n. Colloq. Person. [shortening of *body]

—n. - a wet spongy ground. B stretch of this.

- slang lavatory. —v. (-gg-) (foll. By down; usu. In passive) impede (bogged down by snow). boggy adj. (-ier, -iest). [irish or gaelic bogach]

mot n. (pl. Bons mots) witty saying. [french]

- vivant n. (pl. Bon or bons vivants pronunc. Same) person fond of good food and drink. [french]

- voyage int. Expression of good wishes to a departing traveller. [french]

—int. - expression of disapproval etc.

- sound intended to surprise. —n. Utterance of boo, esp. To a performer etc. —v. (boos, booed) 1 utter boos.

- jeer at by booing. [imitative]

colloq. —n. - a spell of dancing, esp. To pop music. B social occasion for this.

- = *bebop. —v. (-pp-) dance, esp. To pop music. bopper n. [abbreviation]

- colloq. —v. (-pp-) hit or punch, esp. Lightly. —n. Esp. Light blow or hit. [imitative]

—n. - a slip-knot with a double loop. B ribbon etc. So tied.

- curved piece of wood etc. With a string stretched across its ends, for shooting arrows.

- rod with horsehair stretched along its length, for playing the violin etc.

- shallow curve or bend; thing of this form. —v. (also absol.) Use a bow on (a violin etc.). [old english]

- —v. - incline the head or body, esp. In greeting or acknowledgement.

- submit (bowed to the inevitable).

- cause (the head etc.) To incline. —n. Act of bowing. bow and scrape toady. Bow down 1 bend or kneel esp. In submission or reverence.

- make stoop; crush (bowed down by care). Bow out 1 exit (esp. Formally).

- withdraw; retire. Take a bow acknowledge applause. [old english]

- n. - (often in pl.) Front end of a boat.

- rower nearest this. [low german or dutch: related to *bough]

and cox n. Two people sharing accommodation etc. In shifts. [names of characters in a play (1847)]

- camera n. Simple box-shaped camera.

- girder n. Hollow girder square in cross-section.

- junction n. Road area marked with a yellow grid, which a vehicle should enter only if its exit is clear.

- number n. Number for replies to a private advertisement in a newspaper.

- office n. Ticket-office at a theatre etc.

- pleat n. Arrangement of parallel pleats folding in alternate directions.

- spring n. Each of a set of vertical springs in a frame, e.g. In a mattress.

- —n. - container, usu. Flat-sided and firm.

- amount contained in a box.

- compartment, e.g. In a theatre or lawcourt.

- receptacle or kiosk for a special purpose (often in comb.: money box; telephone box).

- facility at a newspaper office for receiving replies to an advertisement.

- (prec. By the) colloq. Television.

- enclosed area or space.

- area of print enclosed by a border.

- light shield for the genitals in cricket etc. 10 (prec. By the) football colloq. Penalty area. —v. - put in or provide with a box.

- (foll. By in, up) confine. [latin buxis: related to *box3]

- —v. - a take part in boxing. B fight (an opponent) at boxing.

- slap (esp. A person's ears). —n. Hard slap, esp. On the ears. [origin unknown]

- n. - small evergreen tree with dark green leaves.

- its fine hard wood. [latin buxus, greek puxos]

scout n. = *scout n. 4.

- —n. - male child, son.

- young man.

- male servant etc. —int. Expressing pleasure, surprise, etc. boyhood n. Boyish adj. [origin uncertain]

n. Undergarment worn by women to support the breasts. [abbreviation]

Abbr. Bachelor of science.