Baynard’s Castle. See “[Bayswater].”
Bayonet. Not from the town of Bayonne, but because a Basque regiment in the district of Bayonnetta in 1647, surprised by the Spaniards, stuck their knives into the muzzles of their muskets, and, charging, drove off the enemy with great slaughter.
Bay State. Massachusetts, from the original denomination of this colony in the New England Commonwealth--viz. Massachusetts Bay.
Bayon State. Mississippi, from the French bayon, watercourse, touching its great river.
Bayswater. Originally described as “Baynard’s Watering,” being a manor built by Ralph Baynard, one of the favourites of William the Conqueror, the owner of Baynard’s Castle, in what is now Thames Street, destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
B. D. V. A tobacco advertisement which stands for “Best Dark Virginia.”
Beak. The slang term for a magistrate, on account of the beag or gold collar that he wears.
Beak Street. This name has a sportive reference to the magistrate at the neighbouring police court in Great Marlborough Street.
Beanfeast. From the Bean-goose (so called from the similarity of the nail of its bill to a bean) which was formerly the invariable dinner dish.
Bear. Wherever this enters into the name of a tavern sign (with the single exception of that of “The Bear and Ragged Staff”) it denotes a house that had originally a bear garden attached to it.