the advertisements issued by Hy. Robinson's "Office," over against Threadneedle Street, was this :

"Touching Advice from the OFFICE, you are desired to give and take notice as followeth :

F Monies to be taken up, or delivered on Botto-maria, commonly called

0 Bomarie.

"OF

money to be put out or taken upon interest," &c.

-The Publick Intelligencer, numb. 17, 25th June, 1660. Bummer, literally one who sits or idles about; a loafer; one who sponges upon his acquaintances. In California, men who profess to be journalists, and so obtain free dinners and drinks, are called 'literary BUMMERS." Although the term is not much in use in this country, the profession of bumming, both literary and otherwise, is freely practised.

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Bumper, according to Johnson from "bump," but probably from French BON PÈRE, the fixed toast in monastic life of old, now used for "full measure. A match at quoits, bowls, &c., may end in a "BUMPER game," if the play and score be all on one side. BUMPER is used in sporting and theatrical circles to denote a benefit which is one in reality as well as in name.

Bumptious, arrogant, self-sufficient. One on very good terms with himself is said to be BUMPTIOUS.

Bunce, costermongers' perquisites; the money obtained by giving light weight, &c. ; costermongers' goods sold by boys on commission. In fact anything which is clear profit or gain is said to be "all BUNCE." Probably a corruption of bonus; BONE, or BONER, being the slang for good. BUNCE, Grose gives as the cant word for money. Bunch-of-Fives, the hand, or fist.

Bundle, "to BUNDLE a person off," i.e., to pack him off, send him flying.

Bundling, men and women sleeping together, where the divisions of the house will not permit of better or more decent accommodation, with all their clothes on. BUNDLING was originally courting done in bed, the lovers being tied or bundled up to prevent undue familiarities. The practice still obtains in some parts of Wales.

Bung, the landlord of a public-house. Much in use among sporting

men.

Bung, to give, pass, hand over, drink, or to perform almost any action. BUNG up, to close up, as the eyes.-Pugilistic. "BUNG over the rag," hand over the money.-Old, used by Beaumont and Fletcher, and Shakspeare. Also, to deceive one by a lie, to CRAM, which see. Bunk, to decamp. "BUNK it!" i.e., be off. Bunker, beer.

Bunkum, an American importation, denoting false sentiments in speaking, pretended enthusiasm, &c. The expression arose from a speech made by a North Carolina senator named Buncombe.

Bunter, a prostitute, a street-walking female thief.

Burdon's Hotel, Whitecross Street Prison, of which the Governor was a Mr. Burdon. Almost every prison has a nickname of this kind, either from the name of the Governor, or from some local circumstance. The Queen's Bench has also an immense number of names-SPIKE PARK, &c.; and every Chief-Justice stands godfather to it. Burerk, a lady, a showily-dressed woman.

Burke, to kill, to murder, secretly and without noise, by means of strangulation. From Burke, the notorious Edinburgh murderer, who, with an accomplice named Hare, used to decoy people into the den he inhabited, kill them, and sell their bodies for dissection. The wretches having been apprehended and tried, Burke was executed, while Hare, having turned king's evidence, was released. Bishop and Williams were their London imitators. The term BURKE is now usually applied to any project that is quietly stopped or stifled-as the question has been BURKED." A book suppressed before publication is said to be

BURKED.

Burra, great; as BURRA SAIB, a great man; BURRA KHANAH, a great dinner.-Anglo-Indian.

Bury a Moll, to run away from a mistress.

Bus, or BUSS, an abbreviation of " omnibus," a public carriage. Also, a kiss, abbreviation of Fr. BAISER. A Mr. Shillibeer started the first BUS in London. A shillibeer is now a hearse and mourning coach all in one, used by the very poorest mourners and shabbiest undertakers. Why is Temple Bar like a lady's veil? Because it wants to be removed to make way for the BUSSES.

Bus, business (of which it is a contraction) or action on the stage, so written, but pronounced BIZ.-Theatrical. See BIZ.

Business, the action which accompanies dialogue. "His BUSINESS was good." Generally applied to byplay.-Theatrical.

