bop (n.) — bound (v.2)
1948, shortening of bebop or rebop. The musical movement had its own lingo, which was in vogue in U.S. early 1950s. "Life" magazine [Sept. 29, 1952] listed examples of bop talk: crazy "new, wonderful, wildly exciting;" gone (adj.) "the tops—superlative of crazy;" cool (adj.) "tasty, pretty;" goof "to blow a wrong note or make a mistake;" hipster "modern version of hepcat;" dig "to understand, appreciate the subtleties of;" stoned "drunk, captivated, ecstatic, sent out of this world;" flip (v.) "to react enthusiastically."ETD bop (n.).2
"to hit, strike, punch," 1931, imitative. As a noun from 1934. The sense of "play bop music, play (a song) in a bop style" is from 1948, from bop (n.). It soon came to mean "do any sort of dance to pop music" (1956). Related: Bopped; bopping.ETD bop (v.).2
1520s, the older name of the nursery play known in U.S. as peek-a-boo; see peep (n.1). The nursery rhyme seems to date to c. 1800.ETD bo-peep (n.).2
blue-flowered plant used in salads, etc., mid-13c., from Anglo-French burage, Old French borage (13c., Modern French bourrache), from Medieval Latin borrago, which also is the source of Spanish boraja, Italian borraggine, German Boretsch.ETD borage (n.).2
The Medieval Latin word was held by folk-etymology to be from Arabic abu arak, literally "the father of sweat," supposedly so called by Arab physicians for its effect on humans. But OED and other sources find it rather to be from Latin borra "rough hair, short wool," in reference to the texture of the foliage. Related: Boraginaceous.ETD borage (n.).3
late 14c., name given to several useful minerals, specifically to a salt formed from the union of boracic acid and soda, from Anglo-French boras, from Medieval Latin baurach, from Arabic buraq, applied by the Arabs to various substances used as fluxes, probably from Persian burah. Originally obtained in Europe from the beds of salt lakes in Tibet. Related: Boracic.ETD borax (n.).2
also borborygmi, "rumbling noise in the bowels," 17c., from Latin borborigmus, from Greek borborygmos, from borboryzein "to have a rumbling in the bowels," imitative.ETD borborygmus (n.).2
city in southwestern France, Roman Burdigala (1c.), perhaps from a Celtic or pre-Celtic source the sense of which has been lost. From 1560s in English as a type of wine imported from the city.ETD Bordeaux.2
c. 1300, "brothel," from Old French bordel (see bordello, which has replaced it).ETD bordel (n.).2
c. 1300, bordel "house of prostitution," from Old French bordel "small hut, cabin; brothel" (12c.), diminutive of borde "hut made of planks," from Frankish *bord "wooden board" or some other Germanic source related to board (n.1). The modern form (1590s) is a result of the French word being borrowed by Italian then passed back to French with a suffix and re-borrowed into English.ETD bordello (n.).2
mid-14c., bordure, in heraldry, "broad, colored band surrounding the shield," from Old French bordeure "seam, edge of a shield, border," from Frankish *bord or a similar Germanic source (compare Old English bord "side;" see board (n.2)). The form of the ending changed after c. 1500. Italian and Spanish bordo also are from Germanic.ETD border (n.).2
From late 14c. as "edge, side, brink, margin," also "ornamental border along the edge of a dish, garment, etc." The sense of "boundary of a city or country" is from late 14c. From c. 1400 as "border region, district lying along the boundary of a country" (replacing earlier march). In U.S. history, "the line between the wild and settled regions of the country" (1827).ETD border (n.).3
"material for a border of any kind," 1872, verbal noun from border (v.).ETD bordering (n.).2
c. 1400, "to put a border on;" 1530s as "to lie on the border of," from border (n.). Related: Bordered; bordering.ETD border (v.).2
"land forming a border or frontier; an uncertain intermediate region or space," often figurative, 1813, from border (n.) + land (n.).ETD border-land (n.).2
also border-line, 1847, "strip of land along a frontier," from border (n.) + line (n.). As an adjective meaning "verging on" it is attested from 1903, originally in medical jargon.ETD borderline (n.).2
