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Block
·add. ·noun A block hole.
II. Block ·vt The pattern or shape of a hat.
III. Block ·add. ·noun The ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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block
A term applied in America to a square mass of houses included between four streets. It is a very use...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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block
I.
(In mechanics termed a pulley.) Blocks are flattish oval pieces of wood, with sheaves in them, ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Back
·noun A ferryboat. ·see <<Bac>>, 1.
II. Back ·adv (Of time) In times past; ago.
III. Back ·noun Th...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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back
is often used for ago; as in the phrase, "a little while back," i. e. "a short time ago."
Behind th...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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back
♦ To back an anchor. To carry a small anchor ahead of the one by which the ship rides, to partake of...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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block and block
The situation of a tackle when the blocks are drawn close together, so that the mechanical power bec...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Belgian block
·add. ·- A nearly cubical block of some tough stone, ·esp. granite, used as a material for street pa...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Block book
·- A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable types.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Block chain
·add. ·- A chain in which the alternate links are broad blocks connected by thin side links pivoted ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Block signal
·add. ·- One of the danger signals or safety signals which guide the movement of trains in a block s...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Block system
·add. ·- A system by which the track is divided into short sections, as of three or four miles, and ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Block tin
·- ·see under <<Tin>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Cautionary block
·add. ·- A block in which two or more trains are permitted to travel, under restrictions imposed by ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Fish-block
·noun ·see Fish-tackle.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Pillar-block
·noun ·see under <<Pillow>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Plumber block
·- A pillow block.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Snatch block
·- a kind of block with an opening in one side to receive the bight of a rope.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Stumbling-block
·noun Any cause of stumbling, perplexity, or error.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Top-block
·noun A large ironbound block strapped with a hook, and, when used, hung to an eyebolt in the cap, —...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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block houses
Prisons, houses of correction, &c.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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upping block
(Called in some counties a leaping stock, in others a jossing block.) Steps for mounting a horse. He...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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block-house
A small fort built of logs which project some six or eight feet over a wooden or stone foundation, f...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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horse-block
, HORSE-STONE, stone to mount on horseback. Lane.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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up-block
a horse-block, or horsing-block Glouc.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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yu-block
, yule-clog
Christmas-block.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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yule-block
, yule-clog
Christmas-block.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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block-maker
A manufacturer of blocks.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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built-block
Synonymous with made-block (which see). The lower masts of large ships are built or made.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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bushed-block
See coak.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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cat-block
A two or three fold block, with an iron strop and large hook to it, which is employed to cat or draw...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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d-block
A lump of oak in the shape of a D, bolted to the ship's side in the channels to reeve the lifts thro...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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double-block
One fitted with a couple of sheaves, in holes side by side.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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fiddle-block
A long shell, having one sheave over the other, and the lower smaller than the upper (see long-tackl...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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fly-block
The block spliced into the topsail-tye; it is large and flat, and sometimes double.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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hook-block
Any block, of iron or wood, strapped with a hook.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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jack-block
A block occasionally attached to the topgallant-tie, and through which the top-gallant top-rope is r...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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monkey-block
A small single block strapped with a swivel. Also, those nailed on the topsail-yards of some merchan...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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notch-block
See snatch-block.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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rack-block
A range of sheaves cut in one piece of wood, for running ropes to lead through.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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cistern block
See sister block
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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sister block
or cistern block
A turned cylindrical block having two sheave-holes, one above the other. It fits ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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snatch-block
A single iron-bound block, with an opening in one side above the sheave, in which the bight of a rop...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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tail-block
A rope-stropped block, having an end of rope attached to it as a tail, by which it may be fastened t...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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top-block
A large single block with an iron strop and hook, by which it is hooked into an eye-bolt under the l...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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treble-block
One fitted with three sheaves or rollers.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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tye-block
The block on the yard through which the tye is rove, and passes on to be secured at the mast-head. T...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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warping-block
A block made of ash or elm, used in rope-making for warping off yarn.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Back door
·- A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Back fire
·add. ·- A fire started ahead of a forest or prairie fire to burn only against the wind, so that whe...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Back stairs
·- Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the front stairs; hence, a private or i...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Back-fire
·add. ·vi To have or experience a back fire or back fires;
— said of an internal-combustion engine....
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Diamond-back
·noun The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys palustris).
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Hog's-back
·noun A <<Hogback>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Warty-back
·add. ·noun An American fresh-water mussel (Quadrula pustulosa). Its shell is used in making buttons...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Water back
·- ·see under 1st Back.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Watteau back
·add. ·- The back of a woman's gown in which one or more very broad folds are carried from the neck ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
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Back Alley
See Little Bell Alley, Copthall Buildings.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Court
North out of Cloth Fair at No.21 and east, parallel to and between Long Lane and Cloth Fair (P.O. Di...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Yard
1) Out of Pelican Court, Little Britain (Strype, 1755-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps.
2) Out ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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back biter
One who slanders another behind his back, i.e. in his absence. His bosom friends are become his back...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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back up
His back is up, i.e. he is offended or angry; an expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, w...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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back door
(usher, or gentleman of the)
A sodomite.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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bloody back
A jeering appellation for a soldier, alluding to his scarlet coat.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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bully back
A bully to a bawdy-house; one who is kept in pay, to oblige the frequenters of the house to submit t...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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crook back
Sixpence; for the reason of this name, see CRIPPLE.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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back-blocks
n.
1) The far interior ofAustralia, and away from settled country. Land in Australia isdivided on t...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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back-blocker
n.
a resident in the back-blocks.
1870. `The Argus,' March 22, p. 7, col. 2
«I am a bushman, a ba...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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back-slanging
verbal n.
