-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
Blue
·noun A pedantic woman; a bluestocking.
II. Blue ·pl Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy....
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue
Generally associated with purple (Ex. 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36, etc.). It is supposed to have been obtaine...
Easton's Bible Dictionary
-
blue
To look blue; to be confounded, terrified, or disappointed. Blue as a razor; perhaps, blue as azure....
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue
1) Gloomy, severe; extreme, ultra.
In the former sense it is applied especially to the Presbyterian...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue
♦ Till all's blue: carried to the utmost a phrase borrowed from the idea of a vessel making out of p...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Back door
·- A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Diamond-back
·noun The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys palustris).
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Hog's-back
·noun A <<Hogback>>.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
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
-
Water back
·- ·see under 1st Back.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
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
-
Back Alley
See Little Bell Alley, Copthall Buildings.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
back door
(usher, or gentleman of the)
A sodomite.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
bloody back
A jeering appellation for a soldier, alluding to his scarlet coat.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
crook back
Sixpence; for the reason of this name, see CRIPPLE.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
back-block
adj.
from the interior.
1891. Rolf Boldrewood, `Sydneyside Saxon,' vol. xii. p. 215:
«`What a nic...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
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
-
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
-
fiddle-back
n.
name given inAustralia to the beetle, Schizorrhina australasiae.
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
mealy-back
n.
a local name for the locust (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
back-frame
A vertical wheel for turning the three whirlers of a small rope-machine.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
back-her
The order, in steam-navigation, directing the engineer to reverse the movement of the cranks and urg...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
back-sweep
That which forms the hollow of the top-timber of a frame.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
beaten back
Returning into port from stress of foul weather.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
heckle-back
A name of the fifteen-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus spinachia.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
razor-back
The fin-whale (Balænoptera), so called from its prominent dorsal fin. It usually attains the length ...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
swart-back
The Larus marinus, or great black and white gull.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
thorn-back
A well-known fish of the ray kind, Raia clavata.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
Blue bonnet
·noun ·Alt. of Blue-bonnet.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue book
·- The United States official "Biennial Register.".
II. Blue book ·- A parliamentary publication, s...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue grass
·- A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue jay
·- The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant color is ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-bonnet
·noun A plant. ·same·as <<Bluebottle>>.
II. Blue-bonnet ·noun The European blue titmouse (Parus coe...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-eye
·noun The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-eyed
·adj Having blue eyes.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-john
·noun A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for ornamental purposes.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-skylaw
·add. ·- A law enacted to provide for the regulation and supervision of investment companies in orde...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-veined
·adj Having blue veins or blue streaks.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Navy blue
·add. ·- Prussian blue.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Sanders-blue
·noun ·see Saunders-blue.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Saunders-blue
·noun A kind of color prepared from calcined lapis lazuli; ultramarine; also, a blue prepared from c...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Sevres blue
·- A very light blue.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Sky-blue
·adj Having the blue color of the sky; azure; as, a sky-blue stone.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Smalt-blue
·adj Deep blue, like smalt.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
True-blue
·noun A person of inflexible integrity or fidelity.
II. True-blue ·adj Of inflexible honesty and fi...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Turnbull's blue
·- The double cyanide of ferrous and ferric iron, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery l...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue Anchor
Strype says that the part of Houndsditch in Bishopsgate Ward Without extends to the Blue Anchor (Str...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Bell
In Bread Street, in Bread Street Ward (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 201).
"Blew Bell," in Cheapsyde me...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
The Blue Boar
On the east side of Fish Street Hill, adjoining King's Head Court.
It was so called before the Fire...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Gates
1) West out of White Cross Street, in Cripplegate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746).
The site is now occu...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
blue boar
A venereal bubo.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue devils
Low spirits.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue flag
He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to the...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue pigeons
Thieves who steal lead off houses and churches. Cant. To fly a blue pigeon; to steal lead off houses...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue plumb
A bullet.--Surfeited with a blue plumb; wounded with a bullet. A sortment of George R--'s blue plumb...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue skin
A person begotten on a black woman by a white man. One of the blue squadron; any one having a cross ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue tape, or sky blue
Gin.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue ruin
Gin. Blue ribband; gin.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
blue-bush
n.
an Australian forage plant,a kind of Salt-bush, Kochia pyrainidata, Benth, N.O. Chenopodiaceae.
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-cod
n.
name given to a New Zealand fish, Percis colias, family Trachinidae. Called alsoin New Zealand R...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-creeper
n.
name given to the creeper, Comesperma volubile, Lab., N.O. Campanulaceae.
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-eye
n.
a bird name. The Blue facedHoney-eater (q.v.).
1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. iv. p...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-fish
n.
name given in Sydney to Girella cyanea, of the family Sparidae, orSea-Breams. It is different fr...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-groper
n.
a fish of New South Wales and Tasmania, Cossyphus gouldii, one of the Labridaeor Wrasses, often ...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-gum
n.
See under gum. It is anincreasing practice to make a single word of this compound, andto pronoun...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-head
n.
