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babblative given to babbling;
prattling, prating, loquacious
babeldom a confused sound of voices
babirusa large wild pig of Indonesia
bablatrice a female babbler; an overly
talkative woman
baccate having berries; berry-like
bacchanal drunkard; reveller
bacciferous bearing berries
bacciform shaped like a berry
baccivorous eating berries
bacillicide killer of berries
bacillophobia the fear of germs
backstay stay extending from ship's
mastheads to the side of the ship
backwardation postponement by seller of
delivery of stock; premium paid to buyer for such postponement
bactericide killer of bacteria
baculiform rod-shaped
baculine of, like or pertaining to
the stick or cane; of, like or pertaining to flogging
baculum penis bone in some mammals
baculus rod, staff or scepter of
power
bada-bing exclamation to emphasize
that something will happen effortlessly and predictably
badaud a gawker
badigeon plaster and ground stone
mixture for repairing masonry
badinage playful repartee or banter
badious chestnut-coloured
badmash a bad character; a
worthless person
badot silly
baedeker guide book
baetyl magical or holy meteoric
stone
bafflegab official or professional
jargon which confuses more than it clarifies; gobbledegook
baft cheap coarse cotton fabric
bagarre scuffle or brawl
baggagery worthless rabble; the
offscourings of society
bagging coarse fabric for making
bags or sacks
bagnio public bathhouse; a
brothel; a prison
bahadur self-important official
bahookie the buttocks
bahuvrihi compound word whose second
part is a noun but that acts as an adjective
bail barrier or pole separating
horses in an open stable
bailivate office of a bailiff
bailiwick a person's specific area of
interest, skill or authority; the office or jurisdiction of a bailiff
bailment delivery of goods in trust
baisemain kiss on the hand
baithe to agree or consent
baize the green cloth used on
billiard tables and other gaming tables
bakelite type of solid plastic
balaclava a knit hat which covers the
head and neck
balaniferous acorn-bearing
balanism use of suppositories
balanoid acorn-shaped
balatron babbler, prater, buffoon;
joker; clown; one who babbles
balatronic pertaining to buffoons
balbriggan knitted cotton fabric
balbutiate to stutter or stammer
balbutient stammering
baldachin a rich embroidered fabric
of silk and gold; a cloth canopy fixed or carried over a VIP
baldaquin covering or canopy over a
throne or altar
baldric an often ornamental belt
worn over one shoulder to support a sword or bugle
balefire bonfire or beacon-fire
balisaur long-tailed badger
balistarius crossbowman
balistraria cross-shaped opening in
wall for firing arrows
balize pole mounted on seashore as
beacon
ballaster one who supplies ships with
ballast
balletomania abnormal fondness for
ballet
ballhooter a lumberjack who rolls logs
down a hill
ballicatter a ridge of ice formed along
the (ocean) shoreline by waves and freezing spray
ballistocardiograph instrument for detecting
body movements caused by heartbeat
ballistophobia the fear of missiles
ballottement diagnosis of pregnancy by
applying sharp force to abdomen
ballycumber one of the six half-read
books lying somewhere in your bed
balmorality superficial enthusiasm for
Scottish culture
balnearii people who steal clothing
for public baths
balnearil the people who stole
clothing from a public bath in ancient Rome
balneary bath
balneary relating to a bath,
bathing, or a bathroom
balneology the science of the
therapeutic use of baths
balter to tread clumsily; to
tumble about; to stick together
baltering tumbling
balustrade row of columns supporting a
stair rail
balzarine light cotton dress material
banausic materialistic; merely
mechanical; pertaining to workshops; earning a living
bandelet small flat moulding around
a column
banderol flat band with an
inscription; small banner
bandicoot small long-nosed ratlike
marsupial
bandobast detailed organization;
settlement
bandolier shoulder belt for carrying
ammunition
bangstry masterful violence
bangtail mustang or wild horse
banjax to batter or destroy (a
person or thing); to ruin; to confound, stymie
bannock flat unleavened loaf of
bread
banquette raised way or footway above
a parapet
banteng wild ox of Southeast Asia
banting a method of dieting for
obesity by avoiding sweets and carbohydrates
bantling a baby, a very young child;
(sometimes used contemptuously) a brat; bastard child
baptistery part of church reserved for
performing baptisms
bar unit of pressure of one
million dynes per square centimeter
