Bl-Bu

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Blighter  An obnoxious person. More or less mild invective, a familiar form of address.

General. From 1896 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

The earliest meaning of ‘blighter’ was almost entirely negative; in the 20th century, however, its meaning extended to include a jocular sense of ‘chap or fellow’ (Partridge).

 

Blighty  (1) England. (2) A wound sufficiently serious to necessitate the recipient’s removal to an English Hospital. Hindustani, Vilagaty, bilate, provincial Europe and English.

(1) General army. Probably pre-World War I (Green).

This sense was probably first used by those in the Indian Army, but gained wide currency in World War I. B&P allude to how great meaning was attached to the word: ‘In this one word was gathered all the soldier’s home-sickness and affection and war-weariness.’ ‘Blighty’ was derived from the Hindustani ‘bilayati’ meaning ‘foreign, and especially Europe’. The Hindustani came ultimately from the Arabic ‘wilayati’ meaning ‘province’ (Elting).

(2) General World War I. From 1915 (Partridge).

 

Blimp  (1) A small dirigible airship. (2) A particular make of Naval Airship.

General. From 1916 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

The term ‘blimp’ for a ‘small dirigible airship’ came into currency during World War I.  It was essentially a slang term, of uncertain origin. During World War I, the British Army employed two types of airships: the first were non-rigid airships, used for antisubmarine patrols along the coast (and perhaps explaining (2)); the second were rigid airships and were mostly used by the Germans (and also known as Zeppelins, after their producer Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin). The British Army did employ some of these latter type, mostly for convoy protection.

 

Blind Spot

World War I Flying. Attested in Cutlack.

Cutlack’s Flying Corps Glossary, from which this term was taken, records the following definition of ‘blind spot’: ‘A point (below the tail of an aeroplane) at which an approaching adversary was hidden from the sights of the observer’s guns. It was therefore the position usually taken up, if possible, by an adversary attacking a two-seater.’

 

Blithered  Drunk.

General Australian. From 1911 (AND). Attested in numerous sources.

This derives from the British dialect term ‘blither’ (or ‘blather’) meaning nonsense (EDD). ‘To blither’ meaning ‘to talk nonsense’ was current from 1868 (OED).

 

Blitherer  Something or someone excellent.

Australian. Attested in Digger Dialects and Baker.

This possibly derives from the same source as Blithered.

 

Block, Did his  Lost his temper.

General Australian. From 1907 (AND). Attested in numerous sources.

 

Bloke  Fellow, used in the third person.

General. From 1851 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

This term dates back to the 19th century, but was in widespread general use in the 20th century, and was widely used by Australians. It was also commonly used in the Army, according to F&G.

 

*Blood bath  The Somme 1916. Thought to be a German expression.

World War I. Attested in Partridge.

Partridge records this as indeed being a German expression referring to the 1916 Battle of the Somme, but was thereafter adapted to any big battle with heavy casualties (from 1917).

 

Bloody  An expletive. Unpleasant.

General, but characteristically Australian. From 1814 (AND).

This term dates back to the 17th century, connoting detestation. In World War I, it was popularly used as an adjective referring to all work (Partridge).

 

*Bloods worth bottling  A phrase expressive of admiration.

General Australian. From 1919 (Digger Dialects). Attested in Digger Dialects and Partridge.

This may well have originated amongst Australian troops in World War I.

 

Blotto  Inebriated.

General. From 1905 (Partridge).

Partridge suggests that this word, of uncertain origin, might have derived from either the absorbing qualities of blotting–paper, or from the Romany ‘motto’ meaning ‘intoxicated’.

 

Blow off  (1) Go away, clear out. (2) To voice one’s anger.

(1) This exact sense is not otherwise recorded.

(2) General. Originally US. From 1863 (Lighter).

‘A blow-off’ was generally an ‘emotional outburst’. The imperative ‘blow off’ does not appear to be a common expression.

 

*Blow One’s Bag Out  To boast.

Australian. Attested in Digger Dialects, and ‘blow one’s bags’ in Green and Partridge.

Not a common expression, but a use of ‘blow’ meaning to ‘boast’ dating back to 1789 (OED). Another variation of this is ‘blow one’s trumpet’. Green and Partridge date ‘blow one’s bag’ to 1961, but it appears to have an earlier currency.

 

Blow Out  (1) A big meal. (2) To overthrow another’s contention.

(1)  General. From 1824 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

(2) Not otherwise recorded.

Sense (2) is possibly related to the sense of ‘a quarrel, row’, originally American, from 1825 (Lighter, OED).

 

*Blow-to-fook  Shatter to fragments.

This exact phrase is attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

The OED records the similar, but more polite, ‘blow to bits’ and ‘blow to atoms’, from the 19th century. ‘Fook’ is a euphemism for ‘fuck’ (possibly playing on a dialect pronunciation similar to ‘choom’ for ‘chum’).

 

*Bludged on the Flag  To fail to justify one’s existence as a soldier.

World War I Australian. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

The term ‘bludge’ meaning ‘to evade one’s own responsibilities and impose on, or prey upon, others’ is Australian, from 1899 (AND). This phrase must have been a World War I adaptation.

 

Bluey  The usual nickname of an auburn haired man.

General Australian. From 1906 (AND).

 

*Blue Light  A prophylactic establishment.

World War I Australian. Attested here and in Digger Dialects in this form.

Probably an abbreviation of ‘blue light clinic’ meaning ‘a venereal disease clinic’, and related to ‘blue light outfit’ an ‘anti-VD kit supplied to armed services’. Both are Australian, attested in Green and Partridge.

 

*Bluff-stakes  A deceitful or mala fide attempt to influence the conduct of another.

World War I Australian. Attested here, in Digger Dialects, and in Lawson but not otherwise recorded.

See the similar but more common Kid-stakes.

 

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Body-snatcher  A member of a raiding party. Raids were usually for identification purposes; the method being to bring back if possible live Germans, but failing that, shoulder straps, or any other means of identifying the opposing unit.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but this precise sense is not recorded otherwise.

‘Body-snatcher’ had two senses current in World War I. One was ‘stretcher-bearer’; the other was ‘a sniper’ (Partridge and Dickson). The term went back to the 19th century meaning ‘a violator of graves’ (Farmer and Henley), a sense echoed here.

 

Bog in  An exhortation of vigorous action.

General Australian. From 1907 (AND). Attested in numerous sources.

This term was used generally in the sense of ‘to engage (in a task or activity) with vigour or enthusiasm’ and was used particularly to refer to eating. It probably is a figurative use of the sense of ‘bog’, ‘to sink, to get stuck into’. The sense recorded here is the imperative.

 

*Boils  The name applied to the Aust. Corps in the line. Also The Boil, [that is,] impossible to take the core (corps) out.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

A joke referring to the Australian soldiers, and suggesting their dogged fighting spirit.

 

Boko  Nose.

General. Originally US. From 1859 (Lighter and OED).

This was a popular late 19th century British slang term, also well attested in Australian English.

 

Bollocks  Absurd, an absurdity; an embellishment of ‘balls’ (the testicles) used derisively.

General. From the late 19th century (Partridge).

 

Bolo  ‘Bolo the Bat’, speak the language, used in Mesopotamia.

General army. From the late 19th century (Partridge).

This term was derived from Hindustani ‘bolo bat’, meaning ‘to speak’. See also Bat.

 

*Bombing Officer  The Moon. Moonlight nights were favoured for bombing operations.

World War I. Not otherwise recorded.

 

Bonzer  Good, beautiful.

General Australian. From 1906 (AND). Attested in numerous sources.

The etymology for this term is unclear. It is similar to the terms Boshter and Bosker.

 

Boob  (1) Prison, or Guard Room. (2) One who is simple or incapable.

(1) Specific World War I use of general sense of ‘prison’, US, from 1908 (Lighter).

‘Boob’ is a shortened form of ‘booby-hatch’, which dates from 1859,  a US term generally referring to a prison or lock-up (Lighter).

(2) General. Originally US. From 1907 (Lighter).

This sense of ‘boob’ originated in referring to ‘a lunatic, an inmate of a lunatic asylum’ (Lighter).

 

Bookoo  A lot, much, from the French ‘beaucoup’.

World War I. Corruption of the French. This spelling attested in Dickson.

Other spelling of this were also current, for example buckoo.

 

Boom  ‘Well in the boom’, to be popular where such popularity might lead to advancement in the ranks; regarded highly by one’s superior.

Army. Not otherwise recorded.

 

Boozer  (1) Public house or estaminet. (2) One addicted to the use of alcohol.

(1) General. From the late 19th century (Partridge).

Partridge notes this as being current in Australia since before World War I.

(2) General. From 1819 (OED).

 

Bosche  A German, especially a soldier.

This spelling of ‘Boche’ is recorded here and in Digger Dialects, and was a fairly common misspelling. Boche was French, and became a general World War I term for Germans, especially those in the German Army (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

This French slang word referring to Germans was taken up by the English press and public. F&G argue that Jerry and Fritz were more commonly used by the Army and Navy, and Hun by the Air Force. Elting argues that although this term was used by the American troops, they generally preferred ‘Heinie’, ‘Kraut’ or Fritz.

 

Boshter; Bosker  See ‘Bonzer’.

