1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, III., 2. My rogue of a son has laid his birdlime fingers on't.
Bird's-Eye, Bird's-Eye Fogle,
Bird's-Eye Wipe, subs. (common).—A
silk handkerchief
spotted with eye-like markings.—See
also Billy and Wipe.
1665. Pepys, Diary, May 14. To church, it being Whit-Sunday; my wife very fine in a new yellow bird's-eye hood, as the fashion is now.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xviii. He wore a blue bird's-eye handkerchief round his neck.
1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. His neckerchief was of the same hue [silver grey], with a light crimson bird's-eye.
Bird-Witted, adj. (old).—Inconsiderate;
thoughtless; easily imposed
on.—Grose.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learning, II. (1861), 228. If a child be bird-witted, that is, hath not the faculty of attention, the mathematics giveth a remedy thereunto.
1650. Ussher, Ann., VI., 360. [He] proved . . . but a bird-witted man.
Birk, subs. (back slang).—A
'crib' (q.v.), i.e., a house. For
synonyms, see Diggings.
Birthday Suit, subs. (common).—Naked;
in the buff (q.v.); in
the suit in which Adam and
Eve first saw each other, and
'were not ashamed.' A French
equivalent is s'habiller en sauvage.
1771. Smollett, Humphry Clinker, 1. 61. I went in the morning to a private place, along with the housemaid, and we bathed in our birth-day soot.
Bishop, subs. (old).—1. A warm
decoction of wine, orange or
lemon peel, and sugar—but
variously compounded. Similar
to flip and purl (q.v.).
1703. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin trumps,—permit me to introduce a brother of the togati, fresh as a new-blown rose, and innocent as the lilies of St. Clements. Be unto him ever ready to promote his wishes, whether for spree or sport, in term and out of term,—against the Inquisition and their bull-dogs—the town-raff and the bargees—well-blunted or stiver cramped—against dun or don—nob or big-wig—so may you never want a bumper of bishop.
1738. Swift, Women Who Cry Oranges, wks., 1755, IV., i., 278. Well roasted, with sugar and wine in a cup. They'll make a sweet bishop.
1753. The World, No. 37. Punch, bishop, cool tankard, and negus are equally denied me.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlviii., p. 421. He and the landlord were drinking a bowl of bishop together.
2. subs. (American).—A bustle—part of feminine attire consisting of a pad worn on the back part of the waist, and designed to give prominence to the skirt. For synonyms, see Bird-cage.
1848. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms, p. 42. Bishop. An appendage to a lady's wardrobe, otherwise called a bustle.
I sing the bishop, alias the bustle.
1862-75. Saxe, Progress. Imperial Fashion decides the gravest questions which divide the world. If wrong may not, by circumstance, be right,— If black cravats be more genteel than while,— If, by her bishop, or her 'grace,' alone A genuine lady, or a church, is known.
3. (common.)—A chamber utensil; a jerry; Jordan; and it (q.v.).
4. (Winchester College.)—The sapling with which a fagot is bound together.
Verb.—1. A term among horse dealers, for burning marks into a horse's teeth, after he has lost them by age; or, by other deceptive arts to give a good appearance to a bad horse. By