Old English bor "instrument for making holes by boring or turning," from the source of bore (v.1). As "hole made by boring," early 14c. The meaning "cylindrical hole through a tube, gun, etc." is from 1570s; that of "interior diameter of a tube, caliber of a gun" (whether bored or not) is from 1580s. Hence figurative slang full bore (1936) "at maximum speed," from notion of unchoked carburetor on an engine.ETD bore (n.1).2
1778, "thing which causes ennui or annoyance by dullness;" earlier "state of boredom, fit of listless disgust" (1766); of persons who cause boredom by 1812; usually said to be a figurative extension of bore (v.1) on the notion of "move forward slowly and persistently," as a boring tool does, but OED has doubts and early evidence suggests a French connection.ETD bore (n.2).2
"pierce or perforate with a rotatory cutting instrument, make a circular hole in by turning an auger, drill, etc.," Old English borian "to bore through, perforate," from bor "auger," from Proto-Germanic *buron (source also of Old Norse bora, Swedish borra, Old High German boron, Middle Dutch boren, German bohren), from PIE root *bhorh- "hole."ETD bore (v.1).2
"be tiresome or dull," 1768, a vogue word c. 1780-81 according to Grose (1785); see bore (n.2). As "cause boredom to," by 1840.ETD bore (v.2).2
past tense of bear (v.).ETD bore (v.3).2
"wearied, suffering from ennui," 1823, past-participle adjective from bore (v.2).ETD bored (adj.).2
Meaning "pierced, perforated, cylindrically hollow" is 1510s, from bore (v.1).ETD bored (adj.).3
1853 in reference to animals that bore, present-participle adjective from bore (v.1); attested from 1840 in the sense of "wearying, annoyingly dull, causing ennui," from bore (v.2). As a verbal noun, mid-15c., "action of piercing or perforating."ETD boring (adj.).2
"the north wind," late 14c., from Latin Boreas, from Greek (see boreal).ETD Boreas.2
"northern," late 15c., from Late Latin borealis, from Latin Boreas "north wind," from Greek Boreas, name of the god of the north wind, which is of unknown origin, perhaps related to words in Sanskrit (giri-) and Balto-Slavic (Lithuanian girė, Old Church Slavonic gora) for "mountain" (also "forest") as if "those living beyond the mountains."ETD boreal (adj.).2
1790, shortening of aurora borealis (q.v.).ETD borealis.2
1845, "state of being bored," from bore (v.1) + -dom. It also has been employed in a sense "bores as a class" (1849) and "practice of being a bore" (1840, a sense properly belonging to boreism, 1833).ETD boredom (n.).2
fictional hostile alien hive-race in the "Star Trek" series, noted for "assimilating" defeated rivals, first introduced in "The Next Generation" TV series (debut fall 1987). Their catchphrase is "resistance is futile." According to the series creators, the name is derived from cyborg.ETD borg (n.).2
Slavic masc. proper name, literally "fight," from Slavic root *bor- "to fight, overcome" (from PIE root *bhorh- "hole").ETD Boris.2
"to discredit a candidate for some position by savaging his or her career and beliefs," 1987, from name of U.S. jurist Robert H. Bork (1927-2012), whose Supreme Court nomination in 1987 was rejected after an intense counter-campaign. Not the first name to be so used:ETD bork (v.).2
"carried, sustained, endured," past tense and participle of bear (v.) in all senses not related to birth. See born.ETD borne.2
Old English boren, alternative past participle of beran (see bear (v.)). The -en of the Middle English past participles tended to drop the -e- in some verbs, especially after vowels, -r-, and -l- , hence also slain, etc., Middle English stoln. "In modern use the connexion with bear is no longer felt; the phrase to be born has become virtually an intr. verb" [OED].ETD born (adj.).2
It is attested from early 14c. as "possessing from birth the character or quality described" (born poet, born loser, etc.). It is from 1710 as "innate, inherited;" the colloquial expression in (one's) born days "in (one's) lifetime" is by 1742. The distinction of born from borne (q.v.) is 17c.ETD born (adj.).3
of Protestant Christians, "regenerated in spirit and character by a 'new birth' in Christ," by 1920, based on John iii.3. Used in figurative (non-religious) sense by 1977.ETD born-again (adj.).2
large island in Indonesia, from Portuguese alteration of Brunei, which is today the name of a sultanate on the island. This is Hindi and probably ultimately from Sanskrit bhumi "land, region." Related: Bornean.ETD Borneo.2
