~Big House~, or LARGE HOUSE, the workhouse,--a phrase used by the very poor.
~Big-wig~, a person in authority or office. Exchangeable with "GREAT GUN."
~Bilbo~, a sword; abbrev. of "BILBAO blade." Spanish swords were anciently very celebrated, especially those of Toledo, Bilbao, &c.
~Bilk~, a cheat, or a swindler. Formerly in general use, now confined to the streets, where it is common, and mostly used in reference to prostitutes. _Gothic_, BILAICAN.
~Bilk~, to defraud, or obtain goods, &c., without paying for them; "to BILK the schoolmaster," to get information or experience without paying for it.
~Billingsgate~ (when applied to speech), foul and coarse language. Many years since people used to visit Thames Street to hear the Billingsgate fishwomen abuse each other. The anecdote of Dr. Johnson and the Billingsgate virago is well known.
~Billingsgate Pheasant~, a red herring or bloater. This is also called a "two-eyed steak."
~Billy~, a silk pocket-handkerchief.--_Scotch._--_See_ WIPE.
[Asterism] A list of slang terms descriptive of the various patterns of handkerchiefs, pocket and neck, is here subjoined:--
BELCHER, darkish blue ground, large round white spots, with a spot in the centre of darker blue than the ground. This was adopted by Jem Belcher, the pugilist, as his "colours," and soon became popular amongst "the fancy."
BIRD'S-EYE WIPE, a handkerchief of any colour, containing white spots. The blue bird's-eye is similar to the Belcher except in the centre. Sometimes a BIRD'S-EYE WIPE has a white ground and blue spots.
BLUE BILLY, blue ground, generally with white figures.
CREAM FANCY, any pattern on a white ground.
KING'S MAN, yellow pattern on a green ground.
RANDAL'S MAN, green, with white spots; named after the favourite colours of Jack Randal, pugilist.
~Billy~, a policeman's staff. Also stolen metal of any kind. BILLY-HUNTING is buying old metal. A BILLY-FENCER is a marine-store dealer.
~Billy-Barlow~, a street clown; sometimes termed a JIM CROW, or SALTIMBANCO,--so called from the hero of a slang song. Billy was a real person, semi-idiotic, and though in dirt and rags, fancied himself a swell of the first water. Occasionally he came out with real witticisms. He was a well-known street character about the East-end of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse.