► BREACHEN n. friend, brother; friends, brothers → 2007 Jamaican sl. (Bk.)
► BREACHY adj. lecherous; immoral; inclined to disregard prevailing moral constraints → 1929 Amer. dial.
► BREAD n. lean venison; the breast of a wild turkey → 1824 Amer. dial. obs.
► BREAD ALWAYS FALLS BUTTERED SIDE DOWN phr. used to express the belief that anything that can go wrong will go wrong → 1864
► BREAD AND BUTTER! int. used when two people walking together are momentarily separated by someone or something coming between them → 1939 Amer. dial.
► BREAD-AND-BUTTER LETTER n. a letter of thanks for hospitality written after a visit → 1901
► BREAD-AND-BUTTER TEETH n. buck teeth → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAD-AND-BUTTER-WAREHOUSE n. a brothel (spec. Ranelagh Gardens) → 1902 sl. (Bk.)
► BREAD AND JAM n. a tram → 20C rhyming sl.
► BREAD AND SKIP n. a scanty meal → 1976 Amer. dial.
► BREAD AND WITH IT n. a meal of more than just bread → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BREAD-BASKET n. 1. the stomach → 1753 sl.
n. 2. a large bomb containing smaller bombs → 1940 Brit. sl.
► BREAD CRACKER n. a tooth → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAD CRACKERS n. false teeth → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAD CUTTER n. a tooth → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAD GRINDER n. a tooth → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREADHEAD n. a person who is motivated by money, a mercenary person → 1960 sl.
► BREAD HOOKS n. one’s hands → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BREAD JERKER n. the Adam’s apple → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► BREAD-ROOM n. the stomach → 1794 sl.
► BREAD SNATCHERS n. one’s hands → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BREAD-WAGON n. a thunder-clap → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► BREAD-WRIGHT n. a bread maker, a baker → 1325 obs.
► BREAK n. 1. a breakaway or break-down; a collapse or failure → 1827 US
n. 2. a break-out; a rush → 1834 US
n. 3. the angle between the brim and crown of a hat → 1881
n. 4. an error, blunder or mistake, often in a social situation; an inappropriate act or word, a faux pas → 1884 Amer. dial.
n. 5. a continuous or unbroken run → 1898 colloq
n. 6. a heavy fall of rain or snow → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 7. a hollow in a hill → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 8. a large number; a crowd → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 9. failure; bankruptcy → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 10. the breaking waves on a shore → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 11. the turning-point of a road or hill → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 12. a sudden short dip in the road → 1966 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. to clear deep snow from a path or road → 1779 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to grow old or weak; to show signs of aging → 1800 Amer. dial.
vb. 3. to become bankrupt → 1800 Sc. & Amer. dial.
vb. 4. of milk: to curdle → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 5. to begin spending → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 6. to break the skin; to abrade → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 7. to burgle → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 8. to cause a breach of the peace → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 9. to cut up, to carve → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 10. to disappoint, to deny, to refuse → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 11. to lower prices or wages → (Bk.)
vb. 12. to open a full bottle → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 13. to sell by retail → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 14. to set out or run off briskly → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 15. to discharge pus → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAK A BREATH vb. to speak, to say a word → 1935 Amer. dial.
► BREAK A BUTTERFLY ON A WHEEL vb. to use unnecessary force in destroying something fragile → 1734
► BREAK A FLY ON A WHEEL vb. to make much fuss about very little → 1859 colloq.
► BREAK-A-LOOSE n. a landslide → 1970 Amer. dial.
► BREAK AND RUN vb. to depart hurriedly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREAK AN EGG vb. in curling: to play one stone so as to touch another very gently → 1871 Sc.
► BREAK AN ELBOW AT THE CHURCH DOOR phr. said of a woman who becomes lazy and indolent after marriage → 1776 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► BREAK-ASS adv. at top speed → 1968 US sl.
► BREAK A STRAW (WITH) vb. to quarrel, to fall out with → 1564 sl.
