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BULLY-RAG or BALLY-RAG, v. to abuse with intent to intimidate.
BULL-WEEK, sb. the week before Christmas, in which it is customary in Sheffield to work night and day.
- 'Jerra, what sooat an a bull-week had ta?'—Bywater, 41.
- 'When the work is over the men say they have "gotten t' bull by t' tail"' L.
BUM, sb. a bailiff.
- 'Bums and lawyers catechise me.'
- Mather's Songs, 2.
- 'Bums and lawyers catechise me.'
BUM-BASS, sb. a violoncello.
BUMBLE BEE, sb. a humble bee.
- 'Snoring like a bumble bee on a hot summer's day.'
BUMP SHEETS. Sheets made of thick cotton are called bump sheets.
- The fibres which go in one direction are much thicker than those which cross them, and unless the washerwoman is careful in wringing the sheets in the direction of and not across the thicker fibres they will break or be torn.
BUN, sb. the hollow end of a cow's horn.
- The solid end of the horn is called the tip. See CAN. M.E. bune, A.S. bune, calamus, a pipe.
BUN, v. bound.
- A boy is said to be bun prentice to his master.
BUN-FIRE, sb. a fire made by boys on the 5th of November or other festal days. The etymology is bone-fire.
BUN-HOLE, sb. a game at marbles.
- A hole is scooped out in the ground with the heel in the shape of a small dish, and the game consists in throwing the marble as near to this hole as possible. Sometimes, when several holes are made, the game is called holy.
BUR, v. to burrow. Also to put a stone under a cart wheel when going up a steep road, to give rest to the horse.
- A rabbit burs when he makes a hole in the ground.
BURLE, v. to cleanse from knots; to cut dirty locks from the wool of sheep.
- See 'to burle clothe' in Cath. Angl.
BURN, v. to approach near.
- A child when playing hide-and-seek is said to burn when he approaches near to the concealed object.
