• BIR
n. Bk1911 Sc. – force, impetus
• BIRBECK
n. 1876 Sc. – the call of the moorcock or grouse
• BIRD
n. 1. 1691 Eng. dial. – the pupil of the eye
n. 2. 1838 sl., now chiefly Brit. – a young woman; a girlfriend
n. 3. 1842 US sl. – an exceptionally smart or accomplished person; a first-rate animal or thing
n. 4. 1843 sl. – a male person, a fellow
n. 5. L19 sl. – the penis
n. 6. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a fast man, woman, or horse
n. 7. 1920 US sl. – an odd or unusual person; a weird person, as a neurotic or psychopath; a homosexual
n. 8. 1924 Brit. sl. – a prison sentence
n. 9. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 10. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – an attractive girl or woman
n. 11. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
n. 12. c1947 US military usage – a rocket; a guided missile
n. 13. 1950s Amer. sl. – an airplane
n. 14. 1960s sl.- the female genitals; the vagina
n. 15. 1969 Amer. dial. – a point of contention or disagreement
• THE BIRD
n. 1. 1884 sl., orig. theatrical usage – a show of disapproval by an audience, esp. in the form of hissing
n. 2. 1924 sl. – dismissal
• BIRD-AND-JOE
adv. Bk1911 Sc. – cheek-by-jowl, like Darby and Joan
• BIRD BATH
n. 1. 1953 Amer. dial. – a bath requiring a minimum of water
n. 2. 1970s UK sl. – (as ‘birdbath’) a silly person
• BIRDBILL
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a violet
• BIRDBOAT
n. World War II Amer. sl. – an aircraft carrier
• BIRD-BOY
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a boy employed to scare birds from grain
• BIRD-BRAIN
n. 1933 sl. – a slow-witted person
• BIRD-BRAINED
adj. 1922 sl. – foolish, slow-witted, unintelligent, stupid
• BIRD-CAGE
n. 1. c1870 US sl. – a lady’s bustle
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a sedan
n. 3. 1945 Amer. dial. – in the railroad: a brakeman’s or switchman’s lantern
n. 4. 1949 US sl. – a sleeping area in a flophouse
n. 5. Bk1975 US sl. – a brothel
n. 6. Bk1975 US maritime usage – a small furnished room, as rented by the day
n. 7. Bk1975 US students’ sl. – a student’s dormitory
n. 8. Bk1975 US railroad usage – a lantern used in signalling by railway brakemen and switchmen
n. 9. 20C – a compound for prisoners in WWII
• BIRD DOG
n. 1. c1930 US sl. – an antique dealer or art dealer commission to find a specific object; a detective who specializes in finding missing person; a business agent who hunts for prospective customers; a talent scout who looks for promising young entertainers, or a baseball, football, or basketball scout who searches for promising athletes
n. 2. c1935 US sl. – a chaperon at a school dance
n. 3. World War II US Air Force usage – an air force fighter or intercepter plane
n. 4. c1950 Amer. dial. – the buttocks
(verbs usually as ‘bird-dog)
vb. 1. World War II US sl. – to dance with or become overly friendly with a superior’s girl or wife
vb. 2. c1945 US students’ sl. – to attempt to or to steal another’s girl
vb. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – to spend much time away from home; usually said of a man
• BIRD-DOGGER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a person who tries too hard to gain somebody else’s favour
• BIRD DOGGING
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – dancing with a superior’s girl
• BIRD DROPPINGS
n. Bk2007 UK euphemism for ‘chickenshit’ – a worthless or contemptible person
• BIRD-DUFFER
n. 1851 Eng. dial. – a bird-seller
• BIRD-EATER
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a person who eats little or is finicky about food
• BIRDEEN
n. 1895 – a young bird; also, a young girl; used as a playful form of address
• BIRDER
n. 1712 Eng. dial. obs, – a wild cat
• BIRD EYE
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a small marble
• BIRD-EYED
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – near-sighted
• BIRDIE
n. 1. 1792 – an affectionate or child’s term for any (small) bird
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small bird
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
