.
bai, -e
,
adj. and m.
bay, bay horse.
baigner
,
v.
to bathe;
se --
, bathe.
baignoire
,
f.
bath-tub.
bailler
,
v.
to give.
bâiller
,
v.
to yawn.
bailli
,
m.
bailiff.
bain
,
m.
bath;
bains de mer
, sea bathing;
bains froids
, cold baths, floating bath-bouses
(on a river).
baïonnette
,
f.
bayonet.
baiser
,
v.
to kiss;
m.
kiss.
baisse
,
f.
rail, recline, decline.
baisser
,
v.
to lower, drop;
se --
, stoop, bow down, be lowered.
bal
,
m.
ball (dance).
balafre
,
f.
gash, slash, scar.
balance
,
f.
scale, scales (also in
pl.
).
balancer
,
v.
to balance, swing;
se --
, swing, rock;
balancé, -e
, balanced, swinging.
balancier
,
m.
pendulum.
balayer
,
v.
to sweep.
balbutier
,
v.
to stammer (
t
pronounced as
c
).
balcon
,
m.
balcony.
baleine
,
f.
whale.
ballade
,
f.
ballad.
balle
,
f.
ball, bullet.
ballon
,
m.
balloon;
le -- d'Alsace
, a mountain with rounded summit on the western border
of Alsace.
ballot
,
m.
bale.
ballotter
,
v.
to toss about.
Baltique
,
f.
Baltic.
balustrade
,
f.
balustrade.
banal, -e
,
adj.
hackneyed, commonplace.
banc
,
m.
bench, scat.
bande
,
f.
band, strip, stripe, Bock.
bander
,
v.
to bandage, bind up.
bandit
,
m.
bandit, ruffian.
bank-note
,
f.
bank-note.
banlieue
,
f.
outskirts, suburbs.
banque
,
f.
bank.
banqueroute
,
f.
bankruptcy;
faire --
, to go into bankruptcy;
faire -- à
, cheat.
banquette
,
f.
bench (upholstered).
banquier
,
m.
banker.
baptême
,
m.
baptism, christening;
nom de --
, Christian name (
p
not pronounced).
baptiser
,
v.
to baptize, christen (
p
not pronounced).
baraque
,
f.
booth, shack.
barbe
,
f.
beard.
barbiche
,
f.
small beard on the chin, imperial.
bardeau
,
m.
shingle, thin board (over the rafters).
Bariatynski (Prince Alexander)
, Prussian field-marshal with distinguished service
in the Caucasus and in the Crimean war (1815-1879).
baril
,
m.
barrel.
barioler
,
v.
to variegate, color diversely.
baron, -ne
,
m., f.
baron, baroness.
barque
,
f.
bark, small boat.
barre
,
f.
bar, tiller, rudder, helm;
jouer aux barres
, to play at prisoners' base.
barrette
, beretta, cardinal's cap, scullion's cap.
barricader
,
v.
to barricade.
barrière
,
f.
barrier, city wall, fence, railing.
barrique
,
f.
barrel, cask.
bas
,
m.
stocking.
bas, -se
,
adj., adv. and m.
low, in a low tone, down, lower side, bottom;
en --
, below,
downstairs;
là---
, yonder, over there;
à --
, down, down with, off;
à -- de
, down from;
par le --
,
along the bottom;
mettre --
, to take off (a coat, etc.).
bassin
,
m.
basin.
bassiner
,
v.
to warm (a bed), bathe.
bataille
,
f.
battle, line of battle.
bataillon
,
m.
battalion;
chef de --
, major.
bateau
,
m.
boat.
bâtiment
,
m.
building, vessel.
bâtir
,
v.
to build.
bâtisse
,
f.
building (of masonry).
bâton
,
m.
stick, staff, club.
battant
,
m.
leaf (of a folding door);
le portail s'ouvre à deux battants
, the large folding door
opens wide.
battement
,
m.
beating.
batterie
,
f.
battery.
battre
,
v.
to beat, strik, flap, churn;
se --
, fight;
battant neuf
, brand new.
battue
,
f.
battue (hunting), beating (of a horse's feet), chase.
Batz
, village near le Croisic (pronounced as written, or:
Ba
).
bazar
,
m.
bazaar, Oriental market.
béant, -e
,
adj.
gaping, wide open.
beau (bel
before vowels),
belle
,
adj.
beautiful, fair, handsome, fine;
de plus belle
, harder
(deeper, etc.) than ever;
belle
,
f.
beauty (woman).
beaucoup
,
adv.
much, many, very much, a good deal.
beau-frère
,
m.
brother-in-law.
beau-père
,
m.
father-in-law.
beauté
,
f.
beauty.
bébé
,
m.
baby.
bec
,
m.
beak, prow, mouth (slang in last sense);
-- de gaz
, gas-light.
bedaine
,
f.
paunch, belly.