island in the southern Baltic, from Old Danish Burgundarholm, from Burgundar "the Burgundians" (see Burgundy) + holm "island" (see holm). The Burgundians migrated to France from thence in 5c.ETD Bornholm.2
non-metallic chemical element, 1812, from borax + ending abstracted unetymologically from carbon (its properties somewhat resemble those of carbon). Originally called boracium by Humphry Davy because it was drawn from boracic acid. Related: Boric.ETD boron (n.).2
Old English burg, burh "a dwelling or dwellings within a fortified enclosure," from Proto-Germanic *burgs "hill fort, fortress" (source also of Old Frisian burich "castle, city," Old Norse borg "wall, castle," Old High German burg, buruc "fortified place, citadel," German Burg "castle," Gothic baurgs "city"), which Watkins derives from from PIE root *bhergh- (2) "high," with derivatives referring to hills, hill forts, and fortified elevations.ETD borough (n.).2
In German and Old Norse, chiefly as "fortress, castle;" in Gothic, "town, civic community." The meaning shifted in Old English from "fortress," to "fortified town," then simply "town" (16c., especially one possessing municipal organization or sending representatives to Parliament). In some U.S. states (originally Pennsylvania, 1718) often an incorporated town; in Alaska, however, it is the equivalent of a county. As "one of the five administrative divisions of New York City," it dates from the consolidation of 1898; in London, its use dates from the London Government Act of 1899.ETD borough (n.).3
The Scottish form is burgh. The Old English dative singular byrig survives in many place names as -bury.ETD borough (n.).4
Old English borgian "to lend, be surety for," from Proto-Germanic *burg- "pledge" (source also of Old English borg "pledge, security, bail, debt," Old Frisian borgia "borrow, take up money," Old Norse borga "to become bail for, guarantee," Middle Dutch borghen "to protect, guarantee," Old High German boragen "to beware of," German borgen "to borrow; to lend"), which is, according to Watkins, from PIE root *bhergh- (1) "to hide, protect."ETD borrow (v.).2
The sense reversed in Old English to "take or obtain (something) on pledge to return it or security given," apparently on the notion of collateral deposited as security for something borrowed. Compare the sense evolution in sell (v.). The figurative use is from early 13c. As an operation in subtraction, 1590s. Related: Borrowed; borrowing. Phrase borrowed time is from 1848.ETD borrow (v.).3
"Russian soup made with beets and cabbage," 1884, from Russian borshch "cow parsnip," which was an original recipe ingredient. Borscht belt "region of predominantly Jewish resorts in and around the Catskill Mountains of New York" (also known as the Yiddish Alps) is by 1938.ETD borscht (n.).2
"waste diamonds, small chips from diamond-cutting," 1620s, a word of unknown origin, perhaps related to Old French bort "bastard."ETD bort (n.).2
alternative form of Prussia (q.v.).ETD Borussia.2
Russian wolfhound, 1887, from Russian borzoy, literally "swift, quick" (compare Czech brzy, Serbo-Croatian brzo "quickly," Lithuanian bruzdėti "to hurry").ETD borzoi (n.).2
"seek for hollows underground by ramming the ground and observing the vibrations," 1929, ultimately from Scottish boss "hollow, empty" (1510s), which was earlier a noun meaning "small cask, wine flask" (late 14c.).ETD bose (v.).2
"empty talk, nonsense," 1839, from Turkish, literally "empty." Introduced to English in "Ayesha," the popular 1834 romance novel by J.J. Morier.ETD bosh (n.).2
named for the River Bosna, which is perhaps from an Indo-European root *bhog- "current." As a name or adjective for someone there, Bosniac (1756, from Russian Bosnyak) is older in English than Bosnian (1788).ETD Bosnia.2
Old English bosm "breast; womb; surface; ship's hold," from West Germanic *bōsmaz (source also of Old Frisian bosm, Old Saxon bosom, Middle Dutch boesem, Dutch boezem, Old High German buosam, German Busen "bosom, breast"), which is perhaps from PIE root *bhou- "to grow, swell," or *bhaghus "arm" (in which case the primary notion would be "enclosure formed by the breast and the arms"), or possibly a word from a substrate language.ETD bosom (n.).2
