• BUEL
n. 1980s US students’ sl. – food (body and fuel)
vb. 1980s US students’ sl. – to eat voraciously (body and fuel)
• BUENO
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – good; excellent; first-rate
• BUER
n. 1807 sl., orig. tramps’ usage – a woman, esp. one seen as sexually appealing and/or of loose character
• BUF
n. 1980s US teen sl. – an attractive male
• BUFA
n. 16C criminal sl. – a dog
• BUFE
n. 16C criminal sl. – a dog
• BUFE NABBER
n. 16C sl. – a dog stealer
• BUFF
adj. 1980s sl. – strong, muscular, healthy
n. 1. 1654 colloq. – the skin
n. 2. 1708 colloq. obs. – a fellow, a ‘buffer’
n. 3. 1918 Amer. dial. – a girl
n. 4. 1931 sl., orig. US – someone who favours or enjoys something; an enthusiast; a fan
n. 5. 1950s Amer. sl. – a jazz aficionado
n. 6. 1980s drug culture sl. – money
n. 7. 20C Irish sl. – a country dweller
n. 8. 20C Irish sl. – a self-important person
vb. 1812 sl. – to swear to
• BUFFALO
n. 1. 1804 Amer. dial. – a cow without horns
n. 2. Bk1914 criminals’ sl. – a Black person
n. 3. 1942 Amer. sl. – a nickel
n. 4. 1967 Amer. dial. – a Belgian
vb. 1. 1891 Amer. dial. – to overawe, to frighten, to intimidate, esp. by bluff; to confuse, to bamboozle, to tease
vb. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – to cheat; to bamboozle
vb. 3. 1961 Amer. dial. – to strike on the head with the barrel of a gun
• BUFFALOED
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – very much surprised, confused, stumped
• BUFFALOHEAD
n. 1950 Amer. sl. – a nickel
• BUFFER
n. 1. 1749 sl. – a fellow: usually expressing a slight degree of contempt
n. 2. 1808 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a foolish fellow
n. 3. 1812 sl. – a dog
n. 4. 1812 sl. – a pistol
• BUFFET
n. 1890 Amer. dial. – a liquor bar, speakeasy, tavern
• BUFFLE-BRAINED
adj. 1900 Amer. dial. – stupid, foolish
• BUFFLE-GREENS
n. 19C Eng. dial. – Brussels sprouts
• BUFFLEHEAD
n. 1. 1659 – a fool, a blockhead, a simpleton, a stupid person, a silly person, an ignoramus
n. 2. 20C Amer. – a North American duck, Bucephala albeola, the head of which appears to be disproportionately large
• BUFFLER
n. 1848 Amer. dial. – a buffalo
• BUFF-NAPPER
n. Bk1890 sl. – a dog-stealer
• BUFFY
adj. 1858 sl. – drunk
• BUFU
n. 1982 US sl. – a male homosexual
• BUG
n. 1. 1841 sl., orig. US – one who favours or enjoys something; an enthusiast
n. 2. 1843 Amer. dial. – an important person or one who thinks himself so; a big shot
n. 3. 1848 Amer. dial. – a trick or hoax
n. 4. 1885 Amer. dial. – an unreliable person; a cheat
n. 5. 1900 Amer. college sl. – a stupid or silly person
n. 6. 1902 sl., orig. US – an obsessive enthusiasm or craze; an obsession or urge
n. 7. 1909 Brit. schoolboys’ sl. – a schoolboy, esp. of the stated sort, such as a ‘new bug’
n. 8. Bk1914 criminals’ sl. – a fearful looking sore artificially produced to simulate a burn or scald by the use of Spanish blister
n. 9. 1915 Amer. dial. – an insane person
n. 10. 1915 Amer. dial. – a deranged thought, an insane idea, an eccentric notion
n. 11. 1918 Amer. dial. – a low-intensity lamp used as a lantern or flashlight
n. 12. 1919 sl. – a germ or illness
n. 13. World War II Amer. sl. – a defect in a machine
n. 14. World War II Amer. sl. – a telegraph speed-key
n. 15. World War II Amer. sl. – an Army supply truck
n. 16. World War II Amer. sl. – any solid matter in soup
n. 17. 1942 Amer. dial. – tuberculosis
n. 18. 1950 Amer. dial. – a baby, a child, esp. an impish one; a term of endearment to a child
n. 19. 1950 Amer. dial. – nasal mucus
n. 20. 1965 Amer. dial. – one who studies too hard or all the time
n. 21. 1965 Amer. dial. – a louse
n. 22. Bk1990 Amer. sl. – a flaw in a computer program
n. 23. 20C Amer. sl. – a spy device for listening to someone’s conversation
vb. 1. 1843 Amer. dial. – to cheat or deceive; to get an advantage over somebody by tricky means
vb. 2. 1884 US – to bulge out
vb. 3. 1935 sl., orig. US – to equip with a hidden microphone
vb. 4. 1945 Amer. dial. – to fight
vb. 5. 1949 Amer. dial. – to bother, to annoy, to irritate, to vex, to infuriate
• THE BUG
n. 1. 1914 Amer. dial. – a cold or illness, esp. the flu
n. 2. 1950 Amer. dial. – tuberculosis
• BUGABO
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – a ghost or imaginary monster, a hobgoblin; the devil
• BUGABOO
n. 1. 1787 Amer. dial. – a ghost or imaginary monster, a hobgoblin; the devil
n. 2. 1914 – loud talk, insolence
• BUG ALONG
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to move about slowly and without energy
• BUGALUG
vb. 1912 Amer. dial. – to move about in an aimless way
• BUG AS BRASS
adj. Bk2002 Eng. dial. – stuck-up, proud
• BUG-BITE AN’ MOONSHINE!
int. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – expressive of incredulity or disgust
• BUG DOCTOR
n. 1936 Amer. dial. – a psychiatrist or psychologist
• BUG DOWN
vb. 1933 Amer. dial. – to get sick on the job
• BUG DUST
int. 1982 Amer. dial. – an expression of disgust, annoyance, etc.
n. 1. 1936 Amer. dial. – cheap smoking tobacco
n. 2. 1958 Amer. dial. – something insignificant or of little value
• BUG-EATER
n. 1. 1840 Amer. dial., derogatory – an insignificant or worthless person
n. 2. 1872 Amer. dial. – a resident of Nebraska
• BUG EYE
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a very round or bulging eye
• BUG-EYED
adj. 1922 sl., orig. US – having bulging eyes
• BUGGABEAR
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a ghost, a hobgoblin, often used to frighten children
• BUGGED UP
adj. 1893 Amer. dial. obs. – dressed up
• BUGGED UP TO KILL
adj. 1893 Amer. dial. obs. – dressed up
• BUGGER
int. 1923 – an exclamation of annoyance
n. 1. 1719 sl. – an unpleasant or despicable person, usually male
n. 2. 1854 Amer. dial., sometimes derogatory – a fellow, a guy
n. 3. 1892 Amer. dial. – a baby, a child, esp. an impish one; a term of endearment to a child
n. 4. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a louse
n. 5. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – dried nasal mucus
n. 6. 1915 sl. – something unpleasant or undesirable
n. 7. 1937 Amer. dial. – an animal
n. 8. 1965 Amer. dial. – a ghost, a hobgoblin, often used to frighten children
n. 9. 1965 Amer. dial. – a lawyer
n. 10. 1965 Amer. dial. – a very sly person
n. 11. 1965 Amer. dial. – an old man
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to disfigure, to damage
• BUGGER ABOUT
vb. 1. 1929 Brit. & Aust. sl. – to behave foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way
vb. 2. 1957 Brit. sl. – to cause difficulties for someone
• BUGGER AROUND
vb. 1. 1929 Brit. & Aust. sl. – to behave foolishly, and esp. in a time-wasting way
vb. 2. 1957 Brit. sl. – to cause difficulties for someone
• BUGGERBEAR
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a ghost, a hobgoblin, often used to frighten children
• BUGGERED
adj. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – injured
adj. 2. 1947 sl. – tired
• BUGGERED FOR THE WANT OF AN IRISH KING
phr. 1960s NZ sl. – broken, out of order
• BUGGERED UP
adj. 1. 1931 Amer. dial. – battered, spoiled, damaged; confused
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – injured
• BUGGERISH
adj. 1. 1894 Amer. dial. – skittish, inclined to shy
adj. 2. 1974 Amer. dial. – spooky, frightening, unpleasant
• BUGGER IT!