► BREAK A TRACE-CHAIN vb. to make a supreme effort → 1908 Amer. dial.
► BREAK AWAY vb. of the weather: to clear up → 1768
► BREAK-BACK n. the harvest moon; so called by harvest labourers because of the additional work it entails → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK BAD vb. to become hostile, menacing, or aggressive → 2008 African-American sl.
► BREAK BANDS vb. to trespass, to break bounds → 1861 Eng. dial.
► BREAK BEANS n. snap beans, green beans → 1906 Amer. dial.
► BREAKBONE n. a wishbone → 1960 Amer. dial.
► BREAK BREATH vb. to utter a sound → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK-BULK n. a captain that appropriates a portion of his cargo → 17C sl. obs.
► BREAK CAMP vb. to hurry; to leave → 1970 US students’ sl.
► BREAK-DOWN adj. riotously dancing, noisily convivial → 1870 colloq.
n. 1. a boisterous rural dance or dancing party; a hoedown, a shindig → 1819 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a measure of liquor → 1850 Aust. sl.
n. 3. a convivial gathering → 20C colloq.
(vbs. as ‘break down’)
vb. 1. to dance in a vigorous or boisterous fashion; to be boisterously convivial → 1838 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to make lighter → 20C NZ sl.
vb. 3. of the weather: to become wet or stormy → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAKER n. 1. a retailer; one who sells goods in small quantities → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 2. an error; a mistake; a blunder → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. a sudden short dip in the road → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BREAKERS adj. excellent, exciting → 1990 UK sl.
► BREAK-FAITH adj. perfidious, treacherous → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK-HEART n. heartbreak → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAKING BONE n. a wishbone → 1968 Amer. dial.
► BREAKING OF BREAD n. the spoiling of one’s prospects → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAKINGS n. the remains of a feast, broken meats → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAKING-UP n. the American Civil War → 1945 Amer. dial.
► BREAK INTO MATCHWOOD vb. to break into minute splinters → 1861
► BREAK IT DOWN! int. stop talking like that!; also, change the subject! → 1920 Aust.
vb. 1. to enjoy oneself; to act boisterously → 1980 UK sl.
vb. 2. to speak unrestrainedly → 1989 sl.
► BREAK IT OFF IN vb. 1. to treat or hurt badly → L19 US
vb. 2. to rebuke sternly; to wound someone with a sarcastic or cutting retort → 1906 Amer. dial.
► BREAK IT UP! int. stop what you’re doing! move on! → 1930
► BREAK LURK n. a fraudulent begging letter, claiming a broken limb or ribs → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► BREAK ME OFF A PIECE phr. I want some, give me some → 1980 sl., orig. African-American
► BREAK-NECK adj. blundering or lumbering headlong → 1887
► BREAK NIGHT vb. to stay up all night partying, talking etc. → 1960 US sl.
► BREAK NORTH vb. to depart, to leave → 1990 African-American sl.
► BREAK-O’-DAY DRUM n. an all-night tavern → L19 sl.
► BREAK OFF n. 1. (as ‘break-off’) a joke at another’s expense → 1904 Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. the turning-point of a road or hill → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to stop taking a narcotic drug→ 1910 US drug culture sl.
vb. 2. to discharge wind from the stomach → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 3. to become less cloudy; to clear up; to stop raining → 1966 Amer. dial.
vb. 4. to pay → 1990 African-American & students’ sl.
vb. 5. to share, esp. to share one’s pleasures → 1990 African-American & students’ sl.
vb. 6. to disengage oneself from a confrontation → 2000 African-American sl.
vb. 7. to provide sexual pleasure to → 2002 African-American sl.
► BREAK ON vb. to criticize and disrespect → 2005 African-American sl.
► BREAK ONE’S ARM vb. to brag → 1950 Amer. dial.
► BREAK ONE’S ASS vb. 1. to exert oneself to the limit of endurance; to toil, to labour, to strive furiously → 1941 Amer. sl.
vb. 2. to beat someone up; to thrash someone savagely → 1954 Amer. sl.