baragnosis loss of ability to
distinguish weight
baragouin any jargon or
unintelligible language
barasingha deer dwelling in swamps of
India
barathea pebbly silk or worsted
fabric with broken rib weave
barathrum a deep pit at Athens, into
which condemned criminals were thrown
barbarocracy government by barbarians
barbate bearded
barbet stout-billed tropical bird
barbette earthen terrace inside the
parapet of a rampart
barbican an outer defensive work;
esp a tower at a gate or bridge
barbigerous bearded; bearing a beard
barbula small tuft of hair just
below the lower lip
barcarole gondolier's song
bardel pack saddle
bardocucullus hooded cloak worn by monks
bardolater a worshipper of the Bard
bardolatrous characterized by bardolatry
(the worshop of Shakespeare)
bardolatry excessive devotion to or
worship of Shakespeare
barege gauzy fabric of silk,
cotton, wool, or worsted
barfulous jocular; said of something
that would make anyone barf
bargee bargeman
bargemaster owner of a barge
barghest a goblin in English
folklore
barkentine three-masted vessel
barlafumble a call for a truce by one
who has fallen in fighting or play; a request for a time out
barleycorn old unit of length equal to
one-third inch
barm yeast; froth on fermenting
liquor
barmaster local judge among miners
barmcloth an apron
barmecidal providing only the illusion
of abundance
barmecide illusory, imaginary; such
as to disappoint
barmkin battlement or turret on the
outer wall of a castle
barn unit of area measurement of
particles equal to 100 square femtometres
barnard member of gang of thieves
who acts as decoy
barnumize to advertise or promote
with outlandish claims, after P.T. Barnum
barodynamics science of the support and
mechanics of bridges
barognosis ability to perceive weight
barograph instrument for recording
air pressure
barology study of gravitation
barophobia the fear of gravity
baroscope weather-glass
barouche four-wheeled hooded
carriage
barracan fine silk cloth
barrack to shout at derisively or
sarcastically
barracoon an enclosure or barrack
formerly used for temporary confinement of slaves or convicts
barras coarse linen fabric
barrateen some kind of fabric
barratry inciting riot or violence;
stirring up lawsuits or quarrels
barre placing capo or finger
across guitar strings
barrulet narrow heraldic bar
bartisan parapet or battlement
barton farmyard
baryecoia deafness; hardness of
hearing
baryphonic having difficulty speaking
bascule apparatus of which one end
rises as the other sinks
basial of, like or pertaining to
kissing
basiation kissing
basilica Roman Catholic church given
special privileges
basilicon kind of ointment
basiphobia the fear of walking
basistasiphobia the fear of standing and
walking
basorexia an overwhelming desire to
neck or kiss
bassinet light, conical helmet
bastinade to beat with a stick or
baton, especially on the feet
bastinado a beating with a stick or
cudgel; torture by beating on the soles of the feet
bastion tower at the corner of a
fortification
bastle fortified house with
vaulted ground floor
bataphobia the fear of heights or high
places
bathetic characterized by bathos
(insincere pathos)
bathmism directive evolutionary
force
batholith large mass of intruded
igneous rock
bathophobia the fear of falling from a
high place
bathos appearance of the
commonplace in elevated matter
bathykolpian deep-bosomed; large
breasted
bathymeter instrument for recording
contours of deep oceans
bathyorographical of, like or pertaining to
depth underwater or elevation above sea level
bathypelagic found in the depths of the
sea
bathysiderodrophobia the fear of subways,
undergrounds or metros
bathysmal of, like or pertaining to
the depths of the ocean
bathythermograph instrument for recording
water temperature as compared to depth
batie-bummil a useless bungler
batik method of dyeing fabric by
covering certain sections with wax
batiste fine soft sheer fabric of
plain weave
batology the study of brambles
batophobia the fear of heights or
being close to tall buildings
batrachian relating to tailless
amphibians, esp. frogs and toads
batrachivorous frog-eating
batrachoid like a frog
batrachomyomachia a storm in a puddle; much
ado about nothing
batrachophagous one who eats frogs
batrachophobia the fear of frogs and toads
batraquomancy fortunetelling using frogs
batta extra pay; overtime wages
battels college accounts for board
and provisions supplied from kitchen and buttery; generally, the whole
of a person's college accounts
batten timber used to fasten down
a door or hatch
