of what was then considered an extraordinary feat, but on Aug. 10, 1889, four riders of the Polytechnic Cycling Club covered the distance to Brighton and back, 108 miles, in 7 hours 50 minutes, which is better time than a most perfectly-appointed modern four-in-hand can be driven over the same course by the aid of unlimited relays of horses kept in readiness to be changed at a moment's notice. Only one machine was used throughout the trial, viz., a safety roadster, weighing 36 lbs.
1874. A. Howard, Bicycle, 10. In 1870 and 1871, the low, long bone-shaker began to fall in public esteem. [m.]
1884. G. L. Hillier, in Longman's Mag., March, p. 487. The bone-shaker, as the ribald cyclist of the present day designates the ancestor of his present bicycle.
1885. Nineteenth Century, Jan., p. 92. In the Field's report of the performance of the Cambridge Town Bicycle Club we find this entry: 'Half Mile Race on bone-shakers, not exceeding 36 in.'
Bone Standing, verbal phr. (American
college).—To study hard.
[Evidently an allusion to the
alertness implied by a standing
position.]
Bonettas, subs. (Stock Exchange.)—The
4% 2nd North British
2nd Preference Stock. — See
Bones, subs., sense 6, §2.
Bong.—See Boung.
Boniface, subs, (popular). — The
landlord of a tavern or inn.
[Derived from Farquhar's play.]
1707. Farquhar, Beaux Stratagem. [Boniface is here given as the name of landlord of the inn.]
1803. Bristed, Pedest. Tour, I., 120. To give the characteristic features and to stamp the peculiar traits of honest Boniface.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xvi. The landlord either could not, or would not, give them any actual information as to his guests. . . . So the blue-coated myrmidons of Scotland Yard got but little information from Boniface.
Boning Adjutant, verbal phr.
(American cadets').—Aping a
military bearing. [From bone,
to study, to imitate.] So also
boning muscle (q.v.) is going
in largely for gymnastics. To
bone standing, to study hard.
Boning demerit, giving no
cause for complaint as regards
one's conduct. All West Point
cadet slang.
Bonk, subs. (travelling showmens').—A
short, steep hill.
[Possibly only a provincialism,
or an obsolete form of 'bank.']
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 302. In Lancashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, the approaches to some of the large works are either up or down some steep, short hill, usually termed bonk, and the drivers of heavily laden carts with two horses have the breeching on the leading chain-horse, as well as the horse in the shafts, so that when they are going down one of these steep bonks, the horse is as useful as a help in drawing up.
Bonnet, subs. (old).—1. A gambling
cheat; a decoy at auctions.
[So-called because they bonnet
or blind the eyes of the victims.—See
Bonnet, verb, sense 1.]
Hotten says sometimes called a
bearer-up. The bonnet plays
as though he were a member
of the general public, and
by his good luck, or by the
force of his example, induces
others to venture their stakes.
Bonneting is often done in
much better society than that
