~Buz~, a well-known public-house game, played as follows:--"The chairman commences saying "one," the next on the left hand "two," the next "three," and so on to _seven_, when "BUZ" must be said. Every seven and multiple of 7, as 14, 17, 21, 27, 28, &c., must not be mentioned, but "BUZ" instead. Whoever breaks the rule pays a fine, which is thrown on the table, and the accumulation expended in drink for the company. _See_ "SNOOKS and WALKER" for more complicated varieties of a similar game. These "parlour pastimes" are often not only funny, but positively ingenious. But the Licensing Act and a zealous police are fast clearing them all out.
~Buz~, to pick pockets; BUZZING or BUZ-FAKING, robbing.
~Buz-Bloke~, a pickpocket who principally confines his attention to purses and loose cash. _Grose_ gives BUZ-GLOAK, an ancient cant word. GLOAK was old cant for a man. BUZ-NAPPER, a young pickpocket.
~Buz-man~, an informer; from BUZ, to whisper, but more generally a thief.
~Buz-napper's Academy~, a school in which young thieves were trained. Figures were dressed up, and experienced tutors stood in various difficult attitudes for the boys to practise upon. When clever enough they were sent on the streets. Dickens gives full particulars of this old style of business in _Oliver Twist_.
~Buzzer~, a pickpocket. _Grose_ gives BUZ-COVE and, as above mentioned, BUZ-GLOAK.
~By George~, an exclamation similar to BY JOVE. The term is older than is frequently imagined--vide _Bacchus and Venus_ (p. 117), 1737. "'Fore (or by) GEORGE, I'd knock him down." Originally in reference to Saint George, the patron saint of England, or possibly to the House of Hanover.
~By Golly~, an ejaculation, or oath; a compromise for "by God." BY GUM is another oblique oath. In the United States, small boys are permitted by their guardians to say GOL DARN anything, but they are on no account allowed to commit the profanity of G--d d----n anything. A manner of "sailing close to the wind" which is objectionable to the honest mind. A specimen ejaculation and moral waste-pipe for interior passion or wrath is seen in the exclamation--BY THE EVER-LIVING JUMPING-MOSES--a harmless and ridiculous phrase, that from its length is supposed to expend a considerable quantity of fiery anger.