Bedredin
, Bedreddin, name borrowed by Gautier from the Arabian Nights.
bégayer
,
v.
to stammer.
ben
, familiar for
bien
(
en
pronounced as in
bien
).
Ben
, Hebrew word for son.
bénéfice
,
m.
profit.
bénir
,
v.
to bless.
benjoin
,
m.
benzoin (an aromatic resin;
en
pronounced as in
bien
).
béquille
,
f.
crutch.
bercail
,
m.
sheepfold, fold.
berceau
,
m.
cradle.
bercer
,
v.
to rock, soothe; lull, weigh (an idea).
berger, -ère
,
m., f.
shepherd, shepherdess;
f.
easy-chair.
berlinois, -e
,
adj.
of Berlin.
bernicle
,
f.
barnacle (popular form of bernacle).
Bertha
, German form of Berthe.
Berthe
, Bertha.
Berthine
, diminutive of Berthe.
besace
,
f.
wallet.
bésicles
,
f. pl.
spectacles.
besogne
,
f.
work, occupation, business.
besoin
,
m.
need, necessity;
avoir -- de
, to need, must.
bestiole
,
f.
little animal.
bétail
(
pl.
bestiaux),
m.
cattle.
bête
,
f. and adj.
beast, animal, foolish, silly, stupid;
faire la --
, to pretend to be a fool;
petites
bêtes
, little animais, insects, worms, etc.
bêtise
,
f.
nonsense, silly thing, stupidity.
beugler
,
v.
to bellow..
beurre
,
m.
butter.
Bézières
, name perhaps suggested by Béziers (in southern France) or by Mézières
(department of Ardennes).
biais
,
m.
bias, slope, way.
bibliothèque
,
f.
library, bookcase.
bicarbonate
,
m.
bicarbonate.
bien
,
adv. and m.
well, very, quite, many, much, fully, nicely, properly, comfortable, all right,
indeed;
m.
good, goods, property, possession;
-- du
(etc.), much,
-- des
, many;
homme de --
,
good or honest man;
-- que
,
conj.
although.
bien-aimé, -e
,
adj. and s.
well beloved, dearly loved, sweetheart.
bien-être
,
m.
comfort.
bienheureux, -euse
,
adj. and s.
blessed, one of the blest.
Bienne (lac de)
, Swiss lake northeast of Neuchâtel.
bientôt
, adv. soon;
à --
, good-by, I'll see you again soon, etc.
bienveillance
,
f.
goodwill, friendliness, kindliness.
bienveillant, -e
,
adj.
friendly, kindly, benevolent.
bière
,
f.
beer.
bigre
,
interj.
the deuce, etc;
bijou
,
m.
jewel.
billard
,
m.
billiard-table, billiards, billiard-room.
bille
,
f.
billiard-ball, ball, marble.
billet
,
m.
note, ticket, slip.
bise
,
f.
north wind
Bismarck
(Otto, Prince von), German statesman and chancellor, founder of German unity,
considered by the French largely responsible for the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871
(1815-1898).
bistré, -e
,
adj.
bistre-colored, dusky, swarthy.
bivac
,
m.
bivouac (now usually written
bivouac
).
bizarre
,
adj.
bizarre, odd, strange.
blague
,
f.
humbug, bosh.
blaguer
,
v.
to make fun of, tease, draw the long bow.
blanc, blanche
,
adj.
and m. white;
argent --
, silver.
blancheur
,
f.
whiteness, white.
blanchir
,
v.
to whiten, make white, become white or light.
blanchisseuse
,
f.
washerwoman, laundress.
blason
,
m.
coat of arms.
blé
,
m.
wheat, grain.
blême
,
adj.
pale, wan.
blesser
,
v.
to wound, offend;
blessé, -e
,
m., f.
injured or wounded persan, etc.;
blessant, -e
,
adj.
offensive, shocking.
blessure
,
f.
wound.
bleu, -e
,
adj. and m.
blue;
-- gris
, blue-gray.
bleuâtre
,
adj.
bluish.
bloc
,
m.
block.
blond, -e
,
adj. and s.
blond, fair, light.
blondin, -e
,
adj. and s.
fair, persan with fair hair.
bloquer
,
v.
to blockade.
blottir (se)
,
v.
to crouch;
blotti, -e
, crouched, squatting, cowering, nestling.
blouf
,
interj.
splash!
blouse
,
f.
blouse.
boeuf
,
m.
ox, beef.
Bohême
,
f.
Bohemia.
bohème
,
m.
tramp.
bohémien, -ne
,
adj. and s.
