| Term | Main definition |
|---|---|
| Beck(1) | No usage of the word has been found that makes sense in the context of the song.
Hits - 668
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| bed of roses | a delightful resting place, a comfortable or easy position [OED]
Hits - 683
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| bedad¹ | By dad, or by God - An exclamation, used to give weight to a statement. (Irish English) [OED]
Hits - 566
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| Beeching | Richard Beeching, (1913–1985), commonly known as Dr Beeching, was a physicist and engineer. Chairman of British Railways 1961-1965. He became a household name in Britain in the early 1960s for his report The Reshaping of British Railways, commonly referred to as "The Beeching Report",
Hits - 834
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| Beelzebub¹ | The Bible, Luke 11:15 “Beelzebub the chief of the devils.”
Hits - 623
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| beer and skittles | a pleasurable pastime [OED]
Hits - 678
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| before I could Jack Robinson say |
In a very short time; before the speaker realised what was happening
Hits - 682
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| begox¹ | Propbably a euphemism for "by God". Similar to the Irish begob. [CPB]
Hits - 642
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| begum¹ | By (or my) gum: by (or my) God [OED]
Hits - 605
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| Be_jabers¹ | Irish expletive
Hits - 406
|
| Billy Purvis | Conjurer, clown and performer on the Northumbrian bagpipes who became a freeman of Newcastle. Purvis was and was known for his performances as a clown at the Newcastle Races. Died Dec. 16, 1853 at age 73. [Ref: http://mysite.verizon.net/cbladey/sang/eccentrics.html]
Hits - 783
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| Bits of blood |
Horses
Hits - 632
|
| black hole of calcutta¹ | The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small prison or dungeon where British prisoners of war were held for three days on 20 June 1756. in conditions so cramped that many people died from suffocation and heat exhaustion [i] Giving rise to the phrase "like the black hole of Calcutta" to describe any dark, cramped unpleasant place. The phrase was in general use into the first half of the 20th century. References:
Hits - 696 Synonyms -
black hole¹ |
| black legs(1) | black leg is "a swindler in gambling" [OED]
Hits - 683
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| blacking | A preparation for giving a shining black surface to boots and shoes; a shoe polish. [OED]
Hits - 552
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| blackleg | A person who continues to work despite a ban or strike by a trade union; a person who takes a striker's place [OED]
Hits - 770
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| blaych(1) | meaning uncertain. Possibly blast
Hits - 591
|
| blether(1) | bladder or purse
Hits - 649 Synonyms -
blethers |
| blinker¹ | Probably a blind or poorly sighted horse
Hits - 641
|
| Block ornaments |
“They buy block-ornaments..as they call the small dark-coloured pieces of meat exposed on the ..butchers' blocks.”
1851 MAYHEW Lond. Labour I. 52 (London)
Hits - 685
|