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 1840. Mrs. Trollope, Michael Armstrong, ch. xiv. 'What is the billy-roller?' 'It's a long stout stick, ma'am, that's used often and often to beat the little ones employed in the mills when their strength fails.'

1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III., 1166. This is the billy-roller, so much talked of in the controversies between the operatives and masters in the cotton-factories, as an instrument of cruel punishment to children, though no such machine has been used in cotton-mills for half a century at least. [m.]

Bim, Bimshire, subs. (West Indian).—Nicknames for a Barbadian and the island of Barbadoes. This place is also sometimes jeeringly called Little England, and Barbadian is contracted into 'Badian.

1887. Paton, Down the Islands. Barbadoes is known all the world over as the little island that pays her way; it has never been conquered; its people are enterprising and energetic, go-ahead and driving; in short, the business men of these islands (the Caribbees). Barbadian may therefore be said to mean a man with 'go and grit, energy and vim.'

Bing.—See Bynge a waste.

Binge, subs. (Oxford Univ.)—A drinking bout.

Bingham's Dandies, subs. (military).—The 17th Lancers. From its Colonel (Lord Bingham) causing the men's uniforms to fit so well. It is one of the smartest regiments of the service. They were also at one time christened the Horse Marines (q.v.). Two troops of this showy corps were employed as marines on board the 'Hermione' frigate during some severe fighting in the West Indies. Hence the sobriquet now almost quite forgotten. But the 17th are still well-known as the Death or Glory Boys, from their badge, which consists of a death's head, with the words, 'or glory.'

Bingo, subs. (old cant).—Brandy, or other spirituous liquor. Thought by Dr. Murray to be a humorous formation from B. for 'brandy' (Cf., 'B. and S.') and stingo.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue. Bingo, brandy.

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 41.

fighting attie's song.

Air.—'He was famed for deeds of arms 'Rise at six—dine at two— Rob your man without ado- Such my maxims—if you doubt Their wisdom, to the rightabout!'

(Signing to a sallow gentleman on the same side of the table to send up the brandy bowl.)

'Pass round the bingo,—of a gun, You musty, dusty, husky son!'

(The sallow gentleman in a hoarse voice,)

'Attie—the bingo's now with me, I can't resign it yet, d'ye see!'

(Attie, seizing the bowl,)

'Resign, resign it—cease your dust!'

(Wresting it away, and fiercely regarding the sallow gentleman.)

'You have resigned it—and you must.'

chorus.

'You have resigned it—and you must.'

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxxiii. Some soda water with a dash of bingo clears one's head in the morning.

For all synonyms, see Drinks.

Hence bingo boy, a tippler; a drunkard. Bingo mort, a drunken woman.—See Mort.

Bingy, adj. (trading).—A term largely used in the butter trade to denote bad, ropy butter; nearly equivalent to vinnied. It may be noted that in the English Dialect Society's Chestere Glossary, bingy is given as a peculiar clouty or frowsty taste in milk—the first stage of turning sour.