► BREAK ONE’S BACK vb. to become bankrupt → 17C colloq.
► BREAK ONE’S BALLS vb. 1. to punish severely; to thrash → 1955 US sl.
vb. 2. to provoke anger; hence, to make oneself a pest, as by complaining or scolding; to harass, to hector, to nag → 1955 US sl.
vb. 3. to exert oneself to the limit of endurance; to work or try one’s hardest → 1966 US sl.
► BREAK ONE’S DUCK vb. in cricket: to score at least one run → 19C sl.
► BREAK ONE’S EGG vb. in cricket: to score at least one run → 19C sl.
► BREAK ONE’S FARTING STRING to lose control of one’s self and burst into hysterical laughing → 1910 sl.
► BREAK ONE’S GALL vb. to break the spirit, to cow, to subdue → 1460 obs.
► BREAK ONE’S LEG vb. to become pregnant → 1908 Amer. dial.
► BREAK ONE’S MAIDEN vb. of a horse or jockey: to win one’s first race → 1951 Amer. sl., horse-racing usage
► BREAK ONE’S NECK vb. 1. to make a special effort → 1933 sl.
vb. 2. to get married → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAK ONE’S NECK FOR vb. to yearn for, to be desperate for → 1903 sl.
► BREAK ONE’S PUCKERING STRING to lose control of one’s self and burst into hysterical laughing → 1910 sl.
► BREAK ONE’S TOE vb. to become pregnant → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAK OPEN vb. to discharge pus → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREAK OUT vb. 1. to clear deep snow from a path or road → 1831 Amer. dial.
vb. 2. to break or train an animal to work → 1923 Amer. dial.
vb. 3. to leave → 1994 African-American sl.
► BREAK OUT A FLAG vb. to request a loan from a friend in the Navy → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► BREAK OUT AT THE MOUTH vb. to talk too much or too loudly → 1912 Amer. dial.
► BREAK OUT FINE vb. of the weather: to clear up → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK OUT INTO ASSHOLES vb. to become thoroughly terrified; used derisively → 1978 Amer. sl.
► BREAK OVER vb. to violate a rule or a resolution → 1937 Amer. dial.
► BREAK PULPIT n. an impassioned, vehement or bombastic preacher → 1588
► BREAKS n. any place of exit where throngs of people pour through en stream, as from a theatre, a convention, or other popular gathering → 1914 pickpockets’ sl. (Bk.)
► BREAK SOMEONE’S ASS vb. to hit repeatedly; to assault by hitting → 1949 US sl.
► BREAK SOMEONE’S FACE vb. to beat and disfigure someone’s face → 1896 Amer. sl.
► BREAK SOMEONE UP vb. to cause to laugh → 1895 sl., orig. US theatrical usage, chiefly US
► BREAK STONE vb. to serve a sentence of penal servitude → 1929 sl.
► BREAK THE BACK OF vb. to overburden, to crush a person; to finish the greatest or hardest part of a task → 1623
► BREAK THE BANK vb. to be expensive → 1612
► BREAK THE EGG IN A PERSON’S POCKET vb. to spoil his plan → 1734
► BREAK THE HANK OF A THING vb. to overcome the principal difficulty → 19C Eng. dial.
► BREAK THE MOLASSES JUG vb. to make a mistake and come to grief → 19C Amer.
► BREAK THE NECK OF vb. 1. to destroy, to finish, to bring to an end → 1576 obs.
vb. 2. to commence, to set events in motion → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
► BREAK THE NECK OF ANYTHING vb. to get the worst part done → 1775 colloq.
► BREAK THE NEEDLE vb. 1. to take a full hypodermic of narcotics → 1925 drug culture sl.
vb. 2. to use up all the available drugs → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)
vb. 3. to attempt to end one’s addiction to narcotics → 1959 sl.
► BREAK THE PALE vb. to go beyond bounds, to indulge in extravagance or licence → 1909 (Bk.)
► BREAK THE RECORD vb. to surpass all previous performances → 1903 sl. (Bk.)