n. 4. 1950 Amer. dial. – a soft roll of dust that collects on the floor under beds or other furniture
• BIRDING
n. 1960s UK sl. – pursuing or trying to ‘pick up’ women
• BIRD IN THE MONKEY SUIT
n. World War II Amer. sl. – an aviator
• BIRD-KEEP
n. 1863 Eng. dial. – to frighten birds off new-sown corn and crops
• BIRD-KEEPER
n. 1863 Eng. dial. – a boy employed to keep birds off the crops
• BIRD-KEEPING
n. 1894 Eng. dial. – frightening birds off the crops
• BIRD LEGS
n. Bk1975 US sl. – skinny legs
• BIRD-LIME
n. 1857 Brit. rhyming slang for ‘time’ – imprisonment; a prison sentence
• BIRDMAN
n. 1909 colloq. – an aviator, an airman
• BIRD-MINDER
n. 1936 Amer. dial. – one who frightens birds away from a crop
• BIRD-MOUTHED
adj. 1776 Sc. & Eng. dial. – unwilling to speak out, shy of expressing an opinion
• BIRD OF A LOOKER
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• BIRD OF DEATH
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a vulture
• BIRD OF FREEDOM
n. 1848 US – the American eagle
• BIRD OF JOVE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the eagle
• BIRD OF JUNO
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the peacock
• BIRD OF MINERVA
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an owl
• BIRD OF PARADISE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the nightingale
• BIRD OF THE NIGHT
n. 1. 17C sl. – a prostitute
n. 2. E19 sl. – a wandering vagabond
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an owl
• BIRD OF WASHINGTON
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the American eagle
• BIRD O’ SATAN
n. 1959 Amer. dial. – the blue jay
• BIRD-PECK
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the navel
• BIRDS AND BEES
n. 19C sl. – the sexual facts of life
• BIRDSEED
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
n. 2. World War II Amer. sl. – a silly or stupid person
n. 3. Bk1975 US sl. – any dry, packaged breakfast cereal
• BIRD’S-EGGING
n. 1854 Amer. dial. arch. – one’s affairs, business
• BIRD’S-EYE MAPLE
n. Bk2002 Amer. – a light-skinned attractive Black woman
• BIRD’S NEST
n. 1. L18 colloq. – the female genitals; the vagina
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – the navel
• BIRDSNIE
n. 1661 obs. – a term of endearment
• BIRD SNOW
n. 1946 Amer. dial. – late spring snow
• BIRDS OF PREY
n. Bk1890 sl. – lawyers
• BIRD-STARVING
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – frightening birds off grain
• BIRD’S-WEDDING-DAY
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – St. Valentines’ day
• BIRD-TENTING
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – driving away birds from crops
• BIRD-TIDES
n. 1856 Eng. dial. – especially low tides occurring annually about midsummer
• BIRD-WITTED
adj. 1658 – lacking the faculty of attention; having no concentration; flitting from subject to subject; easily imposed on; thoughtless, inconsiderate
• BIRDWOMAN
n. Bk1933 colloq. – a female aviator
• BIRD-WORK
vb. 1923 Amer. dial. – to leap, to hop, to progress by a series of high jumps
• BIRF
n. 1980s UK teen sl. – a birthday
• BIRGE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a bridge
• BIRK
n. 1. 1815 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the birch tree, Betula alba
n. 2. 1871 Sc. – a youth, a smart, young fellow
n. 3. 1936 sl., chiefly Brit. – a foolish person
vb. Bk1898 Sc. – to give a sharp answer; to converse in a lively manner
• BIRKED
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – birched, punished with a birch rod
• BIRKEN
adj. 1801 Sc. & Eng. dial. – birch, made of birch
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a birch tree
• BIRKENSHAW
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a small wood of birch trees
• BIRKIE
adj. 1. 1821 Sc. – sharp in speech; lively, spirited
adj. 2. Bk1898 Sc. – abounding with birches
n. 1. 1725 Sc. – a term of address in conversation; ‘old fellow’
n. 2. 1742 Sc. – a lively, smart young fellow; an active person
• BIRKS
n. Bk1898 Sc. – a coppice or small wood consisting chiefly of birches
• BIRK UP
