bunt n. reinforced part of fishing net where the catch is concentrated; bulging middle part of a sail nautical
bunting n. open worsted fabric used for making flags; thus, a flag or flags
burble n. (aeronautics) breakdown of smooth airflow into turbulence
burgage n. tenure of land in town belonging to the king or other lord, the tenants paying annual rent or service
burgee n. triangular flag or one having a triangular indentation leaving two tails
burgeon v. to begin to grow
burgonet n. light helmet for infantrymen with protective crest and cheek pieces
burin n. engraving tool for use on metal
burke v. to kill by suffocation or strangulation so as to leave no trace; to hush up
burlesque n. art form that inverts the usual mode of presenting material for comedic effect, giving gravitas to lesser subjects or treating vulgarly more dignified matter
burrnesha n. Balkan sworn virgins, women in parts of western Balkan regions who take an oath of celibacy and gain privileges otherwise available only to men
bursary n. college scholarship; institutional treasure, esp. for ecclesiastical institutions British
busby n. tall fur hat with colored cloth hanging down right side; tall bearskin hat
buskin n. half boot; thick-soled shoe worn by ancient Greek actors in tragedies, cothurnus; [fig.] tragedy, the style of tragedy
but and ben n. simple two-room cottage architecture
butt splice n. cylindrical crimp connector for electrical wiring, with a crimp at each end
buttle v. to act as a butler
butty n. 1 buttered bread; sandwich idiom
butty n. 2 co-worker or work friend, esp. in colliery
byre n. shed for cows
cachalot n. sperm whale
cachectic adj. of or pertaining to general malaise with malnutrition; related to a depraved habit or mind or feeling
cachinnation n. immoderate or loud laughter
cack-handed adj. clumsy, ham-fisted; left-handed British
cacodemon n. evil spirit; nightmare
cacoethes scribendi n. mania for writing Latin
cadastre n. property register used as basis for taxation
cadge v. to obtain through imposition upon one’s generosity or friendship
caducity n. infirmity of old age, senility; frailty, perishable nature of life archaic
cafard n. overwhelming depression
caftan n. loose-fitting, full-length garment with long wide sleeves, worn throughout the Middle East, the Maghreb, and parts of Asia
cairn n. mound of rough stones heaped up as a grave marker or landmark
caitiff n. base wretch, despicable or pitiful person
calash n. light carriage seating two or four persons. In Canada, a two-wheeled vehicle with a single seat for two, and space for the driver to sit on the splashboard.
calcareous adj. of or like chalk
calced adj. wearing shoes
calcimine n. whitewash
caldera n. deep basin formed by collapse of an ancient volcano
calenture n. tropical fever with delirium that often affected sailors
caliginous adj. dim, misty, obscure archaic
calipee n. food delicacy made from fatty substance immediately above lower shell of a tortoise
callipygian adj. having shapely buttocks
callow adj. immature; unworldly
calx n. fine powder left after calcining or burning a substance
camber n. slight arching
cambion n. child with one human and one demonic parent
camlet n. tough, waterproof cloth, usually of camel or goat hair
camp as a row of tents adj. flamboyantly effeminate British
campanile n. bell tower, often freestanding
campanology n. study of bells and their making, ringing, etc.
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