General Australian. ‘Boshter’ from 1903, ‘bosker’ from 1904 (AND).

Bott  (1) A cadger; a hanger on. (2) Plenty; much; many.

(1) General Australian. From 1916 (AND).

This was a figurative use of ‘bot’, a ‘parasitic worm or maggot’. It was used in 19th century Australian English in the sense of ‘a lurk’ or ‘a strategem’.

(2) This sense not otherwise recorded.

 

Bottling  See ‘Blood’s worth bottling.’

General Australian. From 1894 (AND).

This was a general term meaning ‘excellent’. It was also used in the phrase blood’s worth bottling.

 

*Bounce  (1) Arrogance; (2) ‘to come on the bounce’, make an arrogant demand.

(1) General. From 1714 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

Adapted from the sense of ‘bounce’ as a ‘loud burst of noise’ to mean a ‘boast’ or ‘impudent self-assertion, swagger’.

(2) Attested here and in Digger Dialects but this sense not otherwise recorded.

Partridge records ‘on the bounce’ as being a World War I term meaning ‘on the spur of the moment; at the critical moment’, and Hargrave notes this as meaning ‘an opportune moment’.

 

*Bounce the ball  To assert oneself.

Attested here and in Digger Dialects but this precise sense not otherwise recorded.

Partridge records this as meaning ‘to test public opinion or sentiment’, since about 1920.

 

*Bowie-Knife Army  The American Expeditionary Force.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

This is a reference to the large bowie-knives named after Jim Bowie, an American adventurer who fought and died at the Alamo in 1836. The bowie knife is one of the most aggressive fighting knives ever made.

 

Box-on  (1) A fight, a battle, a tussle. (2) An injunction to continue suspended action.

(1) World War I Australian (AND). Digger Dialects is the first recorded instance.

(2) World War I Australian (AND). Digger Dialects is the first recorded instance.

 

*Boy with his boots off  A shell which bursts before the sound of its passage through the air is heard.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

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Brads (Bradburys)  The £1 and 10/- (half-a-brad) currency notes bearing the signature of Sir John Bradbury.

General. ‘Bradbury’ from 1914 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

The term ‘Bradbury’ was current from 1914 to approximately 1933, and derived from Sir John Bradbury, Secretary to the British Treasury, 1913–19. The pound notes were in circulated until 19287 and ceased to be legal tender in 1933. Interestingly, however, ‘brads’ was a generic name for money in circulation from the early 19th century (F&H, Partridge). F&H speculate that this originated among shoemakers, ‘brads’ being the small rivets or nails that they used. Paul Beale in Partridge suggests that this may have been an abbrevation of ‘darby’, a term meaning ‘easy money’.

 

*Branding-paddock  The parade ground.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Brass  Money.

General. From the late 16th century (Partridge). Attested in numerous sources.

 

Brass Hat  Senior Field or Staff Officers.

General army. From the late 19th century (Green).

The term derived from the gold lace embroidery officers had on their caps, and was used by the general soldiers. It was adopted by the US Army in World War I from the British Army (Elting).

 

*Brasso King An officer who insists that his men should assiduously polish the brass work on their equipment and uniforms.

World War I Australian. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

*Breadwinners  Rifle.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Bride  A young lady, she with whom one is seen in company.

General. From 1935 (OED).

This is the earliest recorded instance.

 

Brig  Abbreviation of Brigadier.

Army. From 1899 in US (Lighter).

 

*Brigand  (French) A rascal.

General. From 1421 (OED).

This is a weakened form of the standard sense of ‘brigand’ as a ‘freebooter, bandit, desperado’.

 

Broads  Playing cards.

General. From 1789 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

 

Broke to the wide  Financially embarrassed; devoid of cash.

General. From 1915 (Partridge). Attested in numerous sources.

 

*Broken-doll  An inefficient Staff-Officer returned to his unit.

World War I. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Buck  Refuse.

General. Originally US from 1849 (Lighter). Attested in numerous sources.

This term came from the sense of ‘buck’ ‘to defy, resist’(DAE, Lighter), related to the British sense ‘to butt into, against’ (OED).

 

*Bucking-horse  Sovereign (coin). Derived from the impression of St. George and the Dragon.

Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Buckoo  Much, from French Beaucoup.

World War I. Corruption of the French. This spelling attested here and in Digger Dialects.

See Bookoo.

 

Bucks Bombardy  Badly torn or broken – from French Beaucoup Bombarde.

World War I. From the French. Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Buckshee  A prize, a catch, a windfall, something for nothing. From Hindi, bakhshi: giver, or bucksheesh: gift, tip.

General army. From the 19th century (Partridge). Attested in numerous sources.