Bosoms in the narrowed or euphemistic meaning "a woman's breasts" is from 1959; bosomy "big-breasted" is from 1928 (earlier of rolling hills, etc.). Bosom-friend is attested 1580s; bosom buddy from 1924. Abraham's bosom "the abode of the blessed" is from Luke xvi.19-31.ETD bosom (n.).3
class of subatomic particles which obeys Bose-Einstein statistics, by 1956, named for Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose (1894-1974) + subatomic particle suffix -on.ETD boson (n.).2
a Latin error for bosporus, from Greek bosporos, a name applied to several channels or straits between seas, literally "ox's ford," from bous "ox" (from PIE root *gwou- "ox, bull, cow") + poros "passage, ford" (see pore (n.)). It was especially the name of the strait between the Sea of Marmora and the Black Sea (the Thracian Bosphorus).ETD Bosphorus.2
"overseer, one who employs or oversees workers," 1640s, American English, from Dutch baas "a master," Middle Dutch baes, a word of obscure origin. If the original sense was "uncle," perhaps it is related to Old High German basa "aunt," but some sources discount this theory.ETD boss (n.1).2
The Dutch form baas is attested in English from 1620s as the standard title of a Dutch ship's captain. The word's popularity in U.S. may reflect egalitarian avoidance of master (n.) as well as the need to distinguish slave from free labor. The slang adjective meaning "excellent" is recorded in 1880s, revived, apparently independently, in teen and jazz slang in 1950s.ETD boss (n.1).3
"protuberance, button," c. 1300, from Old French boce "a hump, swelling, tumor" (12c., Modern French bosse), from either Frankish *botija or Vulgar Latin *bottia, both of uncertain origin.ETD boss (n.2).2
c. 1400, "to swell out; to beat or press into a raised ornament," from boss (n.2). From 1620s as "to furnish with bosses." Related: Bossed; bossing.ETD boss (v.2).2
"be master or manager of, order and direct as a boss," 1856, from boss (n.1). Related: Bossed; bossing.ETD boss (v.1).2
Brazilian style of music, 1962, from Portuguese, literally "new tendency."ETD bossa nova (n.).2
1540s, "swelling, projecting and rounded, decorated with bosses" from boss (n.2). The meaning "domineering, fond of ordering people about" is recorded by 1882, from boss (n.1) + -y (2). As a common cow name (by 1844) it represents Latin bos "cow" (from PIE root *gwou- "ox, bull, cow"). Related: Bossily; bossiness.ETD bossy (adj.).2
U.S. city, 1630, named for the town in Lincolnshire, which sent many Puritan settlers to early New England. The name is said to be literally "Botolph's Stone," probably from the name of some Anglo-Saxon landowner (Old English Botwulf). The Boston Massacre was March 5, 1770; three civilians killed, two mortally wounded. The Boston Tea Party (1824) took place on Dec. 16, 1773 (see tea party). Related: Bostonian.ETD Boston.2
a mid-19c. respelling to reflect the modern pronunciation of boatswain.ETD bosun (n.).2
in the internet sense, c. 2000, short for robot. Modern use has coincidental affinities with earlier uses, such as "parasitical worm or maggot" (1520s), which is of unknown origin; and Australian-New Zealand slang "worthless, troublesome person" (World War I-era). The method of minting new slang by clipping the heads off words does not seem to be old or widespread in English. Examples (za from pizza, zels from pretzels, rents from parents) are American English student or teen slang and seem to date back no further than late 1960s. Also compare borg, droid.ETD bot (n.).2
"pertaining to the science or study of plants," 1650s, from French botanique (17c.) or directly from Medieval Latin botanicus, from Greek botanikos "of herbs," from botane "a plant, grass, pasture, fodder." The Greek words seems to have more to do with pasturage than plants; compare related botamia "pastures, meadows," boter "herdsman," boton "grazing beast."ETD botanic (adj.).2
"concerned with the study or cultivation of plants," 1650s, from botanic + -al. Related: Botanically.ETD botanical (adj.).2
"the science of plants," 1690s, from botanic. The -y is from astronomy, etc. Botany Bay in Australia was named by Captain Cook (1770) on account of the great variety of plants found there; later it was a convict settlement (1778).ETD botany (n.).2
"one who studies botany," 1680s; see botany + -ist.ETD botanist (n.).2
