Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 1258 results in 1258 entries
1. Adam and Eve, n. View full entry 1789
...N. Amer. Any of several similar North American orchids, esp. the putty-root, Aplectrum hyemale, with a tuber formerly (and sometimes still) used medicinally or carried to protect...
2. Airey, n. View full entry 1945
...attrib. Designating a system for constructing houses from precast concrete sections. Of a house: built using this system....
3. Alf Garnett, n. View full entry 1968
...A man resembling Alf Garnett in behaviour or outlook, esp. in being white, working-class, and right-wing, and in vehemently expressing sexist, racist, and xenophobic views....
4. alickadoo, n. View full entry 1961
...A person who is attached to or associated with a rugby game or club but does not play, esp. an administrative official or committee member....
5. allan, n. View full entry a1612
...A predatory seabird; esp. the arctic skua, Stercorarius parasiticus. Cf. dirty Allan, scouty-aulin...
6. Almanie, n. View full entry 1564
...attrib. Designating goods originating in Germany....
7. American, n. and adj. View full entry 1568
...An indigenous inhabitant of (any part of) the Americas; an American Indian. Now only with modifying word, as indigenous American, original American, etc.; see also Native American...
8. † Arthur's hufe, n. View full entry a1522
...The constellation Boötes. Cf. Arthur1....
9. ASBO, n. View full entry 1997
...An anti-social behaviour order, a court order obtainable by local authorities which places restrictions on the movements or actions of a person who persisently engages in anti-social behaviour....
10. averin, n. View full entry 1768
...The cloudberry or knoutberry (Rubus chamæmorus)....
11. awalt, adv. View full entry 1799-1863
...(See quots.)...
12. bad, adj., n.2, and adv. View full entry 1203
...Of poor quality or little worth....
13. badderlocks, n. View full entry 1768
...A brown seaweed, Alaria esculenta (family Alariaceae), found on North Atlantic coasts, with ribbon-like fronds which are collected locally as food....
14. badge, n. View full entry 1440
...Originally: a heraldic symbol worn as an identifying mark by a knight and his retainers (= cognizance5a; sometimes more fully badge of arms). In later use: any...
15. badge, v.2 View full entry 1552
...trans. To buy up (provisions) for resale elsewhere; to hawk for sale; (occas. more generally) to deal in (a commodity). Also intr.: to engage in buying and selling in...
16. badger, n.1 View full entry a1500
...A trader who buys produce (perh. originally grain) and carries it elsewhere to sell; an itinerant dealer; a hawker, a huckster, a pedlar; (occas. more generally) a dealer, a trader....
17. Baker day, n. View full entry 1988
...Any of several days in the state school year set aside for INSET training (see INSET); an INSET day....
18. ball, n.4 View full entry 1866
...A glass of (Irish) malt whiskey; chiefly in ball of malt....
19. † ballow, n.2 View full entry 1677
...A shoal or sandbank....
20. ballyhooly, n. View full entry 1837
...Hell....
