Word origins

• BouvetteA surname from French
• bouvier des FlandresA breed of very large black dog with terrier-like appearance.
• BouxwillerA commune in the department of Bas-Rhin, Alsace, Grand Est, France.
• BowdryA surname from French.
• boyardA surname.
• boyauA small trench or ditch, typically built in a zigzag pattern, serving to connect or provide communication between two trenches, particularly the rear and front lines.
• Brabant IslandAn island of Palmer Archipelago, British Antarctic Territory, Antarctica.
• brachygraphyA system of writing using abbreviations or special characters; shorthand.
• braconniereA skirt or apron of mail or lamellar armor, worn with plate armor, to defend the stomach, groin, and upper thighs.
• BradferA surname from French.
• braguetteA codpiece.
• braiesBraccae, breeches; an undergarment worn in medieval Europe.
• brancardA litter drawn by a horse, on which a person may be carried.
• branchagebranches, vegetation
• BrancheauA surname from French.
• brandadeA puree of salted cod, olive oil, and milk.
• brandleTo shake; to (cause to) totter.
• brankursineOne of two species of acanthus, Acanthus spinosus or Acanthus mollis; bear's breech.
• branleA dance of French origin dating from the 16th century, performed by couples in a circle or a line; the music for this dance.
• Braque du BourbonnaisA breed of gundog, of rustic appearance, sometimes born with a short tail, with a coat ticked with liver, fawn, or white color.
• braquemarda short, thick, double-edged sword
• bras d'honneurAn obscene gesture in which an arm is bent into an L-shape, with the closed palm pointing upwards, while the other hand then grips the biceps of the bent arm, and the bent forearm is then raised vertically; it conveys the sense of “up yours!”.
• brasqueA mixture of charcoal, clay, etc. used in smelting.
• BrasselleA surname from French.
• brayetteAn item of armor (mail or plate) protecting the groin.
• BrayonA resident of Madawaska, in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada.
• BreantA surname from French.
• bredeleA biscuit or small cake traditionally eaten in the Christmas period in Alsace and Moselle, France.
• brelanA French card game: gleek.
• breloqueA seal or charm for a watchchain.
• brésibrési
• bretellebraces; suspenders (to hold up trousers)
• bretesséEmbattled (as a bend, fesse, etc), especially if embattled-counterembattled on both sides with the projections coming opposite each other.
• BriançonA commune in Hautes-Alpes department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
• bric-a-bracSmall ornaments and other miscellaneous display items of little value.
• bricoleA kind of traces with hooks and rings, used to drag manoeuvre guns where horses cannot be used.
• bricoleurA person who constructs bricolages; one who creates using whatever materials are available.
• bridoonA type of snaffle bit, with small rings, usually used on a double bridle in conjunction with a curb bit.
• brigandageThe lifestyle of a brigand.
• brigueIntrigue; secretive machinations.
• brilliantineA hair pomade, making the hair shine brilliantly.
• brimborionA useless or worthless object.
• briquetageburnt-clay remains associated with historical salt production.
• BrisacA surname from French.
• brisanceThe shattering effect of the energy released in an explosion.
• briséA jump consisting of an assemblé with an extra beat that "breaks" the jump in its travel.
• brise-biseA net curtain (or lace curtain) for the lower half of a window.
• brisementThe breaking up of anything, such as an ankylosis.
• brise soleilA type of structural sunshade with slats, holes, etc, to keep sunlight from striking fully on a building.
• brisqueIn the card game bezique, an ace or ten won in a trick.
• BrissettA surname from French.
• BrissetteA surname from French.
• brisureAny part of a rampart or parapet which deviates from the general direction.
• brocatelleA heavy brocade fabric with raised designs.
• brochéWoven with a raised figure; brocaded.
• brodequinA buskin or half-boot.
• broderie anglaiseA whitework technique incorporating features of embroidery, cutwork and needle lace, popular in England in the 19th century.
• Brome-MissisquoiA regional county municipality of Estrie, Quebec, Canada.
• BrossartA surname from French.
• brothermentSynonym of adelphopoiesis (“a ceremony where males are unionised with one another”).
• BrouhardA surname from French.
• BroulardA surname from French.
• brubruAlso more fully as brubru shrike: a bird in the bushshrike family found in sub-Saharan Africa (Nilaus afer).
• BrugheasA village in Allier department, France.
• BruléA member of a subdivision of the Sioux Native American nation.
• BruleyA surname from French.
• brulotA fireship.
• brumousFoggy or misty; wintry.
• brunailleConsisting of shades of brown, painted or executed with shades of brown, brown monochrome.
• brunatreBrown.
• brunionA hybrid of a plum and a peach.
• brunoiseA very fine dice. A method of cutting vegetables, usually to the dimensions of 2 mm or less, by julienning and then cutting many times at a 90-degree angle to the julienne.
• brusquerieBrusqueness; abruptness, bluntness.
• BrusselizationCareless introduction of high-rise buildings into traditional residential neighborhoods.
• brute de forgeA forging technique to shape metal to its final form by working it through forging only, and leaving that as the finished surface, with only sanding or grinding what is necessary for function.
• Bry-sur-MarneA commune in Val-de-Marne department, Île-de-France, France.
• buccanA framework or grill upon which meat is laid to dry, or to be roasted.
• bucket seatA form-fitting seat for one passenger in automobiles, aircraft, and other such modes of transport.
• buffontAn item of neckwear (a neckerchief), usually of linen, gauze, or lace, worn around the neck and puffed out over the bosom, popular from the 1750s to 1790s.
• bufotenineAn alkaloid, found in the skins of some toads, related to serotonin.
• bullistOne who writes or draws up papal bulls.
• bully beefPickled or canned beef.
• bureaucratizeTo bring under the control of a bureaucracy; to make bureaucratic.
• bureau de changeA place where foreign currency can be exchanged.
• bureau platA flat writing desk.
• bureauticbureaucratic
• Burgundy mixtureA mixture of copper sulphate and sodium carbonate, used as a fungicidal spray for trees and small fruits.
• burnooseA thick hooded cloak worn by Berbers and Arabs in Northwest Africa.
• burn the candle at both endsTo work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.
• buronA traditional Auvergne shepherd's hut with a thatched roof, or a rustic mountain chalet in the same style.
• bush taxiSynonym of shared taxi.
• ButinA surname.
• butterisA cutting instrument, with a long bent shank set in a handle which rests against the farrier's shoulder, used in paring the hoofs of horses.
• buvettebar (place where beverages are sold), mainly in French contexts
• BuzançaisA commune and town in the department of Indre, Centre-Val de Loire, France.
• bycoketA type of medieval cap with a wide brim that comes to a point in the front and is turned up at the rear, originally worn by Western European nobility and royalty.
• cabassouThe southern naked-tailed armadillo, a type of large armadillo native to South America, with five toes and enormous claws (Cabassous unicinctus).
• cabécouA soft goat cheese from the Midi-Pyrénées in France.
• cabinet particulierA small private room, occasionally booth, set apart within a restaurant that may be hired by clientele wishing not to be disturbed.
• CabochienRelating to Simon Caboche or to the revolt of 1413 in which he was a leader.