Chapter Bob to Bogtrotters of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Boeotian A rude, unlettered person, a dull blockhead. The ancient Boeotians loved agricultural and pastoral pursuits, so the Athenians used to say they were dull and thick as their own atmosphere; yet Hesiod, Pindar, Corinna, Plutarch, Pelopidas, and Epaminondas, were all Boeotians.

Boeotian Ears Ears unable to appreciate music or rhetoric.

“Well, friend, I assure thee thou hast not got Boeotian ears [because you can appreciate the beauties of my sermons].”- Le Saye: Gill Blas, vii. 3.

Boethius Last of the Latin authors, properly so called (470- 524). Alfred the Great translated his De Consolatione Philosophiae into Anglo-Saxon.

Bogie A scarecrow, a goblin. (Bulgarian, bog, a god; Salvonic, bogu; Welsh, bwg, a goblin, our bugbear.)    The Assyrian mothers used to scare their children with the name of Narsës (Gibbon); the Syrians with that of Richard Coeur de Lion; the Dutch with Boh, the Gothic general (Warton); the Jews with Lilith; the Turks with Mathias Corvinus, the Hungarian king; and the English with the name of Lunsfort (q.v.). (See Bo.)

Bogio (in Orlando Furioso). One of the allies of Charlemagne. He promised his wife to return within six moons, but was slain by Dardinello.

Bogle Swindle A gigantic swindle concocted in Paris by fourteen persons, who expected to net at least a million sterling. It was exposed in the Times.

Bogomili A religious sect of the twelfth century, whose chief seat was Thrace. So called from their constant repetition of the words, “Lord, have mercy upon us,” which, in Bulgarian, is bog (Lord), milui (have mercy).

Bogtrotters Irish tramps; so called from their skill in crossing the Irish bogs, from tussock to tussock, either as guides or to escape pursuit.