"We also do enact
That all hold up their hands, and laugh aloud,
Drink much at one draught, breathe not in their drink."
Old Play of Timon, ii. 5.
Brief, letter, short writing of any kind, even a verbal promise, contract, or agreement (All's Well, ii. 3). It may be an adj., with an ellipsis of the subst.
Brown paper (M. for M. iv. 3). This was one of the useless commodities which usurers compelled unlucky borrowers to take in lieu of ready money. Rosini, in his Monaca di Monza, notices it in Italy in the 16th century; Molière, in L'Avare, in France; and it has continued in England down to present times.
Bucklers. "Give the bucklers" (M. Ado, v. 2) seems to be a term taken from prize-fighting, signifying to yield, give up. It is supposed that the bucklers were the prize; but that is not likely. There may be a use of the plur. for the sing., and the phrase may merely mean lay the buckler down or aside in token of defeat.
Budge (bouger, Fr). In Cor. i. 6 and elsewhere it means to give back, retire.
Bulk, breast, chest, not body, as is usually given. In Spanish bulto, a kindred term, is used in the same sense.
But (A.S. buton, i.e. be out), without, unless, save, except. It also (it is not easy to say how) took the place of A.S. ac, yet, however; and it became a mere inceptive particle like now and why. When, as it often does, it signifies that ... not, as in "Not a man but was slain," there seems to be merely an ellipsis of the personal pronoun. So when it signifies only there is an ellipsis of the negative; for "We have but five loaves" (Matt. xiv. 17) is in A.S. "We nabbð her buton fif hlafas;" and at the present day a peasant would say "We haven't but five loaves." I therefore, in 1 H. IV. v. 3, read in my Edition for "There is not" "There is not but." To my great surprise I have not been able to meet an exact parallel in any play or other work. We say "There is not a man but one," etc., and "I cannot but say," etc.; but these are not precisely parallel.