battledore bat used to strike
shuttlecock; game played with such a bat; a badminton racket
battology futile, boring repetition
in speech or writing
battologist one who repeats the same
thing needlessly or excessively
battue indiscriminate slaughter;
driving game towards slaughter
baud unit of data transmission
speed of one signal event per second
bausond having white spots on the
forehead
bavardage small talk, chitchat;
chattering; prattle
bavian insignificant or unskilled
poet
bavin a bundle of brushwood or
kindling used for fuel; by extension applied contemptuously to anything
worthless
bayadere fabric with horizontal
stripes in strongly contrasting colours
bayard one who has the
self-confidence of ignorance
bdellism use of leeches for
blood-letting
bdelloid of, like or pertaining to
leeches
bdellomete a mechanical leech, for the
purpose of leeching blood
bdellophobia the fear of leeches
bdellotomy the surgical application of
leeches; the practice of cutting leeches to empty them of blood while
they continue to suck
beadle a minor parish official
whose duties include ushering and preserving order
beadle mace-bearing official of an
institution
beadsman monk or almoner who prays
for benefactor
beata beatified woman
beatlemania obsession with the Beatles
beatster fish net repairer
beatus beatified man
beaupers linen fabric used for flags
beaver hinged face guard on a
helmet
beaze to dry in the sun
bebeloglyphic profane, unholy writing
beblubbered disfigured from weeping
bebother bother about
bechic relieving coughs
becket large hook or bracket used
to hold tackle or spars
beckets rope handles
beckmesser a critic or teacher of
music characterized by timid and excessive reliance upon rules; pedant
becquerel a unit of radioactivity
equal to one nuclear decay per second
bedaggle to soil by dragging along
the wet ground
beddage the total number of beds in
a facility such as a hospital
bedizen to dress or adorn with
gaudy finery or vulgarity
bedswerver unfaithful spouse
bee hardwood on either side of
bowsprit through which forestays are reeved
beele double-pointed miner's pick
beerocracy government by brewers or
brewing interests
beeskep straw beehive
beestings the first milk drawn from a
cow after calving
beforetime formerly
behoof a benefit resulting from
some course of action
beira pygmy antelope
bel unit of noise intensity
equal to ten decibels
belay to secure a rope by winding
on a pin or cleat
belcher coloured; spotted
neckerchief
beldam an old woman, esp an ugly
one; hag
belemnoid shaped like a dart
belike most likely; probably
bellarmine large jug with rounded
belly and narrow neck
bellcote ornamental structure to
hold one or two large bells
bellecism inclination towards
violence; hawkishness
belles lettres light, entertaining and
often sophisticated literature
belleter bell-founder
belletristic of or concerned with belles
lettres
bellibone a woman excelling both in
beauty and goodness; a fair maid
belliferous bringing war
belling deer's mating call
bellipotent militarily powerful
bellonion mechanical instrument
combining trumpets and drums
bellwether one who takes the lead;
indicator of trends
beloid shaped like an arrow
belomancy fortunetelling by means of
arrows
belonephilia sexual obsession with sharp
objects
belonephobia the fear of pins and
needles
belonoid shaped like a needle
Beltane Celtic May Day festival,
marked by the lighting of bonfires and the performance of various rites
of purification
belvedere 1. raised covered terrace
or pavilion
belvedere 2. raised turret or lantern
on the top of a house
bema raised part of an eastern
church containing the altar
bematist an official road surveyor
in the time of Alexander the Great
benedict a newly married man who has
long been a bachelor
benefactive indicating for whom or
which
benefic kindly; benign; beneficent
benefice ecclesiastical office to
which revenue is attached
beneficiate to treat ores to remove
impurities
benet exorcist
bengaline crosswise ribbed fabric
benignity the state of being
gracious; archaic kindness
benison blessing, benediction
benthic of, like or pertaining to
the depths of the ocean
benthos organisms that live at or
near the bottom of the sea
berceau covered walk
berceuse lullaby
bergamask country dance
berge spy glass or telescope
berlin four-wheeled covered
carriage
berline crude winter sled
berm narrow shelf or ledge at
the top or bottom of a slope
bersatrix baby-sitter
besom broom, esp. one made of
twigs
bespoke custom-made; making or
selling custom-made clothes
bestiarian individual opposed to
vivisection