► BREAK THE WEATHER vb. to bring about change in the weather; said of a cat washing its face with its paws → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAKTHROUGH KEYS n. a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke → 1965 Amer. coal mining usage
► BREAKUP n. 1. the late spring melting of ice and snow → 1868 Amer. dial.
n. 2. the American Civil War → 1869 Amer. dial.
vb. (as ‘break up’) to break into, as a burglar → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK UPON vb. to change money; to draw on one’s savings, etc. → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREAK WESTERN vb. to talk rough, but not necessarily profanely → 1982 Amer. dial.
► BREAK WIDE vb. to leave in a hurry → 2001 African-American sl.
► BREAKY n. a brakesman on a train → 1887 US colloq.
► BREAKY-LEG n. 1. a shilling → 1839 sl.
n. 2. strong drink; whisky → 1860 sl.
► BREAMING adv. intensely, very → 1936 Amer. dial.
► BREAST n. the udder of a cow → 1965 Amer. dial.
vb. 1. of a bride and bridegroom: to face the minister at a marriage → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 2. to believe a wonder → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREASTBONE n. the wishbone → 1960 Amer. dial.
► BREAST COMPLAINT n. tuberculosis → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREATH n. 1. opinion; sentiments, tendency of thought → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 2. a very short time; a moment → 1917 Amer. dial.
n. 3. the least idea, word, conception → 1952 Amer. dial.
► BREATH-AND-BRITCHES n. an unimportant or worthless person → 1937 Amer. dial.
► BREATH-BELLOWS n. the lungs → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREATHER n. a person who communicates something by speaking; a speaker → 1384
► BREATH HARP n. a harmonica → 1946 Amer. dial.
► BREATHIN’ n. an instant of time → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREATHING IMAGE n. a perfect likeness, spitting image → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BREATHING OUT OF ONE’S ARSE adj. tired, exhausted → 2007 military sl. (Bk.)
► BREATHING OUT OF ONE’S HOOP adj. tired, exhausted → 2007 military sl. (Bk.)
► BREATHING OUT OF ONE’S RING adj. tired, exhausted → 2007 military sl. (Bk.)
► BREATHING PART n. a place in a text where one may pause for breath in speaking → 1644
► BREATH-TAKING CURVE n. an attractive girl → 1942 Amer. students’ sl. (Bk.)
► BRECHAM n. an untidy piece of dress → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BRECK vb. to break → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BRED adj. pregnant → 1967 Amer. dial.
n. the lid of a pot or pan → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. to curry favour; to behave in sycophantic manner → 2002 UK sl.
► BREDDER n. a sycophant → 2002 UK sl.
► BREDGIE n. a friend → 2007 Caribbean (Bk.)
► BRED-IN-THE-BONE adj. native; inherent → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BRED IN THE MOONLIGHT phr. bred or brought up to smuggling → 1832 Sc.
► BREDREN n. a good friend; a welcome stranger → 2007 Caribbean (Bk.)
► BRED TO ARMS adj. brought up and educated for the life of a soldier → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BREE n. 1. a disturbance, a fuss, hurry; bustle → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 2. liquor; whisky, ale, etc. → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 3. the brow; the eyebrow → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 4. water in which any article of food is boiled; broth, soup, gravy, sauce, juice → 1911 Sc. & Amer. dial. (Bk.)
vb. to pour water on articles of food to be boiled; to drain solids that have been boiled → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEARS n. the eyelashes → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREECH n. the rear pants pockets, designated right and left breech → 1914 pickpockets’ sl. (Bk.)
vb. to flog on the breech → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREECHCLOUT n. a diaper → 1912 Amer. dial.
► BREECHED adj. flush of money → 1812 thieves’ sl.
► BREECHING n. trousers → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREECH-KICK n. a picking of pockets → 1904 sl.
► BREECHLESS adj. of a man: not “wearing the breeches” but being dominated by a woman; henpecked → 1952 Amer. dial.
► BREECHY adj. lecherous; immoral; inclined to disregard prevailing moral constraints → 1929 Amer. dial.