int. 1943 – an exclamation of annoyance
• BUGGER-MAN
n. 1. 1915 Amer. dial. – the devil
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a ghost, a hobgoblin, often used to frighten children
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a policeman
• BUGGER’S WOODS
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – an out-of-the-way place, or a very unimportant place
• BUGGER UP
vb. 1934 Amer. dial. – to damage, to spoil; to confuse, to disorder
• BUGGERY
adj. 1941 Amer. dial. – spooky, threatening, unpleasant, objectionable
• BUGGERY BOO
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – the bogie-man, a hobgoblin, a bugbear
• BUGGERY-LOOKING
adj. 1956 Amer. dial. – ugly, forbidding, or scary-looking
• BUGGIN’
adj. 1. 20C teen & high school sl. – irritated; perturbed
adj. 2. 20C teen & high school sl. – upset
n. 20C teen & high school sl. – a state of relaxation
• BUGGINS
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – nasal mucus
• BUGGY
adj. 1. 1905 Amer. dial. – foolish, silly, witless, crazy, demented, insane, mentally deficient
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – lousy, infested with lice
adj. 3. 1965 Amer. dial. – bug-eyed
n. 1. 1896 Amer. dial. – a baby carriage
n. 2. 1899 Amer. dial. – a railroad caboose
n. 3. 1930 Amer. dial. – an automobile; now esp. an old or modified one
n. 4. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a wheelbarrow
• BUGGY
vb. 1954 Amer. dial. – to go away, to leave
• BUGGY ALONG
vb. 1954 Amer. dial. – to go on horseback or in a buggy
• BUGGY AS A BEDBUG
adj. 1962 Amer. dial. – crazy, insane
• BUGGY AS POTATO VINES
adj. 1962 Amer. dial. – crazy, insane
• BUGGYBOO
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a ghost or imaginary monster, a hobgoblin; the devil
• BUGGY CARRIAGE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a baby carriage
• BUGGY COACH
n. 1976 Amer. dial. – a baby carriage
• BUGGYMAN
n. 1905 Amer. dial. – the devil
• BUGGY ROAD
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – an unpaved road (as in ‘horse and buggy’ days)
• BUGGY TRAIL
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – an unpaved road (as in ‘horse and buggy’ days)
• BUGGY WHIP
n. 1. 1944 Amer. dial. – an imitation cigarette, used as a substitute by kids; it was essentially a sort of sawdust bound by cord
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a cartwheel
• BUGGY-WHIP DELIVERY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a fast throw
• BUGHEAD
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a very silly or light-headed person
• BUGHEWAY
n. 1850 Amer. dial. – orig. the voyageur in charge of a trading post or expedition; hence, a boss, a leader; an important person
• BUGHOLE
n. 1946 Amer. dial. – a small cavity in a rock
• BUGHOUSE
adj. 1895 US sl. – crazy, insane
n. 1. 1899 US sl. – a mental hospital
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
n. 3. 1956 Amer. dial. – a jail
n. 4. 1966 Amer. dial. – a hospital
n. 5. 1970 Amer. dial. – an outside toilet
• BUGHOUSE FABLE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an incredible story
• BUGHOUSE FABLES
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something absurdly erroneous
• BUG-HUNTER
n. 1889 jocular usage – an entomologist
• BUGIARD
n. a1670 obs. – a liar; a lying braggart
• BUG IN ONE’S BONNET
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a hint, a friendly warning
• BUG IN ONE’S EAR
n. 1905 Amer. dial. – a hint, a friendly warning
• BUG IN ONE’S HAT
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a hint, a friendly warning
• BUG IN ONE’S HEAD
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a hint, a friendly warning
• BUG IT
vb. 1966 Amer. dial. – to leave suddenly and rapidly
• BUG JUICE
n. 1. 1863 Amer. dial. – whisky or other strong liquor, usually of inferior quality
n. 2. 1889 sl. – a soft drink, esp. (later) an instant fruit drink
n. 3. 1942 Amer. sl. – gasoline
n. 4. 1942 Amer. sl. – a sedative or other drug in liquid form
n. 5. 1944 Amer. dial. – an insecticide or insect repellent
n. 6. 1960 Amer. sl. – the residue of tobacco in the bowl of a frequently used pipe
n. 7. 1967 Amer. dial. – the saliva or squashed remains of insects
• BUG-LAMP
n. c1849 Amer. dial. – a low-intensity lamp used as a lantern or flashlight
• BUG-LANTERN
n. 1924 Amer. dial. – a low-intensity lamp used as a lantern or flashlight
• BUGLE
n. 1. 1865 Amer. dial. – the nose
n. 2. 1865 Amer. dial. – the mouth
n. 3. 1877 Amer. sl. – a loud voice
n. 4. 1921 Amer. dial. – the head
n. 5. Bk1942 Amer. turf sl. – a horse’s nose
• BUGLE-EYED
adj. 1969 Amer. dial. – having very round eyes
• BUGLE OIL
n. 1921 US Army sl. – an imaginary substance for which raw recruits are sent as a form of hazing; hence, nonsense
• BUGLE-WARMER
n. 1921 Amer. dial. – a head covering; a hat
• BUG–LIGHT
n. 1947 Amer. dial. – a low-intensity lamp used as a lantern or flashlight
• BUGLING
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – breaking wind from the bowels
• BUG OFF
int. 1963 Amer. sl. – go away!