bestiocracy rule by beasts
bethel a place of worship for
seamen; nonconformist chapel
betimes in short time; speedily
bêtise a stupid or foolish act or
remark; tudpidity; folly
betwixt between
bevan a loutish, unfashionable
male; someone of the working class or from the wrong side of town
bever a snack between meals
bevue inadvertent error
bewray to make known; to reveal
(as a secret) to one's disadvantage often unintentionally
bezel oblique side or face of a
cut gem
bezesteen eastern marketplace
bezique card game played with two
decks of cards
bezoar stony material found in
ruminants' stomachs
bezonian a low fellow or scoundrel
bharal bluish-gray Himalayan goat
bialate two-winged
biarchy government by two people;
diarchy
bibacious overly fond of drinking
bibble to drink often or much; to
drink or eat noisily
bibcock a faucet that is bent
downward
bibelot a small household ornament
or decorative object; knickknack
bibitory of, like or pertaining or
pertaining to drinking
bibliobibuli people who read too much
and so are generally oblivious to the world around them
biblioclasm destruction of books, or of
the Bible
biblioclast a destroyer of books, or of
the Bible
bibliogenesis production of books
bibliognost well-read individual;
person with wide knowledge of books
biblioklept book-thief
bibliolatry worship of the bible or
other books
bibliology study of books
bibliomancy fortunetelling by opening a
book at random
bibliomania a rage for collecting and
possessing books; thus, bibliomaniac and bibliomaniacal
bibliopegist bookbinder
bibliophagist a devourer of books;
bookworm
bibliophagist one who devours books,
literally or figuratively
bibliophily love or fondness for books
or reading
bibliophobia the fear of books
bibliopoesy making of books
bibliopolist one who deals in rare books
bibliopoly bookselling
bibliotaph one who hoards or hides
books
bibliothec bibliotheca, collection of
books, library
bibliothecarial of or relating to a library
bibliotics study of documents to
determine authenticity
bibulous highly absorbent; inclined
to drink; addicted to alcohol
bicapitate two-headed
bickern anvil pointed at both ends
bicollateral having two identical sides
bicorn having two horns or points
bicorne the hat with two points
worn by Napolean
biddery metal alloy inlaid with
silver and/or gold
bidenticulate having two teeth
biduous lasting two days
bienséance something appropriate or
proper
bifarious organized in two rows
biffy a toilet or outhouse
bifid divided in two by a deep
split
bifilar having two threads
bigential consisting of two races,
genera, or subspecies
biggin a building
bight a wide bay; a bend or coil
in a rope
bijugate having heads on both sides
of a coin
bilbo iron bar used to shackle
prisoners' feet
bildungsroman psychological novel dealing
with the early moral delvelopment of the protagonist
bilge lower point of inner hull
of a ship
bilious ill-tempered; very
unpleasant
billet-doux love letter
billingsgate coarsely abusive language
billon base metal, alloy of
copper, tin or silver
bilocation ability to be in two places
at once
biloquist one capable of speaking
with two distinct voices
biltong South African dried meat;
jerky
bimanous having two hands;
two-handed
bimetallism currency exchange on both
the gold and silver standards
bimillenary a span of 2,000 years; a
2,000th anniversary
binarchy government by two people;
diarchy
binate doubled; coupled
binaural of, pertaining to or heard
by both ears
bindle blanket roll
bindlestiff a tramp who carries a
bundle of possessions or a bedroll
binnacle case in which a ship's
compass is kept
binotonous consisting or comprised of
two musical tones
binturong civet of southeastern Asia
with long prehensile tail
biobibliography annotated biographical
bibliography
biocenosis state of association of
creatures in a certain region
biocentric having life as main
principle
biocide killing living material
bioecology study of interaction of
life in the environment
biogenesis theory that all life is
derived from living matter alone
biognosy general study or theory of
life
biolith rock formed by living
creatures
biometeorology the study of how the
weather affects people
biometrics study of biological
measurement
bionergy vital essence or force
bionomics study of organisms
interacting in their environments
biopic film telling the life-story
of a celebrity
bioscope cinema; movie house
biotaxy classification of living
organisms
biotope region of uniform
environment and types of organisms
bipennate two-winged
biramous forked; with two branches