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to cheer up; to brisk up
• BIRKY
adj. 1821 Sc. – sharp in speech; lively, spirited
n. 1. 1725 Sc. – a term of address in conversation; ‘old fellow’
n. 2. 1742 Sc. – a lively, smart young fellow; an active person
• BIRL
n. 1892 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a whirring sound; a rapid twist or turn
vb. 1. 1776 Sc. – to spend money
vb. 2. 1789 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to move quickly; to hurry along; to run about
vb. 3. 1816 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to make a noise like the rapid turning of a wheel; to twirl round, to spin
vb. 4. Bk1911 Sc. – to drink hard; to carouse; to ply with drink
• BIRLE
vb. 1. 1803 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to pour out liquor, to pass round, to ply with drink
vb. 2. 1815 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to drink hard, to carouse
• BIRLER
n. 1851 Eng. dial. – a master of the revels, who presides at a feast
• BIRLIE
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a loaf of bread
• BIRLING
adj. 1865 Sc. – whirling with noise
n. 1. 1819 Sc. – a feast, a carousal; a drinking-match in which the drink is clubbed for
n. 2. Bk1911 Sc. – a whirring noise; a noisy, rapid revolution of a wheel
• BIRL THE BAWBEE
vb. 1776 Sc. – to make the money fly, to gamble or spend in drink
• BIRN
n. 1. 1790 Eng. dial. – the withered stems of garden or other plants
n. 2. Bk1911 Sc. – a burden; a load carried on the back
n. 3. Bk1911 Sc. – a burnt mark
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to burn
• BIRNY
adj. Bk1898 Sc. – of plants: having rough or stunted stems
• BIROMANTIC
n. 1997 – a person who is romantically attached to both men and women
• BIRR
n. 1. 1789 Sc. & Eng. dial. – force, impetus, energy; violence; passion
n. 2. 1821 Sc. – a whirring noise; a rapid whirling motion
n. 3. 1892 Sc. – confusion, turmoil
vb. 1. 1803 Sc. – to make a whirring noise; to move rapidly, to bustle, to act with energy
vb. 2. Bk1911 Sc. – to be in a turmoil or confusion
vb. 3. Bk1911 Sc. – to move rapidly, to bustle; to act with energy
• BIRRINGLY
adv. 1827 Sc. – with vigour, energetically
• BIRS
n. Bk1898 Sc. – the gadfly
• BIRSE
n. 1. 1790 Sc. – a bristle; hair; a plume of hair or bristles
n. 2. 1816 Sc. – temper, anger
n. 3. 1822 Sc. – a bruise, contusion; pressure, a squeeze
vb. 1. 1822 Sc. – to bruise, to crush, to squeeze, force, to press
vb. 2. 1828 Sc. – to get suddenly angry
• BIRSED
adj. 1856 Eng. dial. – bruised, crushed by a blow
• BIRSEY
n. Bk1997 Ulster sl. – a patronizing term for a farmer or country yokel; someone who looks depressed or unwell
• BIRSIE
adj. 1825 Sc. – hot-tempered, passionate
n. Bk1898 Sc. – a forward, impertinent child
• BIRSLE
n. Bk1898 Sc. – a thorough warming
vb. 1871 Sc. – to scorch, to toast, to parch; to crackle with heat
• BIRSLED
adj. 1822 Sc. – dried, scorched by fire or sun
• BIRSLING
adj. 1789 Sc. – scorching, drying
• BIRST
n. 1. 1805 Sc. & Eng. dial. – difficulty, emergency; an attack, a battle, a fight
n. 2. 1824 Sc. – a small, impudent person
n. 3. Bk1898 Sc. – an exertion beyond one’s strength having evil consequences
n. 4. Bk1898 Sc. – convulsive weeping
vb. 1825 Sc. – to weep convulsively
• BIRSY
adj. 1825 Sc. – of the weather: keen, bleak, sharp
adv. 1827 Sc. – bristly, with hair standing on end
n. Bk1898 Sc. – a nickname for a pig
• BIRTH
n. 1700 Sc. – a current in the sea caused by a furious tide, but taking a different course from it
• BIRTH-CHILD
n. 1609 obs. – a child by birth in a place, a native
• BIRTHDAME
n. 1947 Amer. dial. – a midwife
• BIRTHDAY PARTY
n. 1. 1906 Amer. dial. – a party to which one pays an admission fee based upon the number of birthdays one has had
n. 2. 1960s euphemism – an orgy
• BIRTHDAY SUIT
n. 1874 sl. – a state of nature; nakedness
• BIRTH HOLE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the navel
• BIRTHMAN
n. 1. 1767 Sc. obs, – a boatman
n. 2. Bk1862 – a man of good birth
• BIRTHMARK
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the navel
