Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/70

BLOODY ALLEY.—The favourite marble taw (pronounced tawl) used by boys. Its name arises from the streaks of red in it.

BLOODY WARRIOR.—A wall-flower of rich dark red colour.

BLOWZY.—Bloated and red-faced.

BLUBBER.—To cry; almost in general use.

BLUR.—A blot causing indistinctness to anything beneath it.

BLURT OUT.—To speak out a thing unexpectedly and inopportunely.

BOB—A quick downward motion.

"The bird bobbed just as I shot"

A quick curtsey is also so called.

A Timber Bob is often shortly called a "bob."

BOBBERY.—A fuss; a disturbance.

BOBBISH.—Cheery and well in health.

I be pretty bobbish, thenk 'e, how bist thee?"

BOB-CHERRY.—The game of taking the end of a cherry stalk between the teeth, and, holding the head perfectly level, trying to get the cherry into the mouth without using the hands or moving the head.

BODY HOSS, or BODY HERSE.— The horse of a team next in front of the "thriller."

BOGGLE.—To hesitate about agreeing to anything.

"A boggled a goodish bit avoor I could gel 'un to zaay eese."

Also opening and shutting the eyes, as if troubled by a strong light, but this signification may appear common.

The good Saint Anthony "boggled" his eyes.

So firmly fixed on the old black book.

When Ho. at the corners they 'gan to rise,

He couldn't choose but have a look."

BOGY. — A sort of ghost.

Children are kept quiet by "If 'e dwo-ant ke-up still nn' go to ale-up Bogy 'ooll come."

The reflection of sunlight from water on the wall of a room is also sometimes called Bogy by children

BOLT.—To rush away quickly. "To belt a rabbit" is to drive it quickly from the warren into the open. Any noise outside a warren stops rabbits from "bolting."

BOOARD.—To foretell.

"I dwo-ant booard no raain to-daay (I expect no rain to-day).