Busk, to sell obscene songs and books at the bars and in the tap-rooms of public-houses. Sometimes it implies selling other articles. Also to "work" public-houses and certain spots as an itinerant musician or vocalist.

Busker, a man who sings or performs in a public-house; an itinerant. Bust, or BURST, to tell tales, to SPLIT, to inform. BUSTING, informing against accomplices when in custody. Buster (BURSTER), a small new loaf; "twopenny BUSTER," a twopenny loaf. "A penn'orth o' BEES-WAX (cheese) and a penny BUSTER," a common snack at beershops. A halfpenny loaf is called a "starver. "in for Buster, an extra size; "what a BUSTER," i.e., what a large one;

a BUSTER," determined on an extensive frolic or spree. Scotch, BUS. TUOUS; Icelandic, BOSTRA.

Bustle, money; "to draw the BUSTLE."

Busy-Sack, a carpet-bag.

Butcha, a Hindoo word in use among Englishmen for the young of any animal. In England we ask after the children; in India the health of the BUTCHAS is tenderly inquired for.

Butcher, the king in playing-cards. When card-playing in public houses was common, the kings were called butchers, the queens bitches, and the knaves jacks. The latter term is now in general use. Butcher's Mourning, a white hat with a black mourning hatband. Probably because, under any circumstances, a butcher would rather not wear a black hat. White hats and black bands have, however, become genteel ever since the late Prince Consort patronized them, though they retain a deal of the old sporting leaven. Butter, or BATTER, praise or flattery. To BUTTER, to flatter, cajole. Same as "soft soap" and "soft sawder." Soft words generally. Maybe from the old proverb, "Fine words butter no parsneps.' Butter-Fingered, apt to let things fall; greasy or slippery-fingered. Button, a decoy, sham purchaser, &c. At any mock or sham auction seedy specimens may be seen. Probably from the connexion of buttons with Brummagem, which is often used as a synonym for a shamn.— See BONNET.

Buttoner, a man who entices another to play.

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Buttons, a page,—from the rows of gilt buttons which adorn his jacket. Buttons, not to have all one's BUTTONS;" to be deficient in intellect. To "make BUTTONS" means for some occult reason to look sorry and sad. "He was making BUTTONS," ie., he was looking sorrowful. Perhaps because button-making is a sorry occupation.

Butty, a word used in the mining districts to denote a kind of overseer. Also used by the Royal Marines in the sense of comrade; a policeman's assistant, one of the staff in a mêlée.

Buz, to share equally the last of a bottle of wine, when there is not enough for a full glass to each of the party.

Buz, a well-known public-house game, played as follows:-"The chairman commences saying "one," the next on the left hand "two," the next "three," and so on to seven, when "BUZ" must be said. Every seven and multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, &c., must not be mentioned, but "BUZ" instead. Whoever breaks the rule pays a fine, which is thrown on the table, and the accumulation expended in drink for the company. See " SNOOKS and WALKER for more complicated varieties of a similar game. These "parlour pastimes" are often not only funny, but positively ingenious. But the Licensing Act and a zealous police are fast clearing them all out.

Buz, to pick pockets; BUZZING or BUZ-FAKING, robbing.

Buz-Bloke, a pickpocket who principally confines his attention to purses and loose cash. Grose gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cant word. GLOAK was old cant for a man. BUZ-NAPPER, a young pickpocket. Buz-man, an informer; from BUZ, to whisper, but more generally a thief. Buz-napper's Academy, a school in which young thieves were

trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever

enough they were sent on the streets.

Dickens gives full particulars

of this old style of business in Oliver Twist.

Buzzer, a pickpocket. Grose gives BUZ-COVE and, as above mentioned,

BUZ-GLOAK.

Byblow, an illegitimate child.

By George, an exclamation similar to BY JOVE. The term is older than is frequently imagined-vide Bacchus and Venus (p. 117), 1737. "Fore (or by) GEORGE, I'd knock him down." Originally in reference to Saint George, the patron saint of England, or possibly to the House of Hanover.