bireme rowed ship or galley with
two banks of oars
biretta square three-ridged cap
worn by Catholic clergy
birl to make a log spin by
walking on it
biro a kind of ballpoint pen
(BIC ballpoint)
birostrate double-beaked
bis twice; in two places
biscacha burrowing South American
rodent
biserial in two rows or columns
bismer shame; disgrace; scorn
bisociation association of an object
with two or more ideas
bisontine of, like or pertaining to
bison
bissextile relating to the extra day
in a leapyear
bistoury narrow surgical knife
bistre pigment with brownish
colour derived from soot
bisulcate cloven-footed; cleft in two
bitheism belief in two Gods
bitt 1. a post or pair of posts
on the deck of a ship for securing lines
bitt 2. a post of metal or wood
on a wharf around which to fasten lines; bollard
bittern small heron
bitts posts mounted on a ship for
fastening ropes
biune combining two entities into
one
biverbal of, like or pertaining to
two words; having a double sense
bivious offering a choice;
splitting between two directions
bizarrerie a bizarre quality;
something bizarre
blackguard 1. a menial helper
blackguard 2. to vituperate; to
portray as a scoundrel
blackleg scab
blackmaster undertaker
blague humbug, claptrap, raillery;
to talk pretentiously and usually inaccurately; lie boastfully
blaguer one who talks pretentiously
blain a boil or blister
blandiloquence complimentary speech;
flattery
blandiloquent speaking in a flattering or
ingratiating manner
blandiose something that wants to be
grand but is only bland
blandish to flatter and coax; to
cajole
blandishment something that tends to
coax or cajole; allurement
blarney skilful flattery
blastogenesis reproduction by budding
blatherskite an obnoxious braggart; a
garrulous talker of nonsense; a blustering, talkative fellow
blatterer one who blatters; a
babbler; a noisy, blustering boaster
blatteroon a constant talker, one
afflicted with logorrhea
blattnerphone instrument used to record
sound on magnetic tape
blattoid of, like or pertaining to
cockroaches
blauwbok extinct bluish-coloured
antelope of Southern Africa
blazon heraldic arms painted on
knight's shield or surcoat
bleezed a little flustered, as by
drink
bleezy affected in the eyes, as by
alcohol
blellum an idle boring chatterer
blench to shrink or flinch
blendling hybrid
blendure mixing
blennoid of or resembling mucus
blennophobia the fear of slime
blenny small elongated marine fish
blepharal of, like or pertaining to
eyelids
blepharospasm a form of constant winking
blesbok South African antelope with
white patch on forehead
blesiloquent to speak with a lisp or a
stammer
bletcherous disgusting in design or
function; esthetically unappealing
bletonism alleged ability to find an
underground water supply
blewit type of edible toadstool
bling-bling shiny jewelry and other
accoutrements
blissom subject to or having strong
sexual desires
blive immediately or right away
blodder to flow with a gurgling
sound from a small aperture
blanket a color that is gray or a
light, blueish gray
bloomery factory where iron bars are
manufactured
blooter a hard and wild kick of a
ball; a fool, an oaf, a bumbler; a babbler
blottesque a painting style that is
defined as having heavy brushstrokes or blots, which are not finely done
bloviate to orate or write verbosely
or windily; to speak pompously or in an overbearing way
blucher leather half-boot
bluepeter blue flag with white square
in centre used as ship's signal
bluestocking early feminist; educated or
literary woman
bluey a swagman's bundle of
personal effects
blunderkin a blundering fellow
blunge to mix clay with water
blype piece of skin that peels
off after a sunburn
bo fellow; pal, buddy
boak to belch; to vomit; an
eructation
boanerges skilled orator with
powerful voice
boanthropy the insane delusion that
one is an ox
boation a crying; a roaring; a
bellowing
boatswain ship's crewmember in charge
of equipment and maintenance
bobbasheely a very close friend, chum
bobeche circular wax catcher that
fits over a candle
Bob's your uncle used to show the simplicity
of something; there you are!
bobstay rope used on ships to
steady the bowsprit
bocking smoked herring
bodach old man; churl; goblin or
spectre
bodement prediction or prophecy
bodewash dried buffalo dung, used as
fuel for fire
bodge piece of poor or clumsy
workmanship
bodger a chair-leg turner
bodgery botched work, bungling
bodkin dagger, stiletto; blunt
needle; small tool for pricking holes
boeotian a dull, obtuse person
boethetic helpful, curative
boffin a scientific expert; esp.
