Bodkin.—William Bodkin, Esq., or as he was familiarly termed Billy Bodkin, was originally a painstaking Broker and Auctioneer at Islington, he was the first Hon. Sec. to the Mendicity Society, which office it was said he found more lucrative. So neglected knocking down, for the sake of taking-up, giving the vagrants their quietus “With a bare Bodkin.”—For further particulars about this sharp Bodkin see Billy Waters.
Bolt.—Throat, Sluice your bolt—Drink.
Bone-setter.—A hackney-coach, also a hard trotting horse.
Booked.—The time fixed when a thief is ripe for the gallows, or when any one is likely to die from some mortal disease. “He’s booked for a ride in a Government omnibus, i.e., prison van.” “You are booked for a ride to Gravesend.” Secured, bespoke, in for it, dished!
Booze.—Liquor, “To drink.” “Rum booze,” good drink.
Boozey.—Drunk. Man being reasonable must get drunk.—Byron.
Boozing-ken.—An alehouse, or tavern.
Bosh.—A fiddle. To fake a bosh, to play the fiddle; Boshmen, fiddlers, or musicians in general.
Bought.—I have bought that and no mistake, i.e., paid too much for it. Bought and sold: taken in and done for.—It would make a man as mad as a buck, to be so bought and sold.—Shakespeare.
Bouncing Chit.—A bottle, from the explosion in drawing the cork.