late 14c., bocchen "to repair," later, "repair clumsily, to spoil by unskillful work" (1520s); a word of unknown origin. Middle English Compendium writes that it is probably the same as bocchen "to swell up or fester; to bulge or project" (though this is attested only from early 15c. and OED denies a connection) which is from Old North French boche, Old French boce, a common Romanic word of uncertain origin. Related: Botched; botching.ETD botch (v.).2
As a noun, "a bungled or ill-finished part," it is recorded from c. 1600, perhaps from the verb, but compare Middle English bocche "a boil, a pathological swelling, a tumor" (late 14c.), used especially of glandular swellings from the plague, also figuratively "a corrupt person; a rotten condition" (late 14c.), "a hump on a cripple" (early 14c.), which probably also is from Old North French boche, Old French boce.ETD botch (v.).3
"the two, the one and the other," there are several theories, all similar, and deriving the word from the tendency to say "both the." One is that it is Old English begen (masc.) "both" (from Proto-Germanic *bai, from PIE *bho "both") + -þ extended base. Another traces it to the Proto-Germanic formula represented in Old English by ba þa "both these," from ba (feminine nominative and accusative of begen) + þa, nominative and accusative plural of se "that." A third traces it to Old Norse baðir "both," from *bai thaiz "both the," from Proto-Germanic *thaiz, third person plural pronoun. Compare similar formation in Old Frisian bethe, Dutch beide, Old High German beide, German beide, Gothic bajoþs.ETD both (adj., pron.).2
1718, also bauther, bather, bodder, "to bewilder, confuse;" 1745 as "give trouble to;" first in Irish writers (Sheridan, Swift, Sterne), hence probably from Anglo-Irish pother, which is perhaps from Irish bodhairim "I deafen." Related: Bothered; bothering. As a noun from 1803.ETD bother (v.).2
"annoyance, petty vexation," 1788, noun of action from bother (q.v.).ETD botheration (n.).2
"troublesome, annoying," 1817, from bother + -some (1).ETD bothersome (adj.).2
also bottony, "decoration with buds, knobs, or buttons at the extremities," 1570s, in heraldry, from Old French botoné (Modern French boutonné) "covered with buds," past participle of boutonner "to bud," from bouton "bud, button," 12c., from bouter "to strike, push," from Frankish or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *buttan, from PIE root *bhau- "to strike."ETD botony (n.).2
a commercial name for botulinum toxin, and composed of elements from those words, approved in U.S. as a temporary cosmetic injection in 2002.ETD Botox.2
1680s, from Sinhalese bo, from Pali bodhi, short for bodhi-taru "bo tree," literally "tree of wisdom or enlightenment" (related to Sanskrit buddhah "awakened," from PIE root *bheudh- "be aware, make aware") + taru "tree."ETD bo tree (n.).2
before vowels botry-, word-forming element meaning "cluster, cluster-like," from Greek botrys "cluster of grapes," which is of unknown origin.ETD botryo-.2
1640s, "put into a bottle for storing and keeping," from bottle (n.). Earlier in a figurative sense, of feelings, etc., 1620s. Related: Bottled; bottling.ETD bottle (v.).2
"narrow-necked hollow vessel for holding and carrying liquids," mid-14c., originally of leather, from Old French boteille (12c., Modern French bouteille), from Vulgar Latin *butticula (source also of Spanish botella, Italian bottiglia), diminutive of Late Latin buttis "a cask," which is perhaps from Greek.ETD bottle (n.).2
In reference to a baby's feeding bottle by 1848 (sucking-bottle is attested from 1844). The bottle, figurative for "liquor," is from 17c. Bottle-washer is from 1837; bottle-shop is from 1929; bottle-opener as a mechanical device is from 1875. Bottle-arsed was old printers' slang for type wider at one end than the other.ETD bottle (n.).3
also bottle-neck, "narrow entrance, spot where traffic becomes congested," 1896; from bottle (n.) + neck (n.). The meaning "anything which obstructs a flow" is from 1922; the verb in this sense is from 1928.ETD bottleneck (n.).2
also bottlenose, 1630s as a shape of nose, 1660s as a type of porpoise having a bottle-nose, from bottle (n.) + nose (n.). Related: Bottle-nosed (1560s).ETD bottle-nose (n.).2
