"A woman, a whelp, and a walnut tree, The more you BASH 'em, the better they be."
The word BASH, among thieves, signifies to flog with the cat or birch. The worst that can happen to a brutal ruffian is to receive "a BASHING in, and a BASHING out,"--a flogging at the commencement and another at the close of his term of enforced virtue.
~Baste~, to beat, properly to pour gravy on roasting meat to keep it from burning, and add to its flavour. Also a sewing term.
~Bastile~, the workhouse. General name for "the Union" amongst the lower orders of the _North_. Formerly used to denote a prison, or "lock-up;" but its abbreviated form, STEEL, is now the favourite expression with the dangerous classes, some of whom have never heard of BASTILE, familiar as they are with "steel."
~Bat~, "on his own BAT," on his own account. Evident modification of the cricket term, "off his own bat," though not connected therewith.--_See_ HOOK.
~Bat~, to take an innings at cricket. To "carry out one's BAT" is to be last in, _i.e._, to be "not out." A man's individual score is said to be made "off his own BAT."
~Bat~, pace at walking or running. As, "He went off at a good BAT."
~Battells~, the weekly bills at Oxford. Probably originally wooden tallies, and so a diminutive of bâton.--_University._
~Batter~, wear and tear; "can't stand the BATTER," _i.e._, not equal to the task; "on the BATTER," "on the streets," "on the town," or given up to roystering and debauchery.
~Batty~, wages, perquisites. Derived from BATTA, an extra pay given to soldiers while serving in _India_.
~Batty-Fang~, to beat; BATTY-FANGING, a beating; also BATTER-FANG. Used metaphorically as early as 1630.
"So _batter-fanged_ and belabour'd with tongue mettle, that he was weary of his life."--_Taylor's Works._
~Beach-Comber~, a fellow who prowls about the sea-shore to plunder wrecks, and pick up waifs and strays of any kind.--_Sea._
~Beak~, originally a magistrate, judge, or policeman; now a magistrate only; "to baffle the BEAK," to get remanded. _Ancient Cant_, BECK. _Saxon_, BEAG, a necklace or gold collar--emblem of authority. Sir John Fielding was called the BLIND-BEAK in the last century. Maybe connected with the Italian BECCO, which means a (bird's) _beak_, and also a _blockhead_.--_See_ WALKER.