This term was brought into English from the Hindustani (although originally Persian) by the British Army. It was especially popular in World War I.

 

*Bug House  Inferior.

World War I. This sense attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

This possibly derives from the US term ‘bug house’ referring’ to a ‘verminous lodging house’, current from 1852 (Lighter). It also was used to refer to an insane asylum, US, from 1899 (Lighter). Later this was applied to a ‘run-down cinema’ (Partridge, Green).

 

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Bullet (Bristol)

World War I Flying. From 1914 (Cutlack).

Cutlack records that this was a particular type of plane. It was produced by the Bristol and Colonial Aeroplane Co. in 1914, and was a scout aeroplane. It was adopted as the standard training-machine of the Royal Naval Air Service.

 

Bullfodder  See ‘Bullshit’.

General Australian. Attested in Baker, Digger Dialects, and Green.

Digger Dialects is the first recorded instance of this euphemism for bullshit.

 

Bull Ring  Ground on which intensive training was carried out at Base Depots.

General World War I. Attested in Green, Elting, and Partridge.

This term, adapted from the standard sense of ‘bullring’ as a place where bull-fights took place, was used in World War I of the training areas where soldiers were sent for final training before going into the line. Green notes that this originally referred to a site at Etaples in Northern France where British soldiers were trained.

*Bull Shit  Insincerity; [something] incorrect; flattery.

General. From 1915 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

This possibly originated in the US and was certainly popular with the troops.

 

Bully  Abbreviation of bully beef. A name given to the preserved meat issued, usually in one pound tins.

General. From 1753 (OED). Attested in numerous sources.

This abbreviation of ‘bully beef’ dates back to the 18th century to refer to ‘pickled or tinned beef’. In World War I, according to F&G, such meat made up a significant part of soldiers’ rations.

 

*Bumbrusher  An Officer’s servant.

World War I Australian. First attested in Digger Dialects (AND).

 

Bumf  That portion of the enormous mass of official correspondence which was used for a more undignified purpose than originally intended. Later applied more generally to correspondence and literature of little value.

General World War I. Attested in numerous sources.

This was an abbrevation of ‘bumfodder’ current from 1889 as schoolboys’ slang for ‘toilet paper’. In the war it was applied to official correspondence, most of which was viewed as unnecessary. It has acquired general currency for paperwork since World War I. Also spelt ‘bumph’.

 

Bunch  A number, unit.

World War I. This use attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

This is a specific military use of ‘bunch’, ‘a company, group of persons’ which dates from 1622 (OED).

 

*Bunch of grapes  The club suit in a pack of cards.

Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

 

Bung; Bung-hole  Cheese. So called by its alleged constipating effect.

General Services’. 20th century (Partridge). Attested in numerous sources.

Both terms are attested as meaning cheese, and seem largely to be used in the Services.

 

Bunk  (1) Abscond, or ‘do a bunk’. (2) Bed.

(1) General. From the 1890s (Partridge).

This term was popular in Australia (Dennis, S&O’B), especially in the phrase ‘bunk off’ (Partridge).

(2) General. Originally US. From 1758 (DAE, OED).

 

Bunk-up  A lifting up.

General. 20th century (Partridge, Green).

 

Burl  A try, a shot, a fair burl.

General Australian (AND). Digger Dialects is the first recorded instance.

See Birl.

 

Bus  A contraction of omnibus, applied in the army to aeroplane omnibuses or motor lorries used by the British Army.

World War I. Royal Flying Corps (for aeroplane, lorry sense not attested otherwise). Attested in numerous sources.

While first recorded in 1910, the term ‘bus’ referring to an aeroplane only became widespread in World War I and was airmen’s slang (B&P, Partridge). It was little used in World War II.

 

Butch  Doctor, abbreviation of butcher.

World War I military. ‘Butcher’ attested in numerous sources.

‘Butcher’ referring to a surgeon, and then any physician, was current in the US from 1849 (Lighter). In World War I, ‘butcher’ was widely used to refer to a medical officer. Elting notes that ‘butch’ was popularly used in the pre-World War II army.

 

*Butcher  The king in a pack of cards.

General. Possibly Australian in World War I, although British in the 19th century (Partridge).

Partridge records that this was public house slang in the 19th century but became obsolete. However, it continued to be current in Australia, especially among poker players.

 

Butt-in  To interfere, intrude.

General. Originally US. From 1899 (Lighter).

 

Buzz  To beg, cadge.

Attested here and in Digger Dialects but not otherwise recorded.

Although this precise sense is not recorded elsewhere, it may have developed from a 19th century sense meaning to ‘pick pockets’ (F&H, Partridge). Green also records this as US tramps’ (1910s to 1930s), meaning ‘to solicit handouts’.

 

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