vb. 1. 1952 Amer. sl. – to go away
vb. 2. 1966 Amer. dial. – to leave suddenly and rapidly
• BUGOLOGIST
n. 1901 US humorous usage – an entomologist
• BUGOLOGY
n. 1843 US humorous – the science of bugs or insects
• BUG OUT
vb. 1. 1877 Amer. dial. – of the eyes: to bulge, esp. in astonishment
vb. 2. 1950s Amer. sl. – to become psychotic
vb. 3. 1955 US Air Force sl. – to leave suddenly and rapidly
vb. 4. Bk1990 Amer. Korean war sl. – to pack up and retreat
• BUG OUT LIKE SHOW BUTTONS
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – of the eyes: to bulge, esp. in astonishment
• BUG POISON
n. 1889 Amer. dial. – whisky or other strong liquor, usually of inferior quality
• BUGS
adj. 1915 Amer. dial. – foolish, silly, crazy, demented, insane, mentally deficient
n. 1. Bk1904 Amer. college sl. – the subject of biology
n. 2. Bk1904 Amer. college sl. – the professor of biology
n. 3. 1909 Amer. dial. – insanity
n. 4. Bk1944 Amer. services’ sl. – any solids found in soup
n. 5. 1965 Amer. dial. – tuberculosis
n. 6. 1966 Amer. dial. – shrimp
• BUGSARN IT!
int. 1911 Amer. dial. – expresses annoyance or exasperation
• BUG SENDER
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a telegraph operator using a semiautomatic key-instrument or a telegraph speed-key
• BUGS IN ONE’S BONNET
phr. 1968 Amer. dial. – said of someone who has dishonest intentions
• BUGSY EYE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a very round or bulging eye
• BUG–TORCH
n. 1932 Amer. dial. – a low-intensity lamp used as a lantern or flashlight
• A BUG UNDER THE CHIP
n. 1. 1885 Amer. dial. – an ulterior motive
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – something which does not appear on the surface
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a secret
• A BUG UNDER THE RUG
phr. 1968 Amer. dial. – said of someone who has dishonest intentions
• A BUG UP ONE’S ASS
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – an obsessive desire; a stimulus, a goad
phr. 1954 Amer. dial. – said of someone who has dishonest intentions
• A BUG UP ONE’S SLEEVE
phr. 1968 Amer. dial. – said of someone who has dishonest intentions
• BUILD
vb. 1. 1907 Amer. dial. – to prepare something to eat or drink
vb. 2. 1951 Amer. dial. – to sew or tailor; to make clothing
• BUILD A SHANTY
vb. 1859 Amer. dial. – to bruise the area around the eye by hitting a person
• BUILD A SMOKE
vb. 1. 1937 Amer. dial. – to roll a cigarette
vb. 2. 1953 Amer. dial. – to produce smoke when firing a gun
• BUILD A WOODEN HORSE
vb. World War II Amer. sl. – to make an imperfect landing
• BUILD CLOTHES
vb. 1877 Amer. dial. – to make clothes
• BUILDING ECCLES IN THE AIR
phr. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – building castles in the air
• BUILD PIGPENS
vb. 1936 Amer. dial. – to deceive someone, to cheat a customer
• BUILD THE FENCE
vb. 1935 Amer. dial. – to marry, usually after the conception of a child
• BUILD UP TO
vb. 1896 Amer. dial. – to court, to woo
• BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
adj. 1886 Amer. dial. – of a person: stocky, sturdy, heavyset, well-built
• BUILT LIKE A BRICK OUTHOUSE
adj. 20C Amer. sl. – of a person: well built – either strong or attractive
• BUILT LIKE A BRICK SHITHOUSE
adj. 20C Amer. sl. – of a person: well built – either strong or attractive
• BUILT LIKE A CASTLE
adj. 1835 – of a horse: having a strong and sturdy frame
• BUKH
n. 1895 sl. – talk, conversation; boastful, bragging talk or insolence
vb. 1880 sl. – to swagger, to talk big or bumptiously, to brag
• BUKKARER
n. 1862 Amer. dial. – one who herds cattle or breaks wild horses; a cowboy
Back to INDEX B
Back to DICTIONARY
Updated: February 26, 2023
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