• BIRTHNIGHT SUPPER
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – a social gathering to celebrate someone’s birthday
• BIRTH PARTNER
n. 1870 rare – a person born at the same time as another, a twin
• BIRTH-PUFFED
adj. 1823 – proud of one’s descent
• BIRTHSCALD
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a birthmark
• BIRTHSPOT
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the navel
• BIRTH SUIT
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – nakedness
• BIRTHY
adj. 1680 Sc. – numerous; productive, prolific, fruitful
• BIRTLE
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – brittle
vb. 1952 Amer. dial. – to behave boisterously
• BISCAKE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a biscuit
• BISCAN
n. 1634 – an inhabitant or native of Biscay, France
• BISCAYAN
n. 1634 – an inhabitant or native of Biscay, France
• BISCAYNER
n. 1664 – a native of Biscay
• BISCUIT
adj. 20C teen & high school sl. – easy
n. 1. 1855 sl. – a young woman, who is ‘sweet’ and/or ‘good enough to eat’
n. 2. 1905 Amer. jocular usage – a watch
n. 3. 1917 military sl. – a square brown palliasse or mattress
n. 4. c1935 US jive usage – a pillow
n. 5. 1940 Amer. Western usage – the saddle horn
n. 6. 1942 Amer. sl. – one’s head
n. 7. 1952 Amer. sl. – a woman, esp. a worldly or cruel woman
n. 8. c1960 Amer. dial. – a small bun or roll of hair
n. 9. 1965 Amer. jocular usage – the buttocks
n. 10. Bk1975 US sl. – any coin; any banknote of comparatively low denomination
n. 11. Bk1975 US sl. – a payroll timekeeper
n. 12. Bk1989 US college sl. – a gullible person
n. 13. 1998 euphemism for ‘bitch’ – a weakling; a coward
n. 14. M20 Amer. sl. – a woman considered as a sex object
• BISCUIT-BANDIT
n. Bk1972 prison sl. – a homosexual who is the active partner in anal intercourse
• BISCUIT BEGGAR
n. 1966 Amer. dial., derogatory – a person of foreign background; an American Indian
• BISCUIT BITCH
n. 1983 US military sl. – a female volunteer worker with the American Red Cross
• BISCUIT BROWN
n. 1959 African-American sl. – a lover
• BISCUIT BUSH
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an imaginary object used in teasing a naive or inexperienced person
• BISCUIT-EATER
n. 1. 1924 sl. – a worthless person
n. 2. 1970 Amer. dial. – a worthless dog; a dog of mixed and uncertain breed
• BISCUIT GETTER
n. 1966 Amer. jocular usage – a breadwinner; the husband
• BISCUIT HOOKS
n. 1932 Amer. jocular usage – one’s hands
• BISCUIT HOUND
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a dog
• BISCUIT NIBBLER
n. 1834 UK sl. – a young person
• BISCUIT ROLLER
n. 1. 1928 African-American sl. – a lover, usually female
n. 2. 1968 Amer. Western usage – a cook at a camp or ranch
• BISCUITS
n. 1. 20C rhyming sl. (Biscuits and Cheese) – knees
n. 2. 1965 Amer. jocular usage – the buttocks
• BISCUITS AND CHEESE
n. 20C rhyming sl. – knees
• BISCUIT SHOOTER
n. 1. 1893 US sl. – a waitress; sometimes a waiter; a waiter in a logging camp
n. 2. 1893 Amer. Western usage – a cook at a camp or ranch
• BISCUIT-TOSSER
n. 1877 US sl. – a waiter or waitress
• BISH
n. 1. 1875 humorous usage – a bishop; a chaplain
n. 2. Bk1892 Anglo-Indian sl. – poison
n. 3. c1925 UK school usage – a mistake
n. 4. 1963 US teen sl. – a fool, a stupid person, a dope
vb. 1. c1920 Aust. sl. – to throw
vb. 2. c1939 services’ sl. – to officiate in the absence of the chaplain
• BISH-BASH-BOSH
adv. 1980s UK sl. – quickly, efficiently, in quick succession
• BISHIMER
n. 1893 Eng. dial. – an ant
• BISHOP
n. 1. 1592 obs. – an overlooker, inspector, or watchman
n. 2. 1691 Eng. dial. – the ladybird, Cocinella septem punctata
n. 3. c1775 US sl., obs. – the bustle of a woman’s dress
n. 4. L18 sl. – a large condom
n. 5. 1825 Sc. – a cantankerous, peevish boy
n. 6. 1825 Sc. – a nickname for a person who talks or act a great deal to little purpose
n. 7. Bk1896 sl. – a chamber-pot
n. 8. 1972 UK sl. – a private detective
n. 9. 20C sl. – glans of the penis
vb. 1. 1834 Eng. dial. – to conceal the signs of age in a horse by tampering with its teeth, etc.