By Golly, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for "by God." BY GUM is another oblique oath. In the United States, small boys are permitted by their guardians to say GOL DARN anything, but they are on no account allowed to commit the profanity of G―d d▬▬n anything. A manner of "sailing close to the wind" which is objectionable to the honest mind. A specimen ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation-BY THE EVERLIVING JUMPING-MOSES-a harmless and ridiculous phrase, that from its length is supposed to expend a considerable quantity of fiery anger. By Jingo, an oath or exclamation having no particular meaning, and no positive etymology, though it is believed by some that JINGO is derived from the Basque jenco, the devil.

Cab, in statutory language, "a hackney carriage drawn by one horse." Abbreviated from the French CABRIOLET; originally meaning "a light low chaise." The wags of Paris playing upon the word (quasi cabri au lait) used to call a superior turn-out of the kind a cabri au crême. Our abbreviation, which certainly smacks of slang, has been stamped with the authority of the Legislature, and has been honoured by universal custom.

Cab, to stick together, to muck, or tumble up,-Devonshire.

Cabbage, pieces of cloth said to be purloined by tailors. Any small profits in the way of material.

Cabbage, to pilfer or purloin. Termed by Johnson a

cant word," but adopted by later lexicographers as a respectable term. Said to have been first used in the above sense by Arbuthnot.

Cabbage-Head, a soft-headed person.

Cabby, popular name for the driver of a cab. This title has almost supplanted the more ancient one of jarvey.

Caboose, the galley or cook-house of a ship; a term used by tramps to indicate a kitchen.

Cackle-Tub, a pulpit.

Cackling-Cove, an actor. Also called a MUMMERY-COVE.-Theatrical. Cad, or CADGER (from which it is shortened), a mean or vulgar fellow; a beggar; one who would rather live on other people than work for himself; a man who tries to worm something out of another, either money or information. Johnson uses the word, and gives huckster as the meaning, in which sense it was originally used. Apparently from

CAGER, or GAGER, the old Cant term for a man. The exclusives at the English Universities apply the term CAD to all non-members. It has also been suggested that the word may be a contruction of the French CADET. Cad, an omnibus conductor. Of late years the term has been generically applied to the objectionable class immortalized by Thackeray under the title of snob. A great deal of caddism is, however, perpetrated by those who profess to have the greatest horror of it-the upper classesa fact which goes far to prove that it is impossible to fairly ascribe a distinctive feature to any grade of society.

Cadge, to beg in an artful, wheedling manner.-North. In Scotland to CADGE is to wander, to go astray. See under CODGER.

Cadging, begging, generally with an eye to pilfering when an opportunity occurs. To be "on the cadge" is almost synonymous with "on the make."

Schoolboy slang.

Cag, to irritate, affront, anger. Cage, a minor kind of prison. offices. Cagmag, bad food, scraps, odds and ends; or that which no one could relish. Grose give CAGG MAGGS, old and tough Lincolnshire geese, sent to London to feast the poor cockneys. Gael., French, and Welsh, CAC, and MAGN. A correspondent at Trinity College, Dublin, considers this as originally a University slang term for a bad cook, raròs μáyɛipos. There is also a Latin word used by Pliny, MAGMA, denoting dregs or dross.

A country lock-up which contained no

Cake, a flat;" a soft or doughy person, a fool.

Cakey-Pannum-Fencer, or PANNUM-FENCER, a man who sells street

pastry.

Calaboose, a prison.-Sea slang, from the Spanish.

Calculate, a word much in use among the inhabitants of the Western States U.S., as "I CALCULATE you are a stranger here." New Englanders use the word "guess" instead of CALCULATE, while the Virginians prefer to say "reckon."

Caleb Quotem, a parish clerk; a jack of all trades. From a character in The Wags of Windsor.

California, or CALIFORNIANS, money. Term generally applied to gold only. Derivation very obvious.

Call, a notice of rehearsal, or any other occasion requiring the company's presence, posted up in a theatre. "We're CALLED for eleven to-morrow morning."

Call-a-Go, in street "patter," is to leave off trying to sell anything and to remove to another spot, to desist. Also to give in, yield, at any game or business. Probably from the "GO" call in cribbage. Cameronians, THE, the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Foot in the British Army.

Camesa, shirt or chemise.-Span. See its abbreviated form, MISH, from the ancient Cant, COMMISSION. Probably re-introduced by the remains of