NOTE.--The selection of the Superintendents of the Military Academy was confined to the Corps of Engineers from the establishment of the Institution, March 16, 1802, till the passage of the law of July 13, 1866, which opened it to the entire Army. By the Act of June 12, 1858, the local rank of Colonel was conferred upon the Superintendent.
A. B., _n._ Area Bird, term used to designate one who regularly walks the area.
B. A., _n._ Busted aristocrat. Title given to a cadet officer who has been deprived of his chevrons.
B-ache, _n._ An official explanation of a report.
B-ache, _v._ To submit an explanation, to talk.
Beast, _n._ Name given to new cadets during their first few weeks at M. A.
Beast Barracks, _n._ Designation for the period of time a man is a beast: the first three weeks when he is quartered in barracks.
B. J., _a._ Literally means “bold before June”; as applied to a fourth classman who is impertinent and fresh.
Black Book, _n._ Regulations, U. S. M. A.
---- dis. To try to avoid getting demerits.
---- efficiency. To be military for no apparent reason.
---- files. To strive for class standing.
---- muck. To endeavor to increase in brawn.
---- tenths. To study hard for a better mark.
Boodle, _n._ General term used to designate all eatables, contraband.
Bootlick, _v._ To curry favor obsequiously, to praise.
Bootlick Alley, _n._ A street passing in front of the officers’ tents in camp (off limits to plebes).
Brace, _n._ Term applied to muscular efforts of fourth classmen to look military.
Brace, _v._ To assume an excessive military position. Obsolete.
B. S., _n._ Loquaciousness; superfluity of talk.
Buck, _n._ Cadet in ranks; one who has no chevrons.
Bugle, _v._ To stand at the board all the period to escape reciting. (Not applicable to first-class year).
Bump, _v._ To deprive cadet officer of chevrons.
Butt, _n._ The remainder of anything, as the butt of a skag; of a month.
Clean Sleeve, _n._ A cadet who has never worn chevrons.
Crawl, _v._ To correct or rebuke someone (especially fourth classmen) in a severe manner.
Deadbeat, _n._ An easy job; one who deadbeats.
Deadbeat, _v._ To avoid some distasteful duty.
Drag, _v._ To escort a lady; to pull a man out of bed; to pull off a pair of white trousers.