► BREED n. 1. a person of American Indian and White parentage → 1892 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a brood, a litter → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 3. bread → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 4. breadth → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to educate, to train, to bring up → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 2. to resemble, to take after → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 3. to be pregnant; to give birth → 1912 Amer. dial.
► BREED A BLACK EYE vb. to stir up trouble (for oneself); to act so as to provoke retaliation → 1967 Amer. dial.
► BREED A SCAB vb. to stir up trouble (for oneself); to act so as to provoke retaliation → 1941 Amer. dial.
► BREED A SCAB ON ONE’S NOSE vb. to stir up trouble (for oneself); to act so as to provoke retaliation → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BREED-BATE n. one who breeds ‘bate’, or contention or strife; a quarrelsome person; one who incites to mischief → 1593 obs.
► BREEDER n. 1. one who produces many children → 1899 Amer. dial.
n. 2. an unseasonably or unusually fine day, regarded as presaging bad weather → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BREEDINESS n. the good breeding of a horse → 1949 Amer. dial.
► BREEDING n. education; good breeding → 1911 Sc.
► BREEDING-CAGE n. a bed → 1875 sl.
► BREEDING VEIN n. a varicose vein → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BREEDLING n. one born and bred in a place; a native → 1663 obs.
► BREED UP A STORM vb. to become cloudy → 1939 Amer. dial.
► BREEDY adj. 1. of a horse: exhibiting good characteristics worth breeding for → 1949 Amer. dial.
adj. 2. of the weather: building up for a storm → 1954 Amer. dial.
► BREEK n. the leg of a trouser → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to don the trousers → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 2. to flog → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEK-BAND vb. to lay hold of the band of the breeches; to wrestle → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEK-BANDIT n. a wrestling match → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEK-BROTHER n. a rival in love → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEKENS n. breeches → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEK-FOLK n. the male sex → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEKIES n. a young boy’s breeches → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEK-KNEES n. knee-breeches → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEKLAN adj. shabby in appearance, in person, or in dress → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEKLESS adj. without breeches, wearing a kilt → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEKS n. trousers, breeches → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BREEL n. a worthless, good-for-nothing fellow → 1485 obs.
vb. 1. to drink plentifully, to fuddle → 19C Sc.
vb. 2 to move with rapidity; to reel; to make a noise → 19C Sc.
► BREEZE int. relax! calm down! → 2000 US sl.
n. 1. an argument, a row, a noisy quarrel; a disturbance → 1785 sl.
n. 2 loquacity; guile; ‘hot air’ → 1914 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
n. 3 rumour → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to go fast; to move or proceed briskly → 1907 US
vb. 2. to deceive; to beguile; to occupy one’s attention → 1914 criminals’ sl. (Bk.)
vb. 3. to depart hurriedly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREEZE ALONG vb. to go fast → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREEZE IN vb. to intrude in a conversation → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREEZE IT vb. to go fast → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BREEZEN vb. of a wind: to increase considerably in strength, often to gale force → 1945 Amer. dial.
► BREEZEN ON vb. of a wind: to increase considerably in strength, often to gale force → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BREEZEN UP vb. to become angry → 1975 Amer. dial.
► BREEZE OF WIND n. a wind of moderate gale force → 1945 Amer. dial.
► BREEZE ON vb. of a wind: to increase considerably in strength, often to gale force → 1903 Amer. dial.
► BREEZER n. 1. a fast car → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. a fart → 1973 Aust. sl.
► BREEZE UP vb. of a wind: to increase considerably in strength, often to gale force → 1752 Amer. dial.
► BREEZE UP FRESH vb. of a wind: to increase considerably in strength, often to gale force → 1942 Amer. dial.
► BREEZY adj. 1. characterized by brisk vigour or activity → 1896
adj. 2. talkative → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
adj. 3. easy → 1964 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
adj. 4. excellent → 1990 US sl.
n. a nickname for a fast or energetic person → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
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Lexicophilia 