Middle English botme, from Old English botm, bodan "ground, soil, foundation, lowest or deepest part of anything," from Proto-Germanic *buthm- (source also of Old Frisian boden "soil," Old Norse botn, Dutch bodem, Old High German bodam, German Boden "ground, earth, soil"). This is perhaps from PIE root *bhudhno- "bottom" (source also of Sanskrit budhnah, Avestan buna- "bottom," Greek pythmen "foundation," Latin fundus "bottom, piece of land, farm," Old Irish bond "sole of the foot").ETD bottom (n.).2
The meaning "fundamental character, essence" is from 1570s; to get to the bottom of some matter is from 1773. The meaning "posterior of a person" (the sitting part) is from 1794. Bottoms up as a call to finish one's drink is from 1875. Bottom dollar "the last dollar one has" is from 1857. To do or feel something from the bottom of (one's) heart is from 1540s. Bottom-feeder, originally in reference to fish, is from 1866.ETD bottom (n.).3
1540s, "to put a bottom on," from bottom (n.). The meaning "to reach the bottom of" is from 1808 (earlier figuratively, "to fathom," 1785). Related: Bottomed; bottoming.ETD bottom (v.).2
early 14c., "without a bottom," from bottom + -less. From 1560s as "baseless, unsubstantial."ETD bottomless (adj.).2
"final result, central or salient point," 1832, a figurative use from profit-and-loss accounting, where the final figure calculated is the bottom line on the page. Also (especially as an adjective) bottom-line, bottomline.ETD bottom line (n.).2
also bottommost, "situated at the very lowest," 1861, from bottom (adj.) + -most.ETD bottom-most (adj.).2
"poisoning caused by eating imperfectly preserved food," 1878, from German Botulismus (1878), coined in German from Medieval Latin botulus "sausage" (see bowel) + -ismus suffix of action or state (see -ism). The sickness first was traced to eating tainted sausage (sausage poisoning was an old name for it).ETD botulism (n.).2
French, literally "mouth" (Old French boche, 11c.), from Latin bucca "cheek," which in Late Latin replaced os (see oral) as the word for "mouth" (and also is the source of Italian bocca, Spanish boca). De Vaan writes that "The meaning 'mouth' is secondary, and was originally used in a derogatory way." It is perhaps from Celtic, Germanic, or a non-IE substrate language.ETD bouche (n.).2
The French word was borrowed in English in various senses, such as "king's allowance of food for his retinue" (mid-15c.); "mouth" (1580s); "metal plug for a cannon's vent" (1862; the verb in this sense is from 1781).ETD bouche (n.).3
"room where a lady may retire to be alone or to receive her intimate friends," 1777, from French boudoir (18c.), literally "pouting room," from bouder "to pout, sulk," which, like pout and bouffant, probably ultimately is imitative of puffing. Also compare dialectal sumph "be sulky," and sulky (adj.); boudoir was Englished at least once as sulkery (1906).ETD boudoir (n.).2
1869, in dressmaking, "puffed out, bulging," from French bouffant, present participle of bouffer "to puff out," from Old French bouffer (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *buffare, probably ultimately imitative of puffing. As a noun by 1870. Earlier as a French word in English. Used of hairdo styles from 1955.ETD bouffant (adj.).2
see Bougainvillea.ETD Bougainvillaea (n.).2
type of tropical woody vine, 1849, named for French navigator Louis Bougainville (1729-1811).ETD Bougainvillea (n.).2
Middle English bough, from Old English bog "shoulder, arm," extended in Old English to "twig, branch of a tree" (compare limb (n.1)), from Proto-Germanic *bogaz (source also of Old Norse bogr "shoulder," Old High German buog "upper part of the arm or leg," German Bug "shoulder, hock, joint"), from PIE root *bhagu- "arm" (source also of Sanskrit bahus "arm," Armenian bazuk, Greek pakhys "forearm"). The "limb of a tree" sense is peculiar to English.ETD bough (n.).2
past tense and past participle of buy (v.).ETD bought.2
irregular past participle of buy, attested as an adjective from 1793, especially in colloquial U.S. use, in reference to clothing and other items, and opposed to made.ETD boughten (adj.).2
1755, "wax candle," from French bougie "wax candle," from Bugia, Algeria, (Arabic Bijiyah), a town with a long-established wax trade. Earlier (1754) as a type of thin, flexible surgical instrument.ETD bougie (n.).2
type of fish chowder, 1845, from French bouillabaisse (19c.), from Provençal bouiabaisso, boulh-abaisso, a compound of two verbs corresponding to English boil (v.) + abase (in the original sense of "to lower").ETD bouillabaisse (n.).2