vb. 2. 1863 Eng. dial. – of milk: to burn in boiling
vb. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to trim or furbish up any article so as to make it look better than it really is
• BISHOP BARNABEE • BISHOP BARNABY
n. 1855 Eng. dial. – the ladybird, Cocinella septem punctata
• BISHOPESS
n. 1. 1672-5 – the wife of a bishop
n. 2. 1853 – a female bishop
• THE BISHOP HAS SET HIS FOOT IN IT
phr. 1738 – the contents of the dish have been burnt while being cooked; originally said of milk or porridge
• BISHOPLET
n. 1878 – a little or petty bishop
• BISHOPLING
n. Bk1888 – a little or petty bishop
• BISHOPPED
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – of milk, etc.: burnt
• BISHOP’S FINGER
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – a guidepost
• THE BISHOP’S FOOT
n. 1790 Sc. – a taste of burning
• BISHOP’S NOSE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – the rump of a cooked chicken
• BISIM
n. 1951 Ulster sl. – a cheeky, forward, or cantankerous woman
• BISKEY • BISKY
n. 1860 Eng. dial. – a biscuit
• BISMAR
n. Bk1874 Sc. – a keeper of a brothel; a bawd
• BISMARCKER
n. c1866 – a cheat, especially at cards or billiards
• BISMARE
n. 1825 Sc. – a lewd woman; a bawd
• BISMAROON
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a bullfrog
• BISMARQUER
n. c1866 – a cheat, especially at cards or billiards
• BISMER
n. 1. c893 obs. – shame, disgrace, reproach, mockery, scorn
n. 2. 971 obs. – a reproach, a taunt, an insult
n. 3. a1300 obs. exc. Sc. – a person worthy of scorn; a disgraceful or lewd person; a pander or bawd
n. 4. 1805 Sc. – the name given to a species of stickleback
vb. c1000 obs. – to treat with scorn, to mock, to deride, to insult
• BISNE
n. Bk1855 obs. – a blind person
• BISOGNIO
n. 1. 1591 obs. – a raw recruit
n. 2. 1612 obs. – a term of contempt; a needy beggar, a base fellow, a knave, a rascal
• BISOGNO
n. 1612 obs. – a term of contempt; a needy beggar, a base fellow, a knave, a rascal
• BISOM
n. 1. 1943 Aust. sl. – an undisciplined child
n. 2. 1951 Ulster sl. – a cheeky, forward, or cantankerous woman
• BISON
vb. Bk2006 US sl. – to vomit
• BISP
n. a1300 obs. – a bishop
• BISPEL
n. 1. c1000 obs. – proverb
n. 2. 1781 obs. – a natural child, an illegitimate child
n. 3. Bk1855 Eng. dial. – a term of reproach applied in general to young persons, and charging them with being mischievous rather than vicious
• BISQUE
n. 1921 – a light brown colour or tint
• BISSOM
n. 1808 Sc. – a term of contempt applied to a person, generally a woman; sometimes to a woman of loose character, and sometimes jocularly to a woman or young girl; an ill-natured woman; a mischievous girl or young woman
• BISSON
adj. 1750 Eng. dial. – blind
• BISSY
adj. 1887 Sc. – cross, ill-tempered, angry; easily provoked to anger, excitable
Back to INDEX B
Back to DICTIONARY
Updated: February 28, 2023
Lexicophilia 