one involved in technological research
bogan quiet tributary or
backwater
bogart to selfishly take or keep
something; hog
bogatyr a medieval Russian heroic
warrior, akin to Western European knight errant
boggard a spectre, goblin, or bogy
bogglish to be uncertain, doubtful
or little skittish about something
bogometer a conversational device
used for the rhetorical measurement of bogosity
bogosity the degree to which
something is bogus (i.e. bad, false)
bogyphobia the fear of goblins
bolar of, like or pertaining to
clay
bolection moulding around a panel
bolero Spanish dance with sudden
pauses and sharp turns
bolide large meteor that bursts; a
fireball
bollard short post on a wharf or
ship to which ropes are tied
bolometer instrument for measuring
radiant energy or infrared light
bolthead straight-necked
distillation vessel or flask
boltrope strong rope stitched to
edges of a sail
bolus a large medical pill; a
soft rounded mass of chewed food
boman well dressed criminal
bombaster one who stuffs or pads
things
bombastry bombastic language or
composition
bombazine twilled silk and worsted
fabric
bombé bulging outwards
bombic of, like or pertaining to
silkworms
bombilate to hum, buzz or drone
continuously
bombilation a buzzing, droning or
humming
bombosity the buttocks
bombous convex; rounded
bombycine of, like or pertaining to
silk or cotton
bombylious humming or buzzing
bonasus bison
bonbonnière small box used for
sweetmeats
bonce large marble used in games
bongo reddish African antelope
with white vertical stripes
boniface the proprietor of a hotel,
nightclub or restaurant; innkeeper
bonification paying of bonus or reward
boniform having the form of good
bonify to improve or ameliorate
boning estimating straightness by
looking along a row of poles
bonism the doctrine that the world
is good but not perfect
bonking when endurance cyclists
have used every ounce of fuel in their bodies and cannot continue;
fucking
bonnibel fair maid, bonny lass
bonnyclabber milk which has become thick
due to being sour
bontebok South African antelope with
unusual coloration
bonzery buddhist monastery
bonzoline artificial ivory-like
substance used to make billiard balls
boobocracy government by boobs
booboisie boobs as a class; the
general public regarded as consisting of boobies
boodle counterfeit money; funds
obtained by corruption
boohai an out of the way, remote
or non-existent place
boojum an imaginary animal, a
particularly dangerous kind of snark
boondoggle an unnecessary activity or
wasteful expenditure
boopic ox-eyed
borage rough-stemmed herb used in
salads
borak nonsense, humbug; banter
borasco a squall often attended
with a thunderstorm occurring especially in the Mediterranean
borato thin fabric
borborology filthy talk
borborygmic relating to intestinal
rumbling caused by moving gas
borborygmus the rumbling sound of gas
passing through the intestine
bordar tenant who holds land at
his lord's pleasure
bordereau detailed bill or invoice
bordure border surrounding a
heraldic shield
bore tidal flow of water up
estuaries
boreal related to northern regions
Bork to defame or vilify (a
person) systematically, esp. in the mass media
borné limited; narrow-minded
borsella instrument for shaping
glass vessels
bort diamond fragments or dust
borzoi wolf-hound
boscage thick foliage; woodland
boschveldt bush country; wilderness
bosket thicket; plantation
bosky covered with trees or
shrubs
bossa-nova Brazilian dance similar to
samba
bosselated knobby
bosthoon an awkward fellow; a
tactless, senseless person; boor, dolt
boston waltz-like dance
bosun boatswain
bot larva of a botfly that
infests horses
botanomancy fortunetelling using
burning branches or plants
botanophobia the fear of plants
botryoidal like a bunch of grapes
bottine small boot
bottomry using the ship as
collateral to finance a sea voyage
bottony having three buds like a
trefoil
bouclé fabric of uneven looped
yarn
bouillotte card game resembling poker
bouleuterion meeting-place; assembly
hall
bouleversement a violent disturbance;
tumult; a turning upsidedown; reversal; ruin
boult to sift through cloth; to
examine by sifting
boun to prepare; to dress; to
set out
bouquiniste a dealer in secondhand
books
bourasque tempest
bourdon drone bass of a bagpipe or
organ
bourrée French baroque dance with
quick rhythm
bourse European stock exchange
boustrophedon writing alternating
left-right then right-left
boustrophedonic having alternate lines
written in opposite directions
boutade a sudden outburst or
outbreak; a caprice; a whim
boutade sudden outburst
bovarism a romantic or unreal
conception of oneself; conceit
bovaristic conceited
bovicide slaughter of cattle; one
who kills cattle
boviform cow-shaped
bowdlerize to purge literature of all
possibly offensive or morally impure material
bower anchor carried at bow of a
ship
bowery seedy or run-down district
of a city
bowline rope used to keep weather
edge of a sail taut
bowsprit spar that extends at bows
of a ship
bowssen to immerse in water as a
treatment for insanity; hence, bowssening
boxology a hierarchical presentation
of software-architecture using boxes and arrows
boyau communication trench
boyg a problem difficult to get
to grips with
brabble to squabble or quarrel
braccate having feathered legs or
feet
bracciale bracket or socket mounted
on a wall
brach female hunting hound
brachet whelp; brat; bitch hound
brachiation act of swinging by one's
