| benignant | adj. | kind, particularly to inferiors | ||
| benison | n. | blessing, benediction | ||
| benthopelagic | adj. | of organisms living both upon the sea floor as well as in the open sea (as opposed to near or upon the shore) | ||
| besom | n. | broom | ||
| besprent | adj. | besprinkled | archaic | |
| betimes | adv. | early | ||
| bewray | v. | to reveal, to disclose | ||
| bezoar | n. | concretion found in the stomach of some animals, believed to have power to protect against poison | ||
| biandry | n. | the state of having two husbands at the same time | ||
| Bibendum | n. | official name of the Michelin Man, from early advertising showing the mascot drinking glass and nails, with the slogan (from Horace) “Nunc est bibendum” (Now is the time to drink) | ||
| bibliopole | n. | bookseller | ||
| bibulous | adj. | addicted to drink; of or related to drink; absorbent of moisture | ||
| biccy | n. | biscuit (i.e., cookie) | British | |
| bilboquet | n. | child’s toy consisting of stick with cup and attached string; game using such toy where player attempts to catch the ball in the cup of the toy | ||
| bilharzia | n. | schistosomiasis, disease endemic to Africa and South Africa | ||
| bilious | adj. | of or relating to bile or to excessive discharge of bile; cranky, choleric | ||
| bill of attainder | n. | legislative act declaring a person guilty of treason or felony | ||
| billhook | n. | sharp bladed hand tool with hook at end | ||
| billycock | n. | derby or bowler hat | ||
| biltong | n. | sun-dried strips of lean meat | ||
| bimble | v. | to walk about in a meandering way with no fixed purpose | British | |
| bindle | n. | bundle carried by a hobo; folded paper container | ||
| bindlestiff | n. | hobo | ||
| bine | n. | stem of a climbing plant; woodbine | ||
| bint | n. | derogatory term for girl or woman | British | |
| biotope | n. | region of ecological uniformity supporting specific grouping of plants and animals | ||
| bip | v. | to steal from a car by smashing a window and taking items left on the seats | slang | |
| biro | n. | ballpoint pen | British | |
| bittacle | n. | binnacle, box on ship’s deck for the compass | obsolete | |
| bittern | n. | wading bird related to, though smaller than, the heron | ||
| bivvy | n. | shelter, small tent | slang | |
| bizzie | n. | policeman or policewoman; (pl.) the police | slang | |
| blackavised | adj. | swarthy, having a dark complexion | ||
| blackbirder | n. | person trading in slaves or coerced labor, esp. in islands across the Pacific Ocean | ||
| blackguard | v. | to revile with scurrilous words | ||
| blackleg | n. | deadly cattle disease; plant disease, esp. those affecting potatoes or cabbages; cheater; strikebreaker | ||
| blacksnake | adj. | long, heavy leather whiplash | ||
| blag | v. | to obtain through wheedling or cajolery | slang | |
| blain | n. | blister, pustule, inflammatory swelling | ||
| blake | v. | to become pale | obsolete | |
| blandish | v. | cajole, convince someone through flattery; butter up, sycophantically praise | ||
| blatherskite | n. | speaker of arrant nonsense; such nonsense | ||
| blazon | n. | formal description of a coat of arms; coat of arms | heraldry | |
| blear | adj. | dim from tears or inflammation | ||
| bleb | n. | vesicle, blister; bubble of air in fluid | ||
| bleck | n. | black fluid; soot, smut | ||
| blench | v. | to flinch, to quail | ||
| blent | v. | past tense and past participle of blend | ||
| blether | v. | to talk nonsense volubly; to babble (also blather or blither) | ||
| bliaut | n. | medieval overgarment with large skirts, worn by both sexes |