Bohemian, gipsy, vagrant.
boire
,
v.
to drink.
bois
,
m.
wood.
boiserie
,
f.
wainscoting.
boisson
,
f.
drink.
boite
,
f.
box.
boitiller
,
v.
to hobble (not recognized by standard dictionaries).
bombance
,
f.
feasting, high living.
bon, -ne
,
adj.
good, kind, pleasant, agreeable;
pour de --
, really, heartily, for good and all;
bonne place
, good place, right spot;
bonne
,
f.
maid, servant;
quel -- vent?
, what lucky
wind?
Bonaparte (Napoléon)
, the French Emperor (1769-1821); see note to p. 2, l. 5.
bonasse
,
adj.
soft (applied to persons), good-natured, silly, simple.
bonbon
,
m.
bonbon, candy.
bond
,
m.
bound, leap, jump.
bondir
,
v.
to bound, leap.
bonheur
,
m.
happiness, good fortune.
bonhomme
,
m.
good-natured or worthy old fellow, old fellow, fellow, little fellow, worthy man.
Bonifacio
, town and port of southern Corsica.
bonjour
,
m.
good day, good morning.
bonnement
,
adv.
simply.
bonnet
,
m.
bonnet, cap;
-- de police
, foraging or fatigue cap;
gros --
, big man; important
person (familiar).
bonsoir
,
m.
good evening.
bonté
,
f.
goodness, kindness.
bonzou
, baby's pronunciation of
bonjour
.
bord
,
m.
edge, border, bank, shore, brim, rail, side, sill, tip;
à --
, on board;
-- à --
, side by side;
à son --
, on board bis boat;
vie de --
, life on board ship;
sur le -- des lèvres
, on the tip of the
tongue;
par-dessus --
, overboard.
border
,
v.
to border.
bordereau
,
m.
account, note, memorandum.
borne
,
f.
limit, mile-stone, stone post (at the corner of a bouse, etc.), stepping-stone,
horse-block.
bosse
,
f.
hump, bump.
bossuer
,
v.
to dent, bruise;
bossué, -e
, bruised, knotted.
botte
,
f.
boat, hoof, bundle.
bottine
,
f.
shoe (high).
bouche
,
f.
mouth.
bouchée
,
f.
mouthful.
boucher
,
m.
butcher.
boucher
,
v.
to stop up.
bouchon
,
m.
stopper, cork, pothouse, tavern.
boucle
,
f.
buckle, curl.
boucler
,
v.
to buckle.
boudin
,
m.
blood pudding.
boudoir
,
m.
boudoir.
Boudroulboudour
, the Full Moon of the Full Moons (in Arabic: Badru-l-budûr).
boue
,
f.
mud.
boueux, -euse
,
adj.
muddy.
bouffée
,
f.
puff, whiff.
bouffi -e
,
adj. and s.
puffed up, puffy, swollen, puffed up or bloated fellow.
bouffon, -ne
,
adj.
clownish, ludicrous, farcical.
bouge
,
m.
dirty hole, hovel.
bouger
,
v.
to move, budge.
bougie
,
f.
wax candle.
bougre
,
m.
fellow (slang);
b... de teigneux
, scurvy devil.
bouillie
,
f.
pap, pulp.
bouillon
,
m.
bubble, broth.
boulanger
,
m.
baker.
Boulanger (Georges)
, French general involved in political intrigue to overthrow the
Government (1837-1891).
boule
,
f.
ball.
boulet
,
m.
cannon-ball, ball.
boulevard
,
m.
boulevard.
bouleverser
,
v.
to upset, overthrow.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
, city and port on the English Channel (department of Pas-de-Calais).
bouquet
,
m.
bouquet, cluster.
bourbeux, -euse
,
adj.
muddy, miry.
bourdonnement
,
m.
buzzing.
bourdonner
,
v.
to buzz, hum.
bourengrédel
,
f. pl.
(= German Bauerngredel) peasant girls (Gredel = Grete = Maggie).
bourg
,
m.
borough, country town, town.
bourgeois, -e
,
adj.
and s. bourgeois, member of the middle class, citizen, master, boss
(language of the working class);
sa bourgeoise
, his old woman.
bourgeonner
,
v.
to bud, put out shoots.
bourgmestre
,
m.
burgomaster, mayor (g pronounced).
bourg-pourri
,
m.
rotten borough.
bourrasque
,
f.
squall.
bourrer
,
v.
to cram, stuff.
bourse
,
f.
purse; la Bourse, the Stock-Exchange.
bousculade
,
f.
jostling, bustling.
bouse
,
f.
cow-dung.
bout
,
m.
end, bit, limit;
au -- de
, at the end of, after;
venir à -- de
, to manage to, succeed in.
bouteille
,
f.
