Buz-Bloke, a pickpocket who principally confines his attention to purses and loose cash. Grose gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cant word. Gloak was old cant for a man. Buz-napper, a young pickpocket.
Buz-man, an informer; from BUZ, to whisper, but more generally a thief.
Buz-napper’s Academy, a school in which young thieves were trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this old style of business in Oliver Twist.
Buzzer, a pickpocket. Grose gives BUZ-COVE and, as above mentioned, [BUZ-GLOAK].
Byblow, an illegitimate child.
By George, an exclamation similar to BY JOVE. The term is older than is frequently imagined—vide Bacchus and Venus (p. 117), 1737. “’Fore (or by) GEORGE, I’d knock him down.” Originally in reference to Saint George, the patron saint of England, or possibly to the House of Hanover.
By Golly, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for “by God.” By gum is another oblique oath. In the United States, small boys are permitted by their guardians to say GOL DARN anything, but they are on no account allowed to commit the profanity of G—d d——n anything. A manner of “sailing close to the wind” which is objectionable to the honest mind. A specimen ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation—BY THE EVER-LIVING JUMPING-MOSES—a harmless and ridiculous phrase, that from its length is supposed to expend a considerable quantity of fiery anger.
By Jingo, an oath or exclamation having no particular meaning, and no positive etymology, though it is believed by some that JINGO is derived from the Basque jenco, the devil.
Cab, in statutory language, “a hackney carriage drawn by one horse.” Abbreviated from the French CABRIOLET; originally meaning “a light low chaise.” The wags of Paris playing upon the word (quasi cabri au lait) used to call a superior turn-out of the kind a cabri au crême. Our abbreviation, which certainly smacks of slang, has been stamped with the authority of the Legislature, and has been honoured by universal custom.
Cab, to stick together, to muck, or tumble up—Devonshire.