Исторический английский фразеологический словарь. Виктор Евгеньевич Никитин
Southwark, recalls the old Paris Garden, a famous bear-baiting establishment founded by Robert de Paris as far back in English history as the reign of Richard I. A “Bear Garden” is in our time synonymous with a place of resort for roughs or rowdies.
Bear State. Arkansas, from the Western description of the character of its people. “Does Arkansas abound with bears that it should be called the Bear State?” a Western man was once asked. “Yes, it does,” was the reply; “for I never knew a man from that state but he was a bar, and, in fact, the people are all barish to a degree.”
Bearward. The custodian of the bear at public and private bear-baiting gardens. Most English towns anciently retained a bearward. See “Congleton Bears.”
Beats a Philadelphia Lawyer. An American expression implying that the lawyers of Philadelphia are noted for shrewdness and learning.
Beauchamp Tower. After Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, whom Richard II. caused to be imprisoned here for inciting the barons to remove the King’s favourite, Sir Simon de Burley.
29Beauclerc. The surname of Henry I., on account of his accomplishments in an age when learning was rare.
Beckenham. The home in the vicinity of becks or brooks. The Saxon terminal en expresses the plural.
Bedad. An Irishman’s exclamation, derived from the English “Begad” or “By Gad.”
Bedford. From the Anglo-Saxon Bedican-ford, the protected ford over the Ouse.
Bedfordbury. The bury or enclosed land of the Duke of Bedford. Bedford Street and Bedford Square likewise point to the great ground landlord.
Bedlam. Short for Bethlehem Hospital, a “Lazar House” in South London which in 1815 was converted into an asylum for lunatics. See “Bethlehem.”
Bedouins. From the Arabic badawiy, “dwellers in the desert.”
Beech Street. Said to have been the property of Nicholas de la Beech, Lieutenant of the Tower, temp. Edward III.
Beefeaters. Although it has been proved that the word Buffetier cannot be met with in any old book, the Yeomen of the Guard instituted by Henry VII. certainly waited at the royal table, and since this monarch was largely imbued with French manners, his personal attendants must after all have received their nickname from the Buffet, or sideboard.
Beer Bible. From the words “the beer” in place of “strong drink” (Isaiah xxiv. 9).
Before the Mast. The for’ard part of a ship, where, in the forecastle, the sailors have their quarters. Hence a common seaman is said to “Serve before the Mast.”
Begad. See “By Gad.”
Begorra. An Irish form of the English corrupted oath Begad or “By Gad.”
Beguines. An order of nuns in France, from the French beguin, a linen cap. These nuns are distinguished by their peculiar head covering.
30Begum. A lady of high rank in the East, a princess in India, or the wife of a Turkish beg (generally corrupted into bey) or Governor.
Beldame. From the French Belle-dame, “fine lady.” The meaning has now been corrupted from a lady entitled to the utmost respect on account of age or position to an ugly old woman.
Belgium. From the Belgæ, the name given by Cæsar to the warlike people who overran this portion of Gaul.
Belgravia. The fashionable district of which Belgrave Square is the centre, after one of the titles of the Duke of Westminster, the ground landlord.
Bell. A tavern sign, originally denoting a haunt for the lovers of sport, where a silver bell constituted the prize.
Bell, Book, and Candle. The instruments used by the Church in carrying out a sentence of excommunication. The bell apprised all good Christians of what was about to take place, the dread sentence was read out of the book, while the blowing out of the candle symbolised the spiritual darkness in which the excommunicated person would in future abide.
Belleisle. French for “beautiful isle.”
Beloochistan. Pursuant to the Persian stan, the country of the Belooches.
Below Par. Not up to the mark in point of health. The allusion is to Government stock not worth its nominal £100 value.
Belvedere. A public-house sign, derived from the Italian word for a pavilion built on a house-top commanding a fine prospect.
Ben. Theatrical slang for “benefit.”
Bench. The primitive seat of judges and magistrates before the modern throne-like chair was introduced. Barristers of the Inns of Court are styled “Benchers” from the wooden seats formerly provided for them.
Benedict. A confirmed bachelor, after St Benedict, who 31unceasingly preached the virtues of celibacy. Also a newly-married man who, like Benedick in Much ado about Nothing, after having long forsworn marriage, at length succumbed to the grand passion.
Benedictine. A liqueur made at the Benedictine monastery at Fécamp.
Benedictines. The monastic Order founded by St Benedict in the sixth century.
Bengal Tigers. The Leicester Regiment, which as the old 17th Foot rendered good service in India at the commencement of the last century, and received a royal tiger as a badge.
Bennett Street. From the town mansion of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington.
Bentinck Street. After William Bentinck, second Duke of Portland, the ground landlord.
Bergen. From the Danish bierg, mountain, the port nestling at the foot of high hills.
Berkeley Square. The whole district hereabouts comprised the land of Lord Berkeley of Stratton, one of the officers of Charles I.
Berkeley Street (Upper and Lower). After Edward Berkeley Portman, the ground landlord. There is a Berkeley Street too in Clerkenwell, on the site of which stood the residence of Sir Maurice Berkeley, the standard-bearer of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Elizabeth.
Berkshire. The Beoric, or “forest shire,” of the Saxons.
Berlin. From the Slavonic Berle, denoting its situation in the midst of a sandy plain.
Bermondsey. The ey, or creek land, belonging to the Saxon lord Beomund.
Bermuda Islands. After Juan Bermudas, who discovered them in 1522.
Bernardine Hospice. This noble institution on the Alpine heights was not founded by St Bernard, nor has it ever 32been served by the monks of his Order. It takes its name from Bernard de Menthon, a wealthy Savoyard, who in 962 established this house of refuge for the pilgrims crossing the Alps on their way to the Holy Land. The monks who serve the Hospice are Augustinians.
Bernardines. The monastic Order founded by St Bernard in 1115.
Berne. From the German Bären, which expresses the plural for bear. The figure of a bear is conspicuous on the public buildings, fountains, etc.
Berners Street. After Lady Berners, the original owner of the land hereabouts.
Best Man at a Wedding. A survival of feudal times, when the particular friends of the “Bridegroom” undertook to frustrate the designs of a rival sworn to carry off the bride before the nuptials could take place. In Sweden weddings formerly took place under cover of night. Behind the high altar of the ancient church at Husaby, in Gothland, a collection of long lances, with sockets for torches, may yet be seen. These were served out to the groomsmen on such occasions, both for defence and illumination. These groomsmen were the bravest and best who could be found to volunteer their services.
Bethlehem. Hebrew for “house of bread.” Hence Bethlehem Hospital, the original name for a lazar or poor house.
Bethnal Green. Anciently Bednal Green, but corrupted from the family name of the Bathons, who resided here, temp. Edward I.
Bevis Marks. Properly Bury’s Marks, from the posts to define the limits of the ground belonging to the town house of the Abbots of Bury.
Bideford Postman. The sobriquet of Edward Capern, the poet, who was a letter-carrier at