arms from place to place
brachiferous bearing or having branches
or arms
brachiotomy amputation of an arm
brachistichrone the path between two points
along which a particle travels for the shortest time
brachycatalectic lacking two syllables from
end of a line of verse
brachycephalic having a head that is broad
brachycerous having horns or antennae
clipped or removed
brachydactylous having short or stubby
fingers
brachylogy conciseness of expression;
a condensed expression
brachymetropia short-sightedness
brachyology laconic, abbreviated or
interrupted speech
brachypodous short-legged
brachypterous short-winged
brackish saltish; very salty
brackle to break bread or cake into
pieces
bracteate thin beaten plate of gold
or silver
bradawl small boring tool
bradyseism slow up-and-down movement
of the earth's crust
brail leather strap to bind a
hawk's wing
brails ropes on edge of sail for
hauling up
braird to appear above ground (of
crops)
branchial of, like or pertaining to
gills
branchiferous having or bearing gills
branchiform gill-shaped
brandling striped earthworm used as
fishing bait
brandophile one who collects cigar
bands
brandophilist a collector of cigar bands
brank to prance; toss the head;
to strut
brannigan a drinking spree; a noisy
altercation or quarrel
bransle an old French
follow-the-leader dance
brasero a place where criminals and
heretics are burned
brash collection of broken pieces
of rock or ice
brassage difference between cost of
minting coin and its value
brassard badge worn on the arm;
piece of armour for the arm
brassica plants of the mustard
family, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and turnip
brattice 1. fixed tower of wood on a
castle wall
brattice 2. partition in mine shaft
used to support walls and roof
braxy disease of sheep causing
fits
brayer instrument for spreading
ink in printing
bream to clean a ship's bottom by
burning off seaweed
breastsummer beam supporting front of a
building; bressummer
breccia geological formation of
angular fragments of rock
breedbate someone looking for an
argument
brehon judge or magistrate in
ancient Ireland
breloque an ornament attached to a
watch
breme fierce; cruel; keen
bressummer beam supporting a wall over
an opening
bretasche partition to control
ventilation in a mine
breve mark over letter to
indicate a short vowel sound
brevet commission enabling officer
to take higher rank
breviary book containing daily
church service
breviate a brief compendium; a
lawyer's brief
brevicaudate short-tailed
breviloquence short-windedness; tendency
towards brevity in speech
breviloquent speaking briefly about a
subject
breviped short-legged creature
brevipennate having short wings
brevirostrate having a short nose
briarean many-handed
bricolage construction achieved by
using whatever comes to hand; something constructed in this way
bricolé 1. bank shot or rebound
bricole 2. harness for humans to
pull heavy loads
bridewell house of corrections; jail
bridgewater anything undesirable or
worthless
bridoon light military bridle
brigandine leather armour with metal
scales
brigantine two-masted ship
brigue to intrigue
brilliantine 1. light lustrous cotton
and worsted fabric
brilliantine 2. perfumed oil for making
hair glossy
brimborion a thing without value or
use; trash, nonsense
brindled marked with streaks or
spots
brio enthusiastic vigour
brisance the shattering or crushing
effect of an explosion
brisure part of a parapet breaking
from the general direction
britska ppen four-wheeled carriage
broadcloth dense twilled wool or
worsted fabric
brobdingnagian on a giant scale; enormous;
immense
brocade rich silk fabric with
raised patterns
brocard elementary law or
principle; canon; axiom; maxim
broch luminous ring around the
moon
broché with raised pattern
brochette skewer for holding food
steady while cooking
brocken two-year-old stag
brockfaced having a white mark on the
face or snout
brodequin light boot worn inside
heavier boots
broderie embroidery pattern
brogan strong and tough working
shoe
broma food; aliment
bromatology study of or discourse on
food
bromidrosiphobia the fear of body odour or
sweat
bromidrosis the secretion of
foul-smelling sweat; body odor
bromopnea bad breath; halitosis
bronchos temporary loss of voice;
laryngitis
bronchoscope instrument for examining
the windpipe
bronteum a device used in theater or
movies to create thunder
brontide the low rumbling of distant
thunder
brontology scientific study of thunder
brontomancy fortunetelling using
thunder
brontophobia the fear of thunder and
lightning
brouette small two-wheeled carriage
brougham one-horse closed carriage
bruit something rumoured widely;
to report or spread rumour
brumal of, like or pertaining to
winter; occurring in the winter
brumalia a pagan festival held at
the winter solstice from which some features of the celebration of
Christmas seem to have originated
brume mist or fog
brummagem showy and cheap;
meretricious
brumous foggy, misty, wintry
brump to collect branches which
have fallen off of trees
brunneous dark brown
brusquerie abruptness of manner
brutter ballhooter; lumberjack who
rolls logs
bruxism habitual grinding of the
teeth
bruxomania the compulsive grinding of
one's teeth
bryology the study of mosses and
liverworts
bubaline of, like or pertaining to
buffalo or antelopes
bubonalgia painful inflammation of the
groin
bubulcitate to cry like a cowboy (!?)