broth or soup from boiled beef or other meat, 1650s, from French bouillon (11c.), noun use of past participle of bouillir "to boil," from Old French bolir (see boil (v.)).ETD bouillon (n.).2
1610s, "water-worn rounded stone of medium or large size," a variant of Middle English bulder ston "stone worn round, cobblestone" (c. 1300), from a Scandinavian source akin to Swedish dialectal bullersten "noisy stone" (large stone in a stream, causing water to roar around it), from bullra "to roar" + sten "stone." Or the first element might be from *buller- "round object," from Proto-Germanic *bul-, from PIE root *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell." The specific geological sense "large weather-worn block of stone standing by itself" is from 1813.ETD boulder (n.).2
1769, "broad street or promenade planted with rows of trees," from French boulevard, originally "top surface of a military rampart" (15c.), from a garbled attempt to adopt Middle Dutch bolwerc "wall of a fortification" (see bulwark) into French, which at that time lacked a -w- in its alphabet.ETD boulevard (n.).2
The notion is of a promenade atop demolished city walls, which would be wider than the old streets. Originally in English with conscious echoes of Paris; in U.S., since 1929, used of multi-lane limited-access urban highways. Early French attempts to digest the Dutch word also include boloart, boulever, boloirque, and bollvercq.ETD boulevard (n.).3
1856, a French word in English, "one who frequents the boulevard;" i.e. "man-about-town, one fond of urban living and society."ETD boulevardier (n.).2
early 13c., bounsen "to thump, hit," a word of uncertain origin, perhaps from Dutch bonzen "to beat, thump," or Low German bunsen, or imitative. The sense probably has been influenced by bound (v.). In 17c., "to talk big, bluster; bully, scold." The meaning "to bound like a ball" is from 1510s; the transitive sense of "cause to rebound" is from 1876. Of a check, "be returned for insufficient funds," from 1927. Related: Bounced; bouncing.ETD bounce (v.).2
1520s, "a heavy blow," also "a leap, a rebound" from bounce (v.). In reference to politicians and public opinion polls, by 1996, American English.ETD bounce (n.).2
"vigorous, big, strong," 1570s, present-participle adjective from bounce (v.).ETD bouncing (adj.).2
1762, "one who bounces," agent noun from bounce (v.), which originally meant "to thump, hit." Given various specific senses in 19c., such as "boaster, bully, braggart" (1833); also "large example of its kind" (1842); "enforcer of order in a bar or saloon" (1865, American English, originally colloquial).ETD bouncer (n.).2
"full of bounce," 1895, from bounce (n.) + -y (2).ETD bouncy (adj.).2
c. 1200, boun, "ready to go;" hence "going or intending to go" (c. 1400), from Old Norse buinn past participle of bua "to prepare," also "to dwell, to live," from Proto-Germanic *bowan (source also of Old High German buan "to dwell," Old Danish both "dwelling, stall"), from PIE root *bheue- "to be, exist, grow." The final -d is presumably through association with bound (adj.1).ETD bound (adj.2).2
"fastened;" mid-14c. in a figurative sense of "compelled," earlier in the fuller form bounden (c. 1300), past-participle adjective from bind (v.). The meaning "under obligation" is from late 15c.; the literal sense of "made fast by tying (with fetters, chains, etc.)" is by 1550s.ETD bound (adj.1).2
In philology, designating a grammatical element which occurs only in combination with others (opposed to free), from 1926. Also in compounds (such as storm-bound, "kept by storms from leafing a place," 1830). Smyth ("Sailor's Word-book," 1867) has man-bound (1867), of a ship, "detained in port for want of a proper complement of men."ETD bound (adj.1).3
"a leap onward or upward, a springing," 1550s, from bound (v.2).ETD bound (n.2).2
"to leap, spring upward, jump," 1590s, from French bondir "to rebound, resound, echo," from Old French bondir "to leap, jump, rebound;" originally "make a noise, sound (a horn), beat (a drum)," 13c., ultimately "to echo back," from Vulgar Latin *bombitire "to buzz, hum" (see bomb (n.)), perhaps on model of Old French tentir, from Vulgar Latin *tinnitire.ETD bound (v.2).2