Chapter Bull-dog to Burbon of B by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Bull-dog to Burbon

Bull-dog, rough iron.

A man was putting some bull-dog into the rolls, when his spade caught between the rolls.—Times.

Bull-dogs, the two menservants of a university proctor, who follow him in his rounds to assist him in apprehending students who are violating the university statutes, such as appearing in the streets after dinner without cap and gown, etc.

Bullamy, porter of the “Anglo-Bengalee Disinterested Loan and Life Insurance Company.” An imposing personage, whose dignity resided chiefly in the great expanse of his red waistcoat. Respectability and well-to-doedness were expressed in that garment.—Dickens: Martin Chuzzlewit (1844).

Bullcalf (Peter), of the Green, who was pricked for a recruit in the army of sir John Falstaff. He promised Bardolph “four Harry ten-shillings in French crowns” if he would stand his friend, and when sir John was informed thereof, he said to Bullcalf, “I will none of you.” Justice Shallow remonstrated, but Falstaff exclaimed, “Will you tell me, Master Shallow, how to choose a man? Care I for the limb, the thews, the stature? … Give me the spirit, Master Shallow.”—Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act iii. sc. 2 (1598).

Bullen (Anne), maid of honour to queen Katharine, and afterwards queen-consort.—Shakespeare: Henry VIII.

Bullet-head (The Great), George Cadoudal, leader of the Chouans (1769–1804).

Bullsegg (Mr.), laird of Killancureit, a friend of the baron of Bradwardine.—Sir W. Scott: Waverley (time, George II.).

Bulmer (Valentine), titular earl of Etherington, married to Clara Mowbray.

Mrs. Ann Bulmer, mother of Valentine, married to the earl of Etherington during the lifetime of his countess; hence his wife in bigamy.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Bumble, beadle of the workhouse where Oliver Twist was born and brought up. A stout, consequential, hard-hearted, fussy official, with mighty ideas of his own importance. This character has given to the language the word bumbledom, the officious arrogance and bumptious conceit of a parish authority or petty dignitary. After marriage with Mrs. Corney, the high and mighty beadle was sadly hen-pecked and reduced to a Jerry Sneak.—Dickens: Oliver Twist (1837).

Bumbledom, parish-dom, the pride of parish dignity, the arrogance of parish authority, the mightiness of parish officers. From Bumble, the beadle, in Dickens’s Oliver Twist (1837).

Bumkinet, a shepherd. He proposes to Grubbinol that they should repair to a certain hut and sing “Gillian of Croydon,” “Patient Grissel,” “Cast away Care,” “Over the Hills,” and so on; but being told that Blouzelinda was dead, he sings a dirge, and Grubbinol joins him.

Thus wailed the louts in melancholy strain,
Till bonny Susan sped across the plain;
They seized the lass in apron clean arrayed,
And to the ale-house forced the willing maid;
In ale and kisses they forgot their cares,
And Susan Blouzelinda’s loss repairs.
   —Gay: Pastoral, v. (1714).

(An imitation of Virgil’s Bucolic, v., “Daphnis.”)

Bumper (Sir Harry), a convivial friend of Charles Surface. He sings the popular song beginning—

Here’s to the maiden of bashful fifteen,
Here’s to the widow of fifty, etc.
   —Sheridan: School for Scandal(1777).

Bunce (Jack), alias Frederick Altamont, a ci-devant actor, one of the crew of the pirate vessel.—Sir W. Scott: The Pirate (time, William III.).