Tasmanian name for the fishcalled the blue-groper (q.v.)
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue lobelia
n.
The indigenous species inTasmania which receives this name is Lobelia gibbosa,Lab., N.O. Campanu...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-pointer
n.
a name given in New South Wales to a species of Shark, Lamna glauca, Mull. and Heule, family Lam...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-wing
n.
a sportsman's name (as in England)for the bird called the Shoveller (q.v.).
...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
blue-berry
(Vacinium tenellum.) A fruit resembling the whortleberry in appearance and taste.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue-book
A printed book containing the names of all the persons holding office under the Government of the Un...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue-nose
The slang name for a native of Nova Scotia.
"Pray, sir," said one of my fellow passengers, "can you...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue-skins
A nickname applied to the Presbyterians, from their alleged grave deportment.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue devils
To have the blue devils is to be dispirited.
...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue laws
"Where, and how, the story of the New Haven Blue Laws originated, is a matter of some curiosity. Acc...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue stocking
1) The American avoset (recurvirostra Americana). A common bird in the Northern States.--Nat. Hist. ...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
blue-jackets
The seamen as distinguished from the marines.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue light
A pyrotechnical preparation for signals by night. Also called Bengal light.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue-lightism
Affected sanctimoniousness.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue moon
An indefinite period.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue-nose
A general term for a native of Nova Scotia.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue peter
The signal for sailing when hoisted at the fore-topmast head; this well-known flag has a blue ground...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue pigeon
A nickname for the sounding lead.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
blue water
The open ocean.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
true-blue
A metaphorical term for an honest and hearty sailor: "true to his uniform, and uniformly true."
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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.
-
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.
-
Northumberland Back Alley
West out of Northumberland Alley. In Aldgate Ward (O.S. 1880).
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
back gammon player
A sodomite.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
fall back, to
To recede from any position previously occupied.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
put back, to
To return to port generally the last left.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
Blue Hen State
·add. ·- The State of Delaware;
— a popular sobriquet. It is said, though the story lacks proof, to...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-eyed grass
·- a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue color.
...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue-grass State
·add. ·- The Sate of Kentucky;
— a nickname alluding to the blue-grass region, where fine horses ar...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
-
Blue Anchor Alley
1) In Great Minories (Dodsley, 1761).
Not further identified.
2) In St. Katherine's precinct (Dods...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Anchor Court
In Salisbury Court, Fleet Street (P.C. 1732-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Anchor Inn
On the south-west side of Duck Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without, at the Corner of Little Britain (O....
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Anchor Yard
West out of Coleman Street at No. 1 and north to London Wall. In Coleman Street Ward (Rocque, 1746-E...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Ball Court
1) In Cannon Street (Strype, ed. 1755-Boyle, 1799).
Not named in the maps
2) East out of Dorset St...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Boar Court
1) See Prince's Street, Rosemary Lane.
2) South out of Chick Lane and west to Hide's Rents, in Farr...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Bore Inn
North out of Aldgate High Street at No.30 (O. and M. 1677-O.S. 1848-51). In Portsoken Ward.
"Blue B...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Coat Buildings
See King Edward Street.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Hart Court
West out of Little Bell Alley to Little Swan Alley. In Coleman Street Ward (Strype, ed. 1720-O.S. 18...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Lion Court
East out of Aldersgate Street at No. 24, in Aldersgate Ward Without (P.O. Directory).
First mention...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
blue-tongued lizard
n.
name given to Tiliqua nigroluteus, Gray, a common Australian andTasmanian lizard belonging to th...
Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
-
black and blue
The color of a bruise; a familiar expression for a bruise, here and in England.
Mistress Ford, good...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
The Back Alley, Cloth Fair
See Back Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Back Streate, Cloth Fair
See Back Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Back Street, Little Moorfields
See Moorfields.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
back, of a ship
The keel and kelson are figuratively thus termed.
...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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
-
Blue Bell Inn, Holborn
See Old Bell Inn.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Boar Head Alley, Court
North out of Barbican, in Cripplegate Ward Without (Strype, 1720-Boyle, 1799). "Blew Bore's Head Cou...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
Blue Boar Stable Yard
West out of Little Moorfields. In Cripplegate Ward Without (Rocque, 1746).
The site is now covered ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
admiral of the blue
who carries his flag on the main-mast. A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as was formerly ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
to look blue at one
is to look at one with a countenance expressive of displeasure or dissatisfaction.
The Bishop would...
Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
-
false fire, blue flames
A composition of combustibles filled into a wooden tube, which, upon being set fire to, burns with a...
The Sailor's Word-Book
-
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.
-
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.
-
pissing down any one's back
Flattering him.
...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
-
Blue Anchor Alley, Rosemary Lane
See Crown and Shears Place and Red Gate Court.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
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.
-
Back, Backside, of St. Thomas Apostles
See Little St. Thomas Apostles.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
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
-
Blue Anchor Yard, Alley, Tower Hill
See Baily Place.
...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
-
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.