Chapter Beg the Question to Belial of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Begue d'entendement This is a really happy phrase for one whose wits are gone wool-gathering; he is a man of “stammering understanding.”

Beguins A sisterhood instituted in the twelfth century, founded by Lambert Bégue or Lambert le Bègue. The members of the male society were called Beghards (q.v. ). The Béguins were at liberty to quit the cloister, if they chose, and marry. The cap called a beguin was named from this sisterhood.

“Secta quædam pestifera illorum qui Beguini vulgariter appellantur, qui se Fratres Pauperes de tertia ordine S. Francisci communiter nominabant, ex quibus plures fuerunt tanquam hæretici condemnati et combusti.” - Bernard Guido: Life of John, xxii.

Begum A lady, princess, or woman of high rank in India; the wife of a ruler. (Bey or Beg, governor of a Turkish province, a title of honour.)

Behemoth (Hebrew). The hippopotamus; once thought to be the rhinoceros. (See Job xl. 15.)

“Behold! in plaited mail,
Behemoth rears his head.”
Thomson: Summer, 709, 710.

    The word is generally, but incorrectly, pronounced Behemoth; but Milton, like Thomson, places the accent on the second syllable.

“Scarce from his mold
Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved
His vastness.”
Milton: Paradise Lost, vii, 471.

Behmenists A sect of visionary religionists, so called from Jacob Behmen (Böhme), their founder. (1575- 1625.)

Behram The most holy kind of fire, according to Parseeism. (See Adaran .)

Bejan A freshman or greenhorn. This term is employed in the French and Scotch universities, and is evidently a corruption of bec jaune (yellow beak), a French expression to designate a nestling or unfledged bird. In the university of Vienna the freshman is termed beanus, and in France footing-money is bejaunia.

“His grandmother yielded, and Robert was straightway a bejan or yellow-beak.” - Macdonald: R. Falconer.

Bel-a-faire-peur A handsome, dare-devil of a fellow.

Bel Esprit (French). A vivacious wit; a man or woman of quick and lively parts, ready at repartee. (Plural, beaux esprits. )

Belch Sir Toby Belch. A reckless, roistering, jolly knight of the Elizabethan period. (Shakespeare: Twelfth Night.)

Belcher A pocket-handkerchief- properly, a blue ground with white spots; so called from Jim Belcher, the pugilist, who adopted it.

Beldam An old woman; literally, a grandmother. The French also use bel age for old age.

“Old men and beldames in the streets
Do prophesy upon it dangerously.”
Shakespeare: King John, iv. 2.

Beleses (3 syl.). A Chaldean soothsayer and Assyrian satrap, who told Arbaces, governor of Media, that he would one day sit on the throne of Sardanapalus. King of Nineveh and Assyria. His prophecy was verified, and he was rewarded by Arbaces with the government of Babylon. (Byron: Sardanapalus. )

Belfast Regiment (The ). The 35th Foot, which was raised in Belfast in 1701. There is no such regiment now in the British Army. What used to be called No. 35 is now called the 1st battalion of the Royal Sussex, the 2nd battalion being the old No. 107.