Board-of-Green-Cloth, a facetious synonym for a card or billiard table.
Boat, originally to transport; the term is now applied to penal servitude. To “get the BOAT,” or to “be BOATED,” is to be sentenced to a long term of imprisonment equivalent to transportation under the old system.
Bob, a shilling. Formerly BOBSTICK, which may have been the original. Bob-a-nob, a shilling a-head.
Bob, “s’help me 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 ridiculous. Ignorant people have a singular habit of saying “so help my,” instead of “me,” whatever the following words may be. This shows how little they think of the meanings of the phrases most in use among them. The words “so help” are almost invariably pronounced “swelp.”
Bobbery, a squabble, tumult.—Anglo-Indian.
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 name and surname 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 introduction of the new police. 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.”
Bodkin, any one sitting between two others in a carriage, is said “to ride BODKIN.” Amongst sporting men, applied to a person who takes his turn between the sheets on alternate nights, when the hotel has twice as many visitors as it can comfortably lodge; as, for instance, during a race-week.
Body-Snatcher, a bailiff or runner: SNATCH, the trick by which the bailiff captures the delinquent. These terms are now almost obsolete, so far as the pursuits mentioned are concerned.
Bog, or BOG-HOUSE, a privy, as distinguished from a water-closet. Originally printers’ slang, but now very common, and not applied to any particular form of cabinet d’aisance. “To BOG” is to ease oneself by evacuation.