buccal of, like or pertaining to
the mouth or cheek
buccan metal frame on which meat
is dried and/or roasted
buccina Roman curved trumpet
buccinal shaped or sounding like a
trumpet
buccinator the thin, flat muscle
forming the wall of the cheek - so called from its use in blowing wind
instruments
buccula a double chin
bucculent wide-mouthed
bucentaur legendary half-man and
half-ox
buck-and-wing solo tap dance with many
leg flings and leaps
buckram stiff-finished cotton or
linen used for linings of garments
bucoliast writer of pastoral poems
bucolic of, like or pertaining to
the tending of cattle; rustic; rural
buddle sloping container for
washing ore
buffarilla an extremely ugly young
woman
bufoniform shaped like a toad
bufotenine hallucinogen found in
certain tropical toads
bugaboo something that causes
baseless fear or worry; also, a false belief used to intimidate
bugbear an object or source of
dread
buhl inlaying of precious
material onto furniture
bulbiferous bearing bulbs
bulbitate to befoul one's trousers
bulbul gregarious African songbird
bulgur cooked broken wheat
bulimy extreme hunger
bulla round seal attached to a
papal bull
bullace wild plum
bullantic capitalized and ornamented,
as letters used on papal bulls
bullary collection of papal bulls
bullate having a blistered or
puckered appearance
bulliform shaped like a blister or
boil
bullimong cattle feed that consists
of many grains all mixed up
bullionism belief in the importance of
metallic currency in economics
bullition the act of boiling
bullock an ox or castrated bull
bullyrag to assault with abusive
language; ; intimidate by bullying; to badger
bulse a small bag for diamonds or
gold dust
bulwark the side of a ship above
the deck
bumbledom the actions and mannerisms
of pompous but inefficient government officials
bumboat small boat used in harbours
to carry provisions
bumf toilet paper; also,
worthless paperwork, literature, or junk mail
bumfuzzle to confuse, perplex or
fluster
bumicky cement mixed with stone
chips used in masonry
bummel stroll; leisurely journey
bump coarse cotton fabric
bumpkin spar projecting from stern
of ship
bumptious offensively conceited or
self-assertive
bumwhush ruin, obscurity,
annihilation
buncombe speech-making intended for
the mass media
bundling a former custom of an
unmarried couple's occupying the same bed without undressing, esp.
during courtship
bunghole the hole in a cask, keg, or
barrel through which liquid is poured in or drained out
bunt middle of sail, fish-net or
cloth when slack
bunting light loosely woven fabric
used for flags
buntline rope attached to middle of
square sail to haul it up to the yard
bupkis absolutely nothing
burd-alone all alone; friendless
burdet cotton fabric
burelage fine lines printed on stamp
paper as protection against fraud or forgery
burgage tenure in socage for a
yearly rent
burganet light helmet with nose and
cheek protection
burgee small ship's flag used for
identification or signalling
burgensic of, like or pertaining to a
borough or its citizens
burghbote donations made to repair a
castle, or to build a castle
burgrave commander of a German town
or castle
burke to suppress quietly or
indirectly; bypass; avoid
burladero the wooden barrier in a
bullring used for protection
burlap coarse plain-woven jute or
hemp fabric
burnet dark brown; dark woollen
cloth
burrel coarse russet cloth
burrole an eavesdropper
burrstone type of rock used to make
millstones
bursal of, like or pertaining to a
state's revenues
bursary treasury of a monastery or
college
burse square cloth case to carry
the corporal during communion service
bursiculate resembling a small pouch
bursiform shaped like a pouch or
purse
bushonics nonstandard English which
features tangled syntax, mispronunciations, run-on sentences, misplaced
modifiers and a wanton disregard for subject-verb agreement
bushwa rubbish, nonsense
busker one who entertains esp by
singing or reciting on the street or in a pub
buskin tragedy as a dramatic genre
buss rude or playful kiss
buteonine of, like or pertaining to
buzzards
butt unit of volume equal to two
hogsheads or 126 gallons
buttery storeroom for provisions
and liquors
butyraceous resembling, producing or
having the qualities of butter
butyric of, like or pertaining to
butter
buxiferous bearing or producing
box-trees (a small evergreen)
byre a cow barn
byrnie coat of mail or breastplate
byrthynsak stealing as much as one can
carry; the theft of a calf or a sheep
byssaceous delicately filamentous
byssiferous having tufts or threads
byssine silky; soft; having many
threads
byssoid fibrous; cottony soft
byssus mummy-wrapping fabric
bywoner South African agricultural
labourer
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