In the back-blocks (q.v.) of Australia, where hotels are naturally scarce andinferior, th...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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fiddle-back
n.
name given inAustralia to the beetle, Schizorrhina australasiae.
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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mealy-back
n.
a local name for the locust (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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saddle-back
n.
a bird of the North Island ofNew Zealand, Creadion carunculatus, Cab. See also Jack-bird and Cre...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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to back out
To retreat from a difficulty, to refuse to fulfil a promise or engagement. A metaphor borrowed from ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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pick-back
On the back.--Johnson. We often use the word with children. To ride pick-back, is for a child to rid...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
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u-back
U-BLOCK, &c. ; a christmas-block. See yu-batch. N.
...
A glossary of provincial and local words used in England by Francis Grose
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back-board
A board across the stern sheets of a boat to support the back of passengers; and also to form the bo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-cutting
When the water-level is such that the excavation of a canal, or other channel, does not furnish eart...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-frame
A vertical wheel for turning the three whirlers of a small rope-machine.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-her
The order, in steam-navigation, directing the engineer to reverse the movement of the cranks and urg...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-rope
The rope-pendant, or small chain for staying the dolphin-striker. Also a piece long enough to reach ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-staff
A name formerly given to a peculiar sea-quadrant, because the back of the observer was turned toward...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-strapped
As a ship carried round to the back of Gibraltar by a counter-current and eddies of wind, the strong...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-sweep
That which forms the hollow of the top-timber of a frame.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back-water
The swell of the sea thrown back, or rebounded by its contact with any solid body. Also the loss of ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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beaten back
Returning into port from stress of foul weather.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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heckle-back
A name of the fifteen-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus spinachia.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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The Sailor's Word-Book
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razor-back
The fin-whale (Balænoptera), so called from its prominent dorsal fin. It usually attains the length ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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strong-back
The same with Samson's post (which see). Also, an adaptation of a strong piece of wood over the wind...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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swart-back
The Larus marinus, or great black and white gull.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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thorn-back
A well-known fish of the ray kind, Raia clavata.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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walk back!
A method in cases where a purchase must not be lowered by a round turn, as "Walk back the capstan;" ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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block, on the
1) On the promenade above referred to.
1896. `The Argus,' July 17, p. 4. col. 7:
«We may slacken p...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
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chock-a-block
, or chock and block
Is the same with block-a-block and two-blocks (which see). When the lower blo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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main-tack block
A block forming part of the purchase used for hauling the main-tack down to.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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nine-pin block
A block in that form, mostly used for a fair-leader under the cross-pieces of the forecastle and qua...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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strop-bound block
A single block used in the clue of square-sails for the clue-lines to lead through; it has a shoulde...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Back Bear Alley
On the south side of Bear Alley, Fleet Market, in Farringdon (Lockie, 1810 and 1816).
Former names ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Ebgate Back Alley
Mentioned in the registers of St. Laurence Pountney, 1628 (Wilson, p. 132).
Not further identified....
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Northumberland Back Alley
West out of Northumberland Alley. In Aldgate Ward (O.S. 1880).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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back gammon player
A sodomite.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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back and forth
Backwards and forwards, applied to a person in walking, as, "He was walking back and forth." A commo...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
back-o'-beyond
Said of an unknown distance.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back off all
The order when the harpooner has thrown his harpoon into the whale. Also, to back off a sudden dange...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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canvas-back duck
An American wild duck (Fuligula valisneria), which takes this name from the colour of the back feath...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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fall back, to
To recede from any position previously occupied.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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put back, to
To return to port generally the last left.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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jaw of a block
The space in the shell where the sheave revolves.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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score of a block, or of a dead eye
The groove round which the rope passes.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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shell of a block
The outer frame or case wherein the sheave or wheel is contained and traverses about its axis.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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thick and thin block
, or fiddle-block.
A block having one sheave larger than the other, sometimes used for quarter-blo...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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The Back Alley, Cloth Fair
See Back Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Alley, Bear Alley
South out of Bear Alley and west to Fleet Market (Rocque, 1746-Dodsley, 1761). See Back Bear Alley.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Alley, Shoe Lane
East out of Shoe Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (Rocque, 1746-Boyle, 1799).
Site now occupied by ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Gravel Lane, Houndsditch
South out of Stoney Lane at No.40 to Gravel Lane (q.v.). In Portsoken Ward (P.O. Directory).
First ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Streate, Cloth Fair
See Back Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Street, Little Moorfields
See Moorfields.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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back, of a ship
The keel and kelson are figuratively thus termed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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back of the post
An additional timber bolted to the after-part of the stern-post, and forming its after-face.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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eye of a block-strop
That part by which it is fastened or suspended to any particular place upon the sails, masts, or rig...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Back Alley, Three Crane Lane
A passage to the Thames out of Three Crane Lane (Rocque, 1746-Boyle, 1799). In Vintry Ward.
The all...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Back Alley, Three Foxes Court
Out of Three Foxes Court, Long Lane, West Smithfield (Strype, 1755-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the m...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back Alley, Yard, Little Moorfields
West out of Back Street, Little Moorfields, with passage south to Moor Lane (Strype, ed. 1720), and ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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pissing down any one's back
Flattering him.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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Back Alley, Great Gardens, St. Katherine's
North out of the Great Gardens, St. Katherine's Lane, East Smithfield (Rocque, 1746-Lockie, 1816).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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Back, Backside, of St. Thomas Apostles
See Little St. Thomas Apostles.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
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try back for a bend, to
To pay back some of the bight of a cable, in order to have sufficient to form the bend.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
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Back Alley, Dean's Court, St. Martin's le Grand
South out of Dean's Court to New Rents, east of St. Martin's le Grand, in Aldersgate Ward Within (Ro...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.