Bristles or Bristle Dice, subs. (old).—A method of 'cogging' dice by inserting bristles into them, and thus influencing the position of the cubes when 'thrown.'
1532. Dice Play (1050), 28. Bristle dice, be now too gross a practice to be put in use. [m.]
1680. Cotton, in Singer Hist. Cards, 335. This they do by false dice, as . . . By BRISTLE-DICE. [M.]
1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. 'Men talk of high and low dice, Fulhams and bristles . . . and a hundred ways of rooking besides.'
Bristol Milk, subs. (old).—Sherry. [An allusion to sherry being formerly a large import of the city of Bristol.] For synonyms, see Drinks.
1644. Prynne and Walker, Fiennes' Trial, 78. Good store of Bristol milk, strong wines and waters. [m.]
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Bristol. 'Bristol milk'; this metaphorical milk, whereby Xeres or Sherry Sack is intended.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Bristol milk, a Spanish wine called sherry, much drank at that place, particularly in the morning.
1849-61. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I., iii. A rich beverage made of the best Spanish wine, and celebrated . . . as Bristol milk.
Broach Claret, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To draw blood.—See, however, Claret.
Broad and Shallow, phr. (popular).—An epithet applied to the so-called 'Broad Church,' in contradistinction to the 'High' and 'Low' Churches.—See High and dry.
1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. In the Church have we not the three schools of High and Dry, Low and Slow, and Broad and Shallow?
Broadbottoms, subs. (political).—A nickname given to two Coalition Governments, one in the last century [1741], and the other in 1807.—See quots.
A pamphlet dated April 18, 1807, has reference to the latter. Its full title is :—'The pigs possessed, or the broadbottom'd litter running head-*long into the Sea of Perdition.' The characters are George III., as the British farmer; Lords Sidmouth, Ellenborough, Howick ('Test Act'); Mr. Windham; Lords Holland, Walpole, Carlisle St. Vincent; Earls Temple ('Last Stake'), Grenville ('Catholic Bill'), and of Derby; Lords Erskine, Lauderdale (a Scotch pig), H. Petty, and Moira; the Duke of Bedford, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, marked 'Erin go Bragh'; Earl Spencer, Marquis of Buckingham ('Family'), R. B. Sheridan (Harlequin), Courtney, Tierney, and Whitbread ('Entire'). Courtney is placed in profile between Ellenborough and Sidmouth. He was an intimate friend of Fox. This is said to be the only portrait of him. The print is a supplement to another styled 'More Pigs than Teats.' The pigs represent the Ministers described commonly by the phrase 'All the Talents,' or the 'Broad-Bottoms' who were succeeded, April, 1807, by the Duke of Portland and his supporters. The former are not to be confounded with an earlier 'Broad-Bottom' Administration. The latter was commemorated in the satirical inscription for Fox's tomb, Hic jacet Pater Broad-Bottomos.