bottle.
boutique
,
f.
shop.
bouton
,
m.
button.
boutonner
,
v.
to button.
bouvier
,
m.
cowherd.
bouvreuil
,
m.
bullfinch.
bracelet
,
m.
bracelet.
braconnier
,
m.
poacher.
braise
,
f.
embers, live coals.
branchage
,
m.
branches.
branche
,
f.
branch.
brandir
,
v.
to brandish.
branle
,
m.
swinging, jogging motion;
en --
, swinging;
être
mis en --
, to be set in motion, start.
bras
,
m.
arms;
les -- leur tomberaient
, they would throw up their hands in astonishment.
brasier
,
m.
brazier, clear bright fire, fire of red-hot coals.
brasserie
,
f.
brewery, beer-saloon, café.
brasseur
,
m.
brewer;
-- d'argent
, money-maker, scheming money-maker.
brave
,
adj.
brave, worthy, fine, good;
un -- garçon, un -- homme
, a fine fellow, a good man;
ce -- homme de soleil
, this good old sun.
bravement
,
adv.
bravely, worthily.
braver
,
v.
to brave.
bravo
,
interj.
bravo!, fine!
bravoure
,
f.
bravery.
bredouiller
,
v.
to splutter, stutter.
bref, -ève
,
adj. and adv.
brief, short, curt, in short.
breloque
,
f.
bauble, trinket, charm.
Brêmer
,
cf.
German Bremer, of Bremen.
Bretagne
,
f.
Brittany.
bretelle
,
f.
brace, suspender.
breton, -ne
,
adj. and s.
of Brittany, Breton (written
Breton
when
s.
).
bride
,
f.
bridle, rein, string (of a bonnet).
brigadier
,
m.
corporal, police sergeant.
brigand
,
m.
brigand, ruffian.
briller
,
v.
to shine;
brillant, -e
, adj. and m. brilliant, shining, brilliancy, luster.
brin
,
m.
blade, sprig, grain, bit;
espère un --
, wait a bit.
brindille
,
f.
twig, sprig, bit.
brique
,
f.
brick.
brisant
,
m.
reef, breaker, surf.
brise
,
f.
breeze.
brise-lames
,
m.
breakwater.
briser
,
v.
to break, break down, shatter;
se --
, be broken, be dashed to pieces.
britannique
,
adj.
British.
brocanteur
,
m.
second-band dealer, dealer in curiosities.
brocart
,
m.
brocade.
brocher
,
v.
to figure, brocade, sew (books).
brodequin
,
m.
high laced shoe.
broder
,
v.
to embroider, embellish with designs in relief.
bronze
,
m.
bronze.
brosse
,
f.
brush.
brosser
,
v.
to brush.
brosserie
,
f.
brush-trade or manufactory, brushes.
brouette
,
f.
wheelbarrow;
huiler la roue de sa --
, to help oneself to other people's property,
"graft" (the idea being that the wheel was oiled so well that the garden could be plundered
without noise).
brouillard
,
m.
fog, mist.
Brouin
, family name, perhaps Balzac derived it from the dialectic form
brouine
.
brouine
, dialectic for
bruine
.
broussailles
,
f. pl.
brambles, briars, thorny undergrowth, underbrush (rare in singular).
broyer
,
v.
to crush, grind.
bru
,
f.
daughter-in-law.
bruine
,
f.
drizzling rain, drizzle.
bruire
,
v.
to make a confused noise, rustle.
bruit
,
m.
noise, report.
brûler
,
v.
to burn; brûlé, m. burning.
brûlot
,
m.
fire ship, firebrand, burning brandy with sugar.
brûlure
,
f.
burning, burn, scalding.
brume
,
f.
mist.
brumeux, -euse
,
adj.
misty, foggy.
brun, -e
,
adj.
brown, dark.
brusque
,
adj.
blunt, abrupt, brusk.
brusquement
,
adv.
bruskly, rudely, quickly.
brut, -e
,
adj.
raw, rough, crude.
brutalité
,
f.
brutality.
brute
,
f.
brute.
bruyant -e
,
adj.
noisy.
bûche
,
f.
log, stick of wood.
bûcheron -ne
,
m., f.
wood-cutter.
buffet
,
m.
sideboard, refreshment-room.
Bulbul
, a kind of thrush in the Orient, sometimes called the nightingale of the East (Arabic).
bulletin
,
m.
bulletin.
bureau
,
m.
desk, office;
-- de tabac
, tobacco shop.
burgau
,
m.
mother-of-pearl (shell).
burlesque
,
adj.
burlesque, ludicrous.
buste
,
m.
bust.
but
,
m.
goal, target, aim;
dans un --
, for an object.
buveur
,
m.
drinker.