BLURT OUT, to speak from impulse, and without reflection.—Shakespere.
BOB, a shilling. Formerly BOBSTICK, which may have been the original.
BOB, “s’help my BOB,” a street oath, equivalent to “so help me God.” Other words are used in street language for a similarly evasive purpose, i.e., CAT, GREENS, TATUR, &c., all equally profane and disgusting.
BOBBISH, very well, clever, spruce; “how are you doing?” “oh! pretty BOBBISH.”—Old.
BOBBY, a policeman. Both BOBBY and PEELER were nicknames given to the new police, in allusion to the christian and surnames of the late Sir Robert Peel, who was the prime mover in effecting their introduction and improvement. The term BOBBY is, however, older than the Saturday Reviewer, in his childish and petulant remarks, imagines. The official square-keeper, who is always armed with a cane to drive away idle and disorderly urchins, has, time out of mind, been called by the said urchins, BOBBY the Beadle. Bobby is also, I may remark, an old English word for striking or hitting, a quality not unknown to policemen.—See Halliwell’s Dictionary.
BODMINTON, blood.—Pugilistic.
BODY-SNATCHERS, bailiffs and runners: SNATCH, the trick by which the bailiff captures the delinquent.
BODY-SNATCHERS, cat stealers.
BOG or BOG-HOUSE, a water-closet.—School term. In the Inns of Court, I am informed, this term is very common.
BOG-TROTTER, satirical name for an Irishman.—Miege. Camden, however, speaking of the “debateable land” on the borders of England and Scotland, says “both these dales